(a) Pursuant to the San Diego County Charter, the County Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the County. In this capacity, the County Counsel shall provide legal services and representation to the County.
(b) No person, other than County Counsel, shall serve as the attorney or legal advisor to the County, and no County body or official shall hire, employ, retain, or use any person, other than County Counsel, for official legal advice, services, or representation for County purposes, except as provided by law or under the following circumstances:
(1) Conflict of Interest. Pursuant to the San Diego County Charter, when the County Counsel determines that a conflict of interest exists and determines to disqualify themself from representing the County in a specific matter, the County Counsel is authorized by the Board of Supervisors to obtain, and shall be responsible for obtaining, appropriate other counsel to represent the County in the particular matter.
(2) Specialized Legal Services. When the County Counsel determines that there is a need to obtain specialized legal services which are not available within the Office, the County Counsel is authorized by the Board of Supervisors to obtain, and shall be responsible for obtaining, appropriate outside counsel to provide the necessary expertise and specialized legal services required by the particular matter.
(3) Need for Additional Assistance. When the County Counsel determines that the legal needs of the County require additional attorney assistance not available through the Office, the County Counsel is authorized by the Board of Supervisors to obtain, and shall be responsible for obtaining, other appropriate counsel to provide legal services and representation to the County.
(4) County Counsels' Association of California. The County Counsels' Association of California ("Association") is a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation whose membership consists of the attorneys acting as county counsels of the 58 California counties. The Association provides a confidential forum over a variety of communication systems through which county counsels may share information protected by the attorney-client privilege, the attorney-work product doctrine, the common interest doctrine and other laws. The County Counsel is authorized by the Board of Supervisors to participate in all aspects and activities of the Association.
(Added by Ord. No. 9482 (N.S.), effective 8-15-02; amended by Ord. No. 10443 (N.S.), effective 12-15-16; amended by Ord. No. 10872 (N.S.), effective 1-4-24)