County Counsel

Yamhill County; McMinnville (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

15 paid holidays per year

Flexible Earned Time (FET)

PERS - employer funded contributions

Health benefit offerings with low-cost

Job summary

Yamhill County seeks a County Counsel to advise and represent the Board of Commissioners, departments and agents on civil legal matters in Oregon.

The role exercises independent professional judgment, supervises senior staff, drafts ordinances, contracts and reports, and represents the county in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. A law degree and active Oregon bar admission are required.

Qualifications

• Requires graduation from an accredited school of law.
• Active license to practice law in the state of Oregon.
• Minimum four years of active experience as an attorney, with government law exposure preferred.

Responsibilities

• Attends meetings of the Board of Commissioners and Planning Commission and other meetings as needed.
• Drafts ordinances, board orders, resolutions, and other paperwork for county business.
• Provides legal assistance to county departments on zoning, public contracts, and related matters.
• Represents the county in courts and before administrative agencies on civil matters.
• Reviews and prepares deeds, contracts, and tax foreclosure proceedings as required.

Skills

Oral advocacy

Legal research

Policy interpretation

Civil litigation

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Job description

County Counsel

Yamhill County has one regular, full-time County Counsel position. The County Counsel advises and represents the various boards, commissions, officers, employees and agents of Yamhill County on civil legal matters.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Exercises independent professional judgment under the direction of the Board of Commissioners. Consults with the District Attorney on matters of mutual concern.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Supervises Assistant County Counsel, Senior Assistant County Counsel, Paralegal and related secretarial support staff.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO THIS CLASSIFICATION. DEPENDING ON ASSIGNMENT, THE EMPLOYEE MAY PERFORM A COMBINATION OF SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:

• Attends meetings of the Board of Commissioners and Planning Commission as well as other such meetings as deemed necessary by the counsel or board.
• Drafts ordinances, board orders, resolutions, and other required paperwork to enable the board to transact county business.
• Provides legal assistance to various county departments for enforcing ordinances governing zoning, building, solid waste, dog control, and other areas by supervising investigations, preparing complaints, and appearing in court as necessary.
• Represents Yamhill County in state and federal trial courts, and in bankruptcy, appellate, and tax courts on civil matters where the county is a party. Also represents Yamhill County before administrative agencies such as the Department of Land Conservation and Development, the Employment Appeals Board, the Department of Revenue and others.
• Represents Yamhill County in land use appeals to the Land Use Board of Appeals.
• Prepares legal opinions on questions referred by various county departments.
• Advises county departments on legal matters relating to public contracts, public purchases, and public sales and transfers by the county.
• Reviews and prepares contract documents to which the county is a party.
• Prepares and processes tax foreclosure proceedings for delinquent property taxes and collects delinquent personal property taxes through supplementary proceedings.
• Reviews and prepares deeds for sale or acquisition of real property or any interest in real property such as leases, easements, or road dedications.
• Evaluates and responds to referrals from the planning department in connection with planning and zoning matters.
• Prosecutes violations of Yamhill County ordinances in district court.
• Investigates and administers all claims against Yamhill County for personal and property damage.

The Benefits

Yamhill County offers generous employee benefits:

• 15 paid holidays per year.
• 19.5 days of Flexible Earned Time (FET) accrual in the first year (based on an 8-hr day).
• PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) - 100% employer funded contributions.
• Full health benefit offerings with employee premiums starting as low as $89.02/month for PPO and $0 monthly for HMO for 2026 to 2027 plan year. *

• Qualifying employer for public service student loan forgiveness.

*Subject to the AFCSME Collective Bargaining Agreement (7/1/2023 – 6/30/2026).

Our Community

Yamhill County has approximately 109,000 residents and is a very desirable place to live in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country. Yamhill County is home to Linfield University and Chemeketa Community College in McMinnville and George Fox University and Portland Community College in Newberg. Yamhill County is centrally located in the Willamette Valley, within proximity to the Oregon Coast, the Portland and Salem metropolitan areas, and the Oregon Cascade Mountains. Wide varieties of indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities are available. We have the benefits, appeal and superior quality of life found in a small-town community, while enjoying active social and cultural lifestyles found in larger metropolitan areas.

Required Information

Under the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, any person hired or rehired is required to provide evidence of identity and eligibility for employment. Yamhill County does not offer VISA sponsorships. The County verifies the valid work authorization of each employee using Form I-9 and the E-Verify Program.

Yamhill County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and values diversity.

Applicants are considered for employment based on their qualifications without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or disability, or any other factor prohibited by law or regulation. Do not include information or photos that would identify those personal traits. Documents included with this identifying information will be removed from the application packet.

Some positions require a criminal history check and a review of driving record. All County positions require regular, prompt, and consistent attendance.

Accommodation Under the Americans With Disabilities Act

Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in the selection process for this recruitment. To obtain confidential assistance, please contact Human Resources at 503-474-4901 or via email at [e-mail].

Veterans’ Preference

Under Oregon law ORS 408.225-408.238, veterans who meet the minimum qualifications for a position may be eligible for hiring preference. If you think you may qualify, please complete and attach all the following.

• Veteran’s Hiring Preference (Veterans Preference Hiring Form-PDF)
• Supporting Documentation- (Refer to VA Preference form for list)

If you need assistance with completing an application for employment or with obtaining a Veteran’s Hiring Preference Form, please contact Human Resources at 503-474-4901 or via email at [e-mail].

Status of Your Application

Please note that Yamhill County communicates with all candidates via e-mail. If you "opt out" or "unsubscribe" from e‑mail notifications from NEOGOV, it will impact our ability to communicate with you about job postings.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Administrative, property, contract, municipal, and criminal laws.

SKILL IN:

• Proficient use of a personal computer and dictation equipment.
• Presenting cases before trial and appellate courts or administrative bodies.

ABILITY TO:

• Organize and summarize a large volume of material and arrive at a logical conclusion and set forth a concise, complete, and accurate finding of fact and conclusion.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff, other agencies, and the general public.
• Represent the county effectively before a trial court, an appellate court or administrative body.
• Attend work as scheduled and/or required.

Graduation from an accredited school of law.

A minimum of 4 years prior active experience as an attorney required, at least 2 of which must have been in a full‑time government law position.

Must be admitted to practice law in the state of Oregon and the United States District Court for the District of Oregon at the time of appointment and must maintain membership in good standing throughout appointment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to secure and maintain a driver’s license valid in the state of Oregon, or an acceptable alternative means of transportation. May be required to drive a County vehicle. Employees authorized to operate a private vehicle on County business are required to carry a valid driver’s license and liability insurance minimums as outlined in ORS 806.070.

May be subject to successful completion of a background check.

The incumbent typically works in an office environment and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office. Incumbent may encounter frequent interruptions throughout the workday.

The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle or feel, and to stand, walk, reach, bend or lift up to 20 pounds regularly and 30 pounds occasionally.

Contact with the public in office environments may risk exposure to irrational/hostile behavior, contagious diseases, or contact with domestic animals.

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by an employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned, to ensure workload coverage. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description does NOT constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the organizational needs and requirements of the job change.

The job specification requirements stated are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this job successfully. Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may substitute for the above so that the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.