Claudia Silva

Claudia Silva serves as the County Counsel for the County of San Diego.

As County Counsel, she is the chief legal advisor to the Board of Supervisors, County officers, County departments, boards and commissions, and represents the County in all civil actions and proceedings. This includes representing the County in juvenile dependency matters as well as administering public liability claims. Claudia oversees a full-service law office of 111 attorneys and 74 support staff who undertake this wide range of work.

Claudia joined the County of San Diego in 2016 as Assistant County Counsel, became the Director of the Office of Ethics and Compliance in January 2019, and became the County Counsel in September 2022. As the Director of the Office of Ethics and Compliance, Claudia launched the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement and brought the offices together under the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Labor Standards. During that time, she also served as the executive lead for the newly launched Leon Williams Human Relations Commission in 2020 and served as the Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Executive Council. Claudia has been a lawyer since 1993. She received her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and her law degree from the University of San Diego. 

Claudia began her career at the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, working there for 12 years as a litigator and advisory attorney, appearing in state and federal court. She worked at the City of National City, City Attorney’s Office for 11 years, serving as their City Attorney for six years, handling a wide range of legal issues, including conflicts of interest, ethics, governance, personnel, land use, redevelopment, and public contracting. Public service has been her calling throughout her legal career.