County Attorney III / 61015094

State of South Carolina; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision coverage

Long-term disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

The State of South Carolina Department of Social Services, Office of General Counsel in Berkeley, seeks a County Attorney III to provide professional legal services and representation for county offices, area adoption offices, and the regional Day Care licensing office, including Family Court matters.

The role supervises attorneys, oversees legal activity, handles pleadings and court filings, prepares witnesses, conducts case staffing, and ensures compliance with state and federal law while

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Three (3) years of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Must be a member of the SC Bar.
• Experience as a DSS Attorney preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional legal services and representation for county offices and licensing offices, including Family Court matters.
• Supervise attorneys in the assigned area and oversee the legal activity.
• Prepare pleadings, motions, orders, notices, and other court documents for agency actions.
• Conduct case staffing, interview witnesses, respond to discovery, and prepare cases for court.
• Comply with state and federal law and protect PII and agency data.
• Attend training and advise staff on legislation and case law.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Legal services

Family Court representation

Education

Juris Doctor Degree (ABA-accredited)

Tools

Pleadings & court filings

Job description

Summary

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful contributions to your community? Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of South Carolina's children, families, and vulnerable adults? If so, the SC Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you!

Job Duties

• The County Attorney III provides professional legal services and representation for assigned county offices, area adoption offices, and regional Day Care licensing office, including representation in Family Court on issues relative to child protection, foster care, adoption, adult protection and Economic Services.
• Serve as primary supervisor for attorneys in assigned area and supervise the legal activity in that area including, but not limited to, overseeing personnel administration. Represents the agency in all matters pertaining to emergency or non-emergency removal of children and vulnerable adults, termination of parental rights, inspection warrants, in-home protective services, permanency planning, judicial review of children or adults receiving services and any appeals resulting from such actions.
• Timely prepares, files and serves or ensures the timely preparation, filing and service of all pleadings, motions, orders, notices, rules to show cause, and other court documents related to representation of the agency in legal actions. Pleadings and proposed orders shall include all determinations required by state and federal law.
• Timely conducts case staffing meetings for the purpose of analyzing the legal status of the cases and otherwise advising staff on agency legal matters. Prepares cases for court by conducting and responding to discovery, interviewing, and preparing witnesses and reviewing agency documentation and reports from other sources.
• Complies with agency policy, state and federal law with respect to representing the agency in permanency planning hearings and termination of parental rights.
• Complies with agency policy, state and federal law regarding the provision of notice of legal proceedings to appropriate parties to agency actions.
• Utilizes or ensures the utilization of the Legal Case Management System for legal operations and documentation of legal activity in cases.
• Ensures that personal identifying information (Pll) is properly used, accessed, gathered, shared and disposed. Protects the Agency networks and applications by safeguarding systems, equipment and data.
• Establishes and maintains professional network and attends training sessions in order to enhance individual professionalism. Reviews legislation, statutory changes, and case law decisions and advises staff about the law. Participates in regular agency meetings to discuss and analyze outcomes and determine areas needed for improvement. Conducts in house training for other staff members.
• Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duty or services as directed.

Examples of duties

A Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA accredited law school and three (3) years experience as a practicing attorney.
Necessary Special Requirement: Must be a member of the SC BAR.
Experience as a DSS Attorney preferred.

Supplemental information

Must possess a valid driver's license. The employee must be able to communicate effectively (written and orally) and write legibly. May be required to work after hours and/or some overnight travel and must be able to lift approximately 15-20 lbs.
If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

Division:

Office of General Counsel / Berkeley / County