Assistant County Attorney III

Job Description

• Senior Staff Attorney performing legal work assisting the County Attorney in providing legal advice and representation to the Board of County Commissioners and to various departments and officials of Summit County Government. This job requires skilled knowledge and ability in the following areas and will involve complex cases and matters. The County Attorney’s office works closely with County personnel and elected officials to provide legal advice and representation, including explaining and interpreting statutes, regulations, and cases to County officials and employees. The Assistant County Attorney III is a Senior Staff Attorney that assists County personnel and elected officials with developing and drafting a variety of legal documents including contracts, deeds, easements, resolutions, ordinances, and regulations. The incumbent in this role represents the County in legal matters concerning the Board of County Commissioners, elected officials and various County departments in meetings, administrative hearings, public hearings, and court proceedings. The position requires legal research, preparing legal briefs, and developing strategy, arguments, and testimony in preparation for presentation of cases as well as advancement of the County’s goals both locally and statewide. Additionally, the Attorney’s office works closely with County staff to create and maintain partnerships with various local entities, including municipalities, nonprofits, ski areas, and the United States Forest Service..

Essential Job Functions

• Provides legal advice and memoranda to elected officials, department and division heads, and employees on any legal issue affecting the County. Also provides legal counsel and representation on special projects and special districts. Assists elected officials, commissioners, and other County personnel in negotiating and preparing contracts, leases, deeds, easements, and various legal documents as well as the development and drafting of resolutions, ordinances, and regulations.
• Represents the County in legal matters concerning the Board of County Commissioners, elected officials, and various County departments in meetings, administrative hearings, public hearings and court proceedings. Assists in the advancement of the County’s goals both locally and statewide.
• Conducts legal research, interviews County officials, employees, and witnesses, and handles other matters in preparation for trial and/or hearings of any type. Also, prepares legal briefs, develops strategy, arguments, and testimony in preparation for presentation of cases. Explains and interprets statutes, regulations, and status of cases to County officials and employees.
• Performs other duties and related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Highly skilled ability to read statutes, analyze and interpret court decisions, legal procedures, documents, statutes and regulations. Highly skilled ability to prepare complex legal documents, opinions, pleadings and briefs. Highly skilled ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form along with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to quickly and efficiently gather, analyze, and evaluate facts and law.
• Thorough knowledge of civil law, court procedures, the Colorado Code of Regulations and Rules of Evidence. Considerable knowledge of state statutes, statutory interpretation and appellate decisions. Considerable knowledge of principles, methods, practices, and materials utilized in legal research and writing. Skill in the preparation and trial of lawsuits and/or legal transactional work. Ability to work effectively with other employees, agencies, departments and the public. Proficiency in standard office computer software systems and judicial system/legal applications.
• Must maintain a degree of skill in the practice of law that allows for competent and detailed legal advice in a variety of areas of law. Also, the ability to work both independently and as part of a team is essential. Strong interpersonal skills are a necessity.

Minimum Qualificiations

• Experienced attorney with thorough knowledge of civil law, court procedures, the Colorado Code of Regulations and Rules of Evidence. Considerable knowledge and experience interpreting and implementing state statutes, case law, and appellate decisions. Should have at least 7 years’ experience with progressive responsibility in the preparation and trial of lawsuits and/or legal transactional work, including contract and public-private partnership negotiations. Ability to work effectively with other employees, agencies, departments and the public and demonstrated skill in establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with community partners. Proficiency in standard office computer software systems and judicial system/legal applications. In-house counsel or government experience is preferred but is not necessary if a candidate can demonstrate the requisite qualities through other experience. 

Education, Experience, and Formal Training

• Graduation from an accredited law school with an LL.B./J.D. degree and is an accomplished practicing attorney.
• Must be admitted by the Colorado Supreme Court to practice law in the State of Colorado.