Staff Attorney

General Statement

The Staff Attorney, under limited supervision, performs professional tasks assigned by the County Attorney. Work includes review and preparation of contracts; county ordinances, county policies, litigation documents, and other miscellaneous legal documents; legal counsel to county staff; legal research; occasional real estate matters; and litigation matters.

Additionally, positions assigned by the County Attorney to Social Services will be responsible for assignedtrial and appellate litigation involving Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services; general trial and appellate litigation; drafting and negotiating otherlegaldocuments, including legal memoranda, contracts, settlements, and litigation pleadings;legalcounseltocountystaff;and conducting meticulouslegalresearch.

The Staff Attorney must exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in various phases of work.

Essential Functions

Provides legal counsel, upon request of County Attorney, to County Department Directors, Division Directors, and other employees, to include research of issues presented and provision of legal opinions through oral or written response.

Drafts/reviews a variety of miscellaneous legal documents, including ordinances, resolutions, forms, policies, procedures, and notices, as exemplified by the following: resolutions for the disposition of property, policies for the donation of property, procedures for records retention, and notices for special meetings and zoning text amendments.

Interprets County ordinances and gives advice on such interpretation for Department Directors and Division Directors.

Performs research projects upon assignment by the County Attorney.

Represents the County in court or in front of courts or administrative bodies as required. Prepares pleadings, prepares witnesses, gathers testimony and other evidence related to minor litigation and ordinance enforcement matters.

Keeps abreast of changes in local government law by attending continuing legal education seminars and reading update materials.

Reviews public records requests, as needed, to assist in determining whether or not records should be excluded from release to the requester under sections of NC law.

Maintains confidential information without disclosure.

May occasionally be required to attend meetings outside regular business hours.

Knowledge of North Carolina law pertaining to the operations, authorities and responsibilities of County government, or the ability to develop such knowledge.

Knowledge of the current literature, trends and developments in the field of governmental law. Expresses ideas effectively orally and in writing.

Speaks before groups of people with poise, voice control, and confidence.

Records and delivers information, explains procedures, follows oral and written instructions and to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal terminology.

Is able to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions and must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Communicates with diverse group of individuals with varying levels of sophistication as related to legal knowledge.

Exercises tact and courtesy routinely and consistently when dealing with others. Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities.

Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-starting approach to meet job responsibility and accountability.

Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Anticipates legal problems proactively and prevents or mitigates them before occurrence.

Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons and departments within the County.

Works with the County Attorney to select and recommend employment of personnel for the department who are qualified both technically and philosophically to meet the needs of the department and the County.

Works cooperatively and respectfully with legal support staff.

Maintains the respect and loyalty of staff.

Stays abreast of changes in operating philosophies and policies of the County and continually reviews department policies to ensure that any changes in County philosophy or practice are appropriately incorporated.

Operates small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.

Operates computers for data entry, project tracking, legal research, word processing, or accounting purposes.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Additional essential functions based on assigned department:

Social Services

Drafts/reviews County contracts for sufficiency as to legal form; negotiates contract terms with opposing counsel, as necessary.

Attends regular staff meetings to discuss status of contracts and ongoing projects.

Attends DSS staff Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services petition reviews; prepares and assists with preparing Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services petitions, summons, notices, and motions; prepares and files motions to quash on behalf of DSS.

Represents Union County DSS in Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services court proceedings and prepares all documentation and materials and performs all tasks necessary for such representation; and prepares all required documentation in matters that have been appealed to the North Carolina appellate courts.

Prepares court orders for all court hearings concerning Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services matters to which the Staff Attorney is assigned.

Attends Child Family Team meetings with DSS staff as needed; and responds to inquiries from attorneys regarding pending DSS investigations.

Responds to inquiries from county and state agencies.

Works with DSS staff to ensure that all legal mandates are met; assists in training DSS staff regarding relevant laws, local rules, policies, and procedures.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctor Degree (JD) from an accredited school of law, and two (2) years of experience as an attorney; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses or Certifications:

Licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina. Admitted to practice law, or ability to gain admittance, to relevant state, federal, and administrative bodies, including federal courts.

Special Requirements:

Must have superior demonstrated reading, writing, and communication skills. Must be a team player who communicates, integrates, and compromises exceptionally well and with a pleasant demeanor with other staff and client members.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctor Degree (JD) from an accredited school of law, and four (4) years of experience as an attorney, preferably on behalf of state or local government clients; or equivalent combination of education and experience in a local government office.

Licenses or Certifications:

Licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina. Admitted to practice law, or ability to gain admittance, to relevant state, federal, and administrative bodies, including federal courts.

Special Requirements:

Must have superior demonstrated reading, writing, and communication skills. Must be a team player who communicates, integrates, and compromises exceptionally well and with a pleasant demeanor with other staff and client members.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must be physically able to operate standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, multi-line programmable telephones, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force to move objects and transport and set up files and exhibits. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the need to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs.