Deputy County Attorney

St Mary's County Government; Leonardtown (MD); On-site; USD 125,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Mary's County Government seeks a seasoned legal professional to assist the Director, supervise department staff, and provide legal support to the Commissioners.

You will conduct legal research, draft contracts and ordinances, and prepare cases for trial across multiple Maryland courts, while coordinating budgets and interagency liaison to ensure program success.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school and Maryland Bar membership.
• Related professional experience including trial experience.
• Or equivalent training, education, and/or experience.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Director and coordinates staff to meet department goals.
• Provides legal support and advice to the Commissioners and staff.
• Performs legal research and prepares/reviews documents; presents opinions.
• Prepares cases for trial and handles various court proceedings.
• Drafts contracts, legislation, resolutions, and ordinances.
• Liaisons with federal, state, and local agencies on policy impacts.
• Establishes operating budgets and staffing requirements; analyzes performance.
• Supervises department staff and coordinates with mid-level managers.
• Keeps leadership informed of major issues and recommends changes.

Skills

Advanced knowledge of law

Legal research

Contract negotiation

Budgeting knowledge

Supervision/management

Public representation

Interpersonal communication

Electronic resources

Computer systems

Education

Law degree (accredited)

Maryland Bar member

Trial experience

Equivalent training/experience

Tools

Legal databases

Research tools

Job description

Assists the Director in coordinating, directing, and assessing the work of department staff to facilitate the achievement of departmental goals and objectives; works under the general direction of the Department Director with latitude for independent action and judgment and is evaluated on the contribution to the efficiency of the Department and the effectiveness of program goals and objectives; performs other duties as assigned.

1. Assists and works under the direction of the County Attorney in providing legal support and advice to the Commissioners of St. Mary's County;
2. Performs legal research, preparation and review of legal documents; develops, presents, and defends professional recommendations and legal opinions for review by the County Attorney on legal questions to elected, appointed officials and County staff;
3. Prepares selected cases for trial and tries cases before administrative tribunals, District Court, Circuit Court, Court of Special Appeals, and the Court of Appeals of Maryland;
4. Drafts and negotiates contracts with public and private organizations;
5. Drafts legislation, resolutions and ordinances;
6. Acts as a liaison between Federal, State, and local Governmental agencies whose policies, laws, regulations, and directives impact upon the department;
7. Establishes the operating budgets and staffing requirements; reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations regarding areas of responsibility;
8. Analyzes technical performance reports, correspondence, and contracts;
9. Provides indirect supervision for department staff and direct supervision for mid-level department managers;
10. Increases professional knowledge through attending workshops and conferences, participating in professional associations and activities, and reading professional and local publications;
11. Performs other duties as assigned

1. Ability to gain advanced knowledge of St. Mary's County Government policies and procedures;
2. Ability to act as a representative of St. Mary's County Government to the public;
3. Advanced knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of the principles and practices of law and the ability to interpret same to staff and the public;
4. Extensive knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and court decisions affecting the practice of law at the County level;
5. Extensive knowledge of governmental fiscal policies, procedures, and legal mandates including the budget process;
6. Extensive knowledge on modern research and investigative techniques and procedures;
7. Ability to keep the Department Director and all relevant parties informed of all major issues and programs and to recommend changes as appropriate;
8. Ability to supervise, plan, and coordinate the work of diverse staff in order to accomplish departmental goals and objectives;
9. Ability to review, evaluate, and initiate appropriate action on technical and legal reports, contracts, and documents concerning departmental matters;
10. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with county officials, associates, subordinates, representatives from other agencies, and the general public;
11. Knowledge of electronic resources, including the Internet and database information retrieval;
12. Ability to operate relevant computer systems, including hardware and software.

1. Graduation from accredited law school and a member of the Maryland Bar authorized to practice law in the state of Maryland;
2. Related professional experience including trial experience;
3. Or equivalent technical training, education, and/or experience.

Additional Requirements:

1. Must pass physical examination prior to employment;
2. Must successfully pass background investigation with favorable results.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:

Work requires no unusual demand for physical effort.

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices or meeting rooms, e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls.

Full salary range for this position is $125,489 - $216,050 annually. The full salary range does not reflect the anticipated hiring salary for this position. The anticipated hiring range is $125,489 annually.