Assistant or Senior Assistant County Attorney - Human Services

Employment Type: 0 - Full-time Regular
Pay Range: $78,131.00 - 157,613.00
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Overtime Exempt: Yes
Elected Office / Department: COUNTY ATTORNEY

This job involves legal work assisting the County Attorney in providing legal advice and representation to the Department of Human Services of Douglas County Government.

Classification (level) and compensation is based on qualifications and experience as it relates to the position. *updated for 2023 pay ranges

Assistant County Attorney: The hiring range is $78,131-$117,197 annually
Senior Assistant County Attorney: The hiring range is $105,075-$157,613 annually

Douglas County offers an excellent comprehensive benefit package including but not limited to: Medical/Dental/Vision. For a more detailed overview please view the full Employee Benefit Guide.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive.)

• Provide day-to-day legal advice and representation to the County Human Services Department. This may include but is not limited to:
• All stages of Dependency and Neglect (D&N) cases and child welfare matters – Emergency protection and removal orders; drafting petitions, motions, responses, and proposed orders; representing the Department at meetings, mediations/negotiations, hearings, court trials and jury trials; appeals, including drafting briefs and oral arguments; ensure legal aspects of child welfare cases are in compliance with all state and federal rules and laws including but not limited to ASFA and Title IVE.
• Provide representation for the Department of Human Services in juvenile delinquency cases, truancy cases, adult protection cases including guardianships and conservatorships, fraud recovery, administrative hearings, child support enforcement and related to subpoenas issued to the Department.
• Review and redact Department of Human Services’ records for release.
• Coordinate issues between DHS and other law enforcement, administrative agencies, State Departments, outside counsel, schools, and health care providers.
• Provide legal representation in mental health, involuntary commitments for drug and alcohol, and imposition of legal disability cases.
• Prepare and review contracts, memoranda of understanding, grant applications, and other legal documents.
• Prepare legal briefs, develops strategy, arguments, and testimony in preparation for presentation of cases. Conduct legal research and explains and interprets statutes, regulations, and status of cases to County officials and employees. Provide legal advice and memoranda on legal questions to elected officials, department and division heads, and employees. Assist elected officials, commissioners, and other County personnel in preparing contracts, leases, deeds, resolutions, and other legal documents.

Assistant County Attorney:

• Provide litigation backup for complex litigation with supervision and may independently handle simple litigation issues and/or administrative hearings without supervision.

Senior Assistant County Attorney:

• Must maintain a degree of skill in the practice of law that allows for competent and detailed legal advice with minimal support and no immediate oversight and independent judgment and decision-making ability is crucial to success.
• Supervises work of paralegals and other staff as assigned. Participates in employee decisions such as recruitment, scheduling, performance management, and disciplinary actions.
• Develops goals, documents performance, provides performance feedback and formally evaluates the work of the employee; provides reward and recognition for proper and efficient performance. Assists staff to achieve performance standards and identifies opportunities for continual improvement to performance standards.

OTHER DUTIES: Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assistant County Attorney: This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Senior Assistant County Attorney: This position may supervise human services paralegal(s) and/or Assistant County Attorneys as well as work prepared by County Department of Human staff.

INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT: Work involves a high degree of independent judgment based on knowledge of the law and past experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Assistant County Attorney:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with an LL.B./J.D. degree
• A minimum of one (1) year as a practicing attorney.
• Prior government experience in Human Services is highly desirable.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered.

Senior Assistant County Attorney:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with an LL.B. /J.D. degree.
• At least eight (8) years of law practice with experience related to child welfare Dependency and Neglect cases, DHS legal issues and related litigation skills strongly preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge:

• Thorough knowledge of civil, domestic and criminal law, court procedures, the Children’s Code, Colorado Code of Regulations and rules of evidence.
• Considerable knowledge of state statutes and appellate decisions.
• Considerable knowledge of principles, methods, practices, and materials utilized in legal research and writing.
• Management practices and principles.
• Strong leadership capabilities to assist, guide and coach the team to offer solutions/alternatives that address complex issues.

Skills:

• Skill in the preparation and trial of lawsuits and/or legal transactional work.
• Gather, analyze, and evaluate complex facts and law.
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Present ideas clearly and concisely.

Abilities:

• Ability to read statutes, analyze and interpret court decisions, legal procedures, documents, statutes, and regulations.
• Ability to prepare complex legal documents, opinions, pleadings, and briefs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be admitted by the Colorado Supreme Court to practice law in the State of Colorado and other jurisdictions where relevant cases may be filed.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS:

• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License upon hire, with complying insurance. Review of motor vehicle record is required at time of hire and periodically throughout employment.
• This position requires successful completion of a criminal background check including fingerprinting through a national database.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is generally performed in a typical but busy office or courtroom environment. Work may involve travel outside of Douglas County and includes evening and weekend work. This position requires the incumbent to remain available via mobile cellular device/email access during and after normally scheduled business hours.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This position is open until filled, review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

The job details outlined in this posting represent a modified summary of the full job description. A full copy of the job description may be requested by emailing HumanResources@douglas.co.us.

In the event of an emergency/disaster in or near the County, all County employees are expected to make every effort to be available to assist the County Manager, Elected/Appointed Officials and Department Directors to ensure the continued operation of any and all necessary County functions. This may mean being available to perform additional duties and hours beyond what is normally required. In the event that an exempt employee does work more than 40 hours a week in support of County operations during an emergency, such employee may receive overtime or other appropriate wage compensation in accordance with existing County policies or at the discretion of the County.