CROWN Public Law Attorney
The CROWN (Climate, Renewable Energy, Open Space, Water, and Natural Resources) Fellowship Program was originally established in 2011 with a focus on environmental and natural resources issues. It has subsequently been expanded to become a General Public Law Fellowship and embraces all areas of public law practiced by Sonoma County Counsel's Office, including environmental law.
Sonoma County Counsel's clients are undertaking novel, innovative projects in numerous areas of the law. Examples of projects that may be undertaken by CROWN Fellows include:
- Providing legal support to the County's Office of Recovery & Resiliency, including advising on proposed policies and drafting ordinances to implement various recovery policies and strategies in the wake of the 2017 and 2019 wildfires
- Drafting conservation contracts and easements for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District and the Permit Sonoma Department
- Code enforcement litigation work (e.g., preparing complaints, conducting discovery, drafting motions, appearing in court)
- Presenting trainings to clients on new legislation
- Conducting legal research on constitutional issues including the First Amendment (public forums), Second Amendment (gun control), and Fifth Amendment (inverse condemnation)
- Researching land use issues related to the California Environmental Quality Act, the California Coastal Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and local land use controls and use permits
- Conducting writ hearings and trials
- Drafting briefs for cases in federal and state court
- Reviewing Tribal Law cases, including commenting on fee-to-trust applications
- Drafting proposed ordinances on issues of public health such as tobacco, licensing, food safety, and living wage
Please visit CROWN Attorney Fellowship for additional information regarding the program.
The ideal candidate for the position will be one of the following:
- A student in the final year of law school who has had one year of law clerk internship experience
- A law school graduate, within the past twelve (12) months, with significant related coursework or
- A law school graduate, within the past twenty-four (24) months, who has a currently active membership in the State Bar of California
In addition, the ideal candidate will possess:
- Excellent academic credentials
- A strong interest in pursuing a career with a public law agency
- Keen analytical skills
- Aptitude for communicating persuasively verbally and in writing
FELLOWSHIPS/INTERNSHIPS
CROWN Public Law Attorney Fellows are Senior Law Clerks, and are considered to be Interns, and as such are not in classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as: long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Internships are limited to a maximum of 36 months for Law Clerks currently enrolled in an academic program and three (3) years for Graduate Law Clerks.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Enrollment in the second year of a three year accredited law school program or enrollment in the third year of a four year accredited law school program; and at least one year of experience as a Law Clerk in a Legal Department of the County of Sonoma;
OR
Graduation within the past two years from an accredited law school program with outstanding academic achievement or with considerable coursework in legal fields applicable to the Departmental assignment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: county government functions and legal responsibilities; the principles of civil and criminal law; trial and hearing procedures and rules of evidence; legal research and techniques; or the functions of traffic court and how to present and prepare cases for presentation in traffic court; or of legal and other research techniques and the principles of law relating to sustainability, energy, water, or climate change.
Ability to: plan, organize, and coordinate the work assignments of lower level Law Clerks; analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; present statements of law, fact and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral forms; establish and maintain harmonious and cooperative relationships with other staff members, other county staff, and the public; perform legal research and prepare legal opinions; evaluate complaints and obtain information through personal interview; effectively communicate with subordinates on behavioral and performance related issues.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
Applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed to ensure candidates meet the minimum requirements for the position. Candidates possessing these requirements will be referred to the department for further consideration. The hiring department will contact candidates who appear to best meet the requirements and needs of the position and take further steps in making a selection for the internship.