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Posted June 07, 2026

Assistant / Deputy City Attorney

City of Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, CA Full Time
Compensation: $137,477 to $215,551 Annually
Reference: CityofSantaRosa5353785

Join Santa Rosa’s Collaborative Legal Team as an Assistant / Deputy City Attorney and Help Shape the Future of Our Community



Note: A salary increase of 4% is scheduled to be effective the first pay period of July 2026

The salary ranges below represent the current ranges for both classifications
and do not include the scheduled 4% salary increase.

DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY SALARY RANGE :$137,477.00- $171,781.00 Annually

ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY SALARY RANGE :$172,582.00- $215,551.00 Annually


The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.

The City of Santa Rosa is recruiting for an Assistant City Attorney to join a highly collaborative in-house legal team serving a thriving and dynamic northern California community. In addition to offering a great work environment and competitive salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous benefits package, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave package, a choice of three health plans, flexible spending program, employer contributions to a Retiree Health Savings plan, and top of the line, employer paid vision and dental coverage.

The Benefits of City Employment
  • A competitive total compensation package!
  • Flexible schedule (9/80) available with management approval
  • 12 paid holidays annually, plus 1 to 3 'floating holidays' per year, depending on start date and years of service
  • $500 annually for wellness
  • The City is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) Employer
  • 4% General Salary increase - July 2026
In addition to offering a rewarding work environment, opportunity for career growth, and an excellent salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous suite of benefits, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave accrual package, your choice between health plans, and top of the line employer paid (free to you) vision and dental coverage. More information regarding benefits associated with this position can be found on our Miscellaneous Employee Benefits page.


THE DEPARTMENT

The Santa Rosa City Attorney's Office is comprised of highly-skilled attorneys with significant public agency and private practice experience. It is an office that values innovation, mutual respect, and an environment where attorneys and professional staff work closely together, share knowledge freely, and support one another’s success. Our office takes pride in providing thoughtful, practical legal counsel that advances the City’s mission and serves the public interest. The office is highly regarded by the local legal community, the City Council, and City employees.

The City of Santa Rosa is seeking a skilled municipal attorney who is passionate about public service. This position offers an exceptional opportunity to engage in meaningful work, advising on complex legal, regulatory, and policy matters that directly impact City operations and the community. The ideal candidate will bring strong legal analysis, sound judgement, and a practical, client-focused approach to delivering excellent advice.

THE POSITION

The ideal candidate will be a versatile municipal lawyer with the ability to work across subject matters and adapt to evolving organizational needs. Experience in land use, environmental law, and housing law is especially desirable. We are looking for an attorney who has a strong knowledge base who also excels at translating complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice for decision-makers. The successful candidate will be comfortable serving as a trusted legal partner to City leadership, departments, boards, and commissions. A collaborative style, excellent interpersonal communication, and a deep commitment to public service will be essential for success in this role.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years (Deputy) or five years (Assistant) of experience in municipal law or equivalent or five years of experience in transactional law or equivalent. Expertise in land use, Planning, CEQA and housing law and experience working with a Planning Commission or similar appointed or elected body are highly desirable.



REQUIRED APPLICATION ATTACHEMENT :

Applicants must submit a writing sample as an attachment to their online application. The writing sample should consist of a document prepared in the course of professional employment that best demonstrates the applicant's ability to identify, analyze, and communicate legal issues.

Confidential or privileged information should be redacted prior to submission.

Failure to attach the required writing sample by the final filing date may result in disqualification from the recruitment process.


APPLICATION REVIEW :

The first review of applications is scheduled for June 22, 2026. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by this date for initial consideration. The recruitment will remain open through the posted final filing date, and applications received after the first review date will continue to be considered.




Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Perform legal research and prepare opinions on legal issues for City departments, the City Council and City Boards and Commissions;
  • Assist department heads in establishing departmental policies by developing and applying legal points and procedures;
  • Recommend changes in City policies and procedures to meet legal requirements;
  • Draft ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments;
  • Review such documents prepared by the City departments;
  • Prosecute misdemeanor violations of City ordinances and criminal appeals;
  • Represent the City in civil actions brought by or against the City;
  • Investigate claims and complaints by or against the City and recommend action to be taken;
  • Prepare cases for administrative hearings and represent the City in such hearings;
  • Represent the City Attorney at various City Council, Board and Commission meetings and in court; and
  • Provide legal training to City employees and City Board and Commission members.

Additional Duties:

In addition to the duties listed in the Essential Duties Section, each employee in this classification may perform the following duties:
  • Respond to citizen complaints and requests for information;
  • Represent the City in the community and at professional meetings as required;
  • Attend evening meetings; and
Perform related duties as assigned.
Knowledge of: Legal principles and procedures, including civil, criminal and administrative law and procedures; court rules and rules of evidence; methods of legal research, including computer research

Ability to: Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents, including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, memoranda, and pleadings; conduct research on legal problems and prepare sound legal opinions; prepare and present cases effectively in court or administrative proceedings; establish and maintain cooperative and collaborative relationships with other City employees, City officials and members of the public.

Deputy City Attorney:

Required Experience and Education: A combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and ability to perform the required duties. Experience: A typical way to obtain the knowledge and ability would be possession of two or more years of experience performing duties comparable to those of a deputy city attorney in a chartered city. Education: A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school or the equivalent.

Assistant City Attorney:

Required Experience and Education: Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. Experience: A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and ability would be possession of five or more years of experience performing duties comparable to those of a Deputy City Attorney in the City of Santa Rosa. Education: Possession of a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school or the equivalent is required.


Necessary Special Requirement: Active membership in the State Bar of California and ability to gain admission to the Bar for the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California.
Incumbents in this classification are expected to comprehend and make inferences from statutes, cases, pleadings, and letters; produce ordinances, resolutions, contracts, memoranda, complaints, answers to complaints, briefs and other pleadings, emails and letters; review and check the work of clerical and paralegal personnel and other attorneys; communicate orally in public meetings, depositions, court hearings, administrative proceedings, conferences, and training sessions, and on the telephone. The preparation of written materials requires the use of repetitive arm hand movement. The preparation of materials for public meetings, court hearings and training sessions requires the incumbent to draft charts or graphs. Working in an office environment and appearances in public meetings and in court require a sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time.

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