Full Time Assistant County Attorney

Brown County; New Ulm (MN); On-site; USD 96,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

Brown County seeks an Assistant County Attorney to assist and advise the County Attorney in prosecuting crimes, enforcing child support, and protecting children and vulnerable adults. This role also serves as legal counsel to county departments and agencies, attending meetings when the County Attorney is unavailable.

The Attorney shares duties with the County Attorney as the county’s chief legal advisors and must meet Minnesota licensure requirements, with 4+ years’ relevant experience and

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree required from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Minnesota (bar exam completed).
• Requires 45 hours of continuing legal education every 3 years.
• Four years’ experience as an Assistant County Attorney, with criminal matters preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prosecutes felonies and misdemeanors on behalf of the County.
• Drafts complaints, search warrants, and discovery materials.
• Attends court hearings and trials; conducts trials with witnesses and evidence.
• Provides education and training to law enforcement on changes in the law.
• Be available 24 hours per day for law enforcement purposes.
• Represents the County in various civil matters and ad hoc committees.

Skills

Writing skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Negotiation

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Minnesota Bar Exam

Continuing legal education (45 hours/3 years)

Experience as Assistant County Attorney (criminal)

Job description

Position Summary

The Assistant County Attorney assists and advises the County Attorney in the prosecution of crimes, the enforcement of child support, and the protection of children and vulnerable adults. The Assistant County Attorney acts as legal counsel for all county departments and agencies. In the absence of the County Attorney, the Assistant County Attorney attends County Board meetings and committee meetings. The Assistant County Attorneys are appointed by the County Attorney, with the consent of the County Board. The Assistant County Attorney shall have the same duties and be subject to the same liabilities as the County Attorney and hold office during the pleasure of the County Attorney. The Assistant County Attorneys, along with the County Attorney, are the chief legal advisors to the County.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Criminal Law

• Prosecutes all felonies with the County.
• Prosecutes all gross misdemeanors (except aggravated DWIs occurring within an incorporated city).
• Prosecutes all misdemeanors occurring outside incorporated cities.
• Prepares and drafts all legal documents, such as complaints, search warrants and discovery materials.
• Attends all court hearings and proceedings.
• Prepares and conduct trials for all criminal cases charged, including meeting with and interviewing witnesses, preparing jury instructions, drafting memoranda of law and presenting evidence and arguments at hearings and trial.
• Provides education and training of law enforcement officers on changes of the law.
• Preparation of appeals, including briefs and oral arguments.
• Be available 24 hours per day for law enforcement purposes.
• Be a member of and participates in Drug Court, Criminal Justice Institute, Coordinating Council and MCAA.
• Conducts all phases of the Grand Jury process to obtain an indictment.

Juvenile and Child Protection Law

• Reviews reports concerning juveniles.
• Meets with law enforcement officers, social workers, doctors, and other professionals and private citizens regarding files.
• Drafts delinquency, juvenile traffic, juvenile petty offender, child in need of protection or services, termination of parental rights, transfer of permanent legal and physical custody, and adoption petitions.
• Prepares for and attend all detention, adjudicatory, dispositional, and review hearings.
• Initiates and conducts all termination of parental rights cases.
• Participates in the Child Protection Teams, School Truancy Team, Children's Justice Initiative, Juvenile Intensive Supervision Team and other groups and committees as assigned.
• Meets with and lectures community school classes at the request of instructors.
• Be available 24 hours per day for questions from and provide advice to law enforcement, human services, public officials and employees.
• Represents human services in appeals of maltreatment determinations.
• Attends Corner House interviews of children to advise forensic interviewers on civil/child protection matters.

Civil Duties

• Serves in County Attorney's absence or when necessary, attend County Board meetings, Planning and Zoning Commission and other meetings and provide advice.
• Assists the County Attorney in drainage ditch proceedings.
• Releases information and issues press releases at the direction of the County Attorney.
• Assists in preparation of all documents necessary for initiation of condemnation proceedings and conduct any trials if necessary.
• Assists in the drafting of proposed county ordinances, resolutions and rules.
• Assists in representing the state and county in collection of contested real and personal property taxes, including representing the county's position in court.
• Assists in prosecuting violations of county zoning ordinances.
• Assists in the initiation of appropriate legal documents for collection of county claims.
• Assists in commitment cases, provide advice to social workers, mental health workers, public health nurses, police, doctors, and others in the appropriateness of commitment of a person who poses a risk of harm due to mental illness, chemically dependent persons, persons with a developmental disability, and/or a person who has a mental illness and is dangerous to the public.
• Assists in commitment cases by drafting and reviewing petitions for each type of commitment, prepare for and attend all court hearings and draft appropriate finding and orders as directed by the court.
• Represents the County in medical assistance and recovery matters.
• Assists in public guardianship/conservatorship proceedings
• Other duties as assigned or apparent.

Qualifications

Education:

• A four (4) year degree from an accredited college or university and a three (3) year Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school is required.
• All applicants must have passed the two-day long Minnesota bar exam and the one-day Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination.
• All applicants must complete 45 hours of continuing legal education credits every 3 years.
• Four years’ experience as an Assistant County Attorney, with experience prosecuting criminal matters preferred.

Requirements

• License to practice law in the State of Minnesota.
• Valid Minnesota Driver’s License.
• Regular attendance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of principles, concepts, practices and standards of the legal professional including rules of conduct, rules of evidence, rules of court, civil and criminal procedures/processes.
• Knowledge of state, federal and local laws and statutes applicable to areas of practice.
• Knowledge and skill with negotiation techniques and processes.
• Knowledge and skill with principles, techniques, methods, and resources of legal research.
• Knowledge of supervisory and management fundamentals.
• Knowledge of law enforcement policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of principles, issues and processes involved in contract review and drafting.
• Knowledge of county organizational structure and functions.
• Must be able to work independently and periodically under short timelines.
• Must be able to work with a high degree of confidential work and sensitive issues.
• Must have a very high attention to detail and be able to produce exceptional quality work product.
• Must have excellent writing and communication skills.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with department personnel, judges, attorneys, clients, witnesses, law enforcement, other County staff, elected officials, and the public.
• Ability to work with a high degree of confidential work and sensitive issues.

Position is a Grade 17 with an entry salary range of $96,324.80 to $107,993.60, DOQ. Position has a full earning potential of up to $135,740.80, DOQ.

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