Deputy City Attorney I / Deputy City Attorney II / Assistant City Attorney

The City of Vacaville - A beautiful place to live, a great place to work!

With over 600 employees, the City of Vacaville is proud to serve a vibrant, growing community. We offer a supportive and engaging workplace with employee social and wellness events, casual dress days, flexible work schedules, every other Friday off and outstanding pay and benefits. 

Join us and help shape the future of Vacaville!

The City of Vacaville is seeking a talented and motivated attorney to join the City Attorney’s Office. The City is recruiting for the flexibly staffed classification series of Deputy City Attorney I, Deputy City Attorney II, or Assistant City Attorney, with final placement determined based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, and demonstrated expertise.

Attorneys in this series provide legal counsel on a wide range of municipal matters impacting City operations, policy development, and governance. The selected candidate will collaborate closely with the City Council, City leadership, and department staff to provide practical, strategic legal guidance that promotes sound decision-making and ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Attorneys in this role advise on a wide range of municipal matters, including Brown Act compliance, Public Records Act requests, conflict of interest and ethics laws, land use and planning, public contracting, personnel and labor issues, risk management, drafting and reviewing ordinances and policies, representing the City in civil litigation and administrative proceedings, and providing real-time legal advice to City staff and officials. At the Assistant City Attorney level, the position carries increased responsibilities and operates with a high degree of independence in handling complex and sensitive legal matters and may also be called upon to act on behalf of the City Attorney when necessary. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Providing timely and practical legal counsel to the City Council, City leadership, and department staff to support informed decision-making and effective municipal operations.
• Performing complex legal research and analysis and preparing written memoranda, legal opinions, and advisory materials addressing emerging legal issues and operational challenges. 
• Preparing, reviewing, and negotiating a variety of transactional legal documents, including public contracts, interagency agreements, regulatory documents, policies, and other legal instruments necessary to implement City programs and initiatives.
• Managing and supporting civil litigation and administrative matters involving the City, including drafting pleadings and motions, coordinating discovery, preparing legal briefs, and working with outside counsel when specialized representation is required.
• Assisting City departments with the development of programs, policies, and procedures to ensure they are legally sound and aligned with the City’s strategic objectives.
• Advising City management on sensitive or complex matters involving legal risk, operational impacts, or policy considerations, and employment and labor matters, including disciplinary actions, grievances, and administrative hearings.
• Drafting and reviewing staff reports, resolutions, and ordinances.
• Collaborating with City leadership and staff to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Attending meetings and public hearings to provide real-time legal guidance and support City decision-making. 
• Supporting the City Attorney in addressing high-priority legal matters and assisting with special projects that require advanced legal analysis and cross-departmental coordination.

2% COLA increase scheduled on 11/1/26

Working for the City of Vacaville comes with an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical Insurance at affordable rates - City covers up to 85% of Kaiser premium, other plans are also available
• Vision and Dental Insurance monthly premiums covered 100% by the City
• Healthcare double coverage opt-out incentive of $3,000 per year for eligible employees
• Paid sick leave, vacation leave, thirteen holidays and two floating holidays a year
• Up to 97.5 hours per year of Administrative Leave

IDEAL CANDIDATE:
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and solutions-oriented attorney with strong legal judgment and a demonstrated ability to provide clear, practical advice on complex municipal matters. The successful candidate will possess excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills and will be comfortable advising elected officials, executive leadership, and department staff on sensitive legal and policy issues. This individual will be able to manage multiple priorities, exercise sound discretion, and communicate complex legal concepts in a clear and accessible manner. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to public service, professionalism, and ethical practice, and will thrive in a dynamic environment that requires both independent work and close collaboration with City leadership and staff. Candidates for the Assistant City Attorney level should also demonstrate the ability to handle complex legal matters with a high degree of independence.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Deputy City Attorney I:
Education:  A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
Experience:  Some experience practicing law in a government agency is desirable. 

Deputy City Attorney II: 
Education:  A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional legal experience as an attorney, including experience in the area of municipal law.

Assistant City Attorney:
Education: A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience as an attorney in the practice of municipal law, or in combination with experience in a closely related field.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE
Membership in the State Bar Association of California is a condition of initial and continued employment.

Select positions may require the possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record as conditions of initial and continued employment.

A completed City of Vacaville Employment Application and Supplemental Questionnaire must be received by the Human Resources Department at 650 Merchant Street, Vacaville, CA 95688 by 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2026.

Applicants are encouraged to apply online at cityofvacaville.gov.  Application packets may also be requested in person at the Human Resources Department or by calling (707) 449-5101.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application packet.

IMPORTANT: Contact with applicants will primarily occur via email. Please ensure that your application includes a valid email address that you check regularly.

For ADA information and other Frequently Asked Questions, please click here. 

Applicants receiving a conditional offer of employment must successfully complete the pre-placement process for this position before a final offer will be extended.  Pre-placement assessments for this position include, but may not be limited to, education and experience verification, Livescan (FBI/DOJ fingerprint review), and a DMV History and State Bar License review.

The City of Vacaville is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.