Senior Assistant County Attorney

Alachua County; Gainesville (FL); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Alachua County seeks a Senior Assistant County Attorney to join its in-house legal team. This role is ideal for an attorney who values teamwork, public service, and serving as a trusted advisor within a dynamic local government environment.

The successful candidate will have five years of litigation experience and significant experience in either public procurement or real estate matters, with board certification highly desirable but not required. A hybrid work schedule may be available.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressively responsible legal experience including litigation.
• Significant experience in public procurement or real estate matters.
• Ability to communicate legal guidance clearly to clients at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Prepare pleadings, discovery documents, motions, briefs and other legal documents for complex litigation.
• Supervise and coordinate activities of subordinate employees; assign duties and review work.
• Draft contracts, deeds, resolutions, policy recommendations and other legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and prepare reports with proposed actions or solutions.
• Advise County officers on legal matters and represent departments as needed.
• Attend county commission and board meetings, including after-hours when required.

Skills

Litigation experience

Public procurement

Real estate matters

Communication skills

Teamwork/public service

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Florida Bar membership

Job description

Alachua County seeks a Senior Assistant County Attorney to join its well established, collaborative in house legal team. This position is ideal for an attorney who values teamwork, public service, and the opportunity to serve as a trusted advisor within a dynamic local government environment.

Preference will be given to candidates that meet one of the following: (a) at least five years of experience in public procurement and related transactional matters; or (b) at least five years of experience in real estate matters, including acquisitions, sales, leases, transfers, or real property disputes. Experience in both areas is a plus.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication skills, a disciplined work ethic, and the ability to convey legal guidance clearly and effectively to clients at all organizational levels. The successful candidate will work cooperatively with County staff, contribute to consensus building, support timely, practical solutions to operational needs, and be able to manage assigned matters independently with sound professional judgment.

While subject matter expertise is expected in assigned areas, the Senior Assistant County Attorney may be asked to handle matters outside their primary practice areas. The role includes litigation responsibilities and regular appearances before public boards, including in televised settings. A flexible, hybrid work schedule may be available based on client needs and office operations.

Candidates must be licensed to practice law in Florida and be in good standing with The Florida Bar.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree, and
• Membership in the Florida Bar Association, and
• Five years of progressively responsible legal experience which must include litigation experience, at least three (3) years of which have been largely devoted to the attorney's area(s) of specialization so that, when combined with the applicable training, the attorney possesses intermediate to advanced level of knowledge in federal, state and local law regulations and practices in the area of the attorney's specialization. Board certification in a relevant area of law, including, but not limited to City, County and Local Government Law, is highly desirable but not required.
• At least five years of experience in public procurement and related transactional matters; or at least five years of experience in real estate matters, including acquisitions, sales, leases, transfers, or real-property disputes. Experience in both areas is a plus.

Must be able to demonstrate proficiency within six months of assuming this role for technical skills necessary to use software and platforms to communicate effectively with staff, colleagues and court officials virtually. Must be able to maintain internet connection from remote site and maintain security and confidentiality of communications and records.

Required Pre-employment Screenings:

• Successful completion of a criminal history background investigation.
• Successful completion of a drug screen

The anticipated annual salary range for the Senior Assistant County Attorney position is $121,880.10 to $204,910.58.

This is highly responsible, professional legal work in assisting the County Attorney with a variety of legal issues, providing legal analysis and advice to the Board of County Commissioners, the County's administrative staff, various County-related agencies and boards and committees. The Senior Assistant County Attorney takes all legal action necessary to achieve County goals and protect County interests; involves specialization in certain legal fields; assignments include matters of substantial importance.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, employees in this classification are required to work.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with the County's core values.

Independently prepares pleadings, discovery documents, motions, briefs and other legal documents in matters involving litigation of a complex and difficult nature and of substantial importance, obtains and evaluates expert testimony and participates in settlement negotiations, serves as trial counsel for the County when needed.

Supervises and coordinates the activities of subordinate employees including determining work procedures and schedules; issuing instructions and assigning duties; reviewing work; recommending personnel actions; conducting performance reviews; and conducting departmental training and orientation.

May supervise Assistant County Attorneys, Interns and/or Externs on specific projects and assist the County Attorney with review of formal legal opinions and attorney work product prepared by Assistant County Attorneys, Interns and/or Externs to ensure accuracy, efficiency and compliance with County Attorney and legal standards.

Drafts or files a variety of documents, which may include: contracts, deeds, resolutions, policy recommendations, legal correspondence, motions, memoranda of law, briefs, pleadings, legal opinions and/or other legal documents.

Conducts legal research regarding complex problems and/or projects; prepares reports and memoranda, drafts opinions containing proposed or recommended courses of action or solutions.

Interprets and applies legal principles and precedents in resolving complex legal issues.

Reviews documents and renders opinions as to their legal validity and/or acceptability.

Advises and assists County officers with legal matters.

Represents departments, officials, boards and commissions in matters that require the professional services of an experienced attorney.

Prepares resolutions, ordinances and other proposed legislation of a unique or complex nature.

Attends meetings of the county commission, boards, agencies and other County Attorney's Office clients; may require attendance at meetings outside of normal working hours.

Demonstrates leadership and evaluates, develops and motivates employees.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Considerable knowledge of judicial procedures and the methods and practices of legal research.

Knowledge of statutory and constitutional laws of the State of Florida, especially as these apply to Alachua County government.

Knowledge of video conferencing, document collaboration tools, and remote document management software (including but not limited to e-signature, matter management, contracts management, public records and agenda review platforms).

Technical skills to attend certain hearings, seminars and meetings remotely.

Ability to communicate effectively, present evidence and question witnesses through remote platforms.

Ability to draft legal documents and proposed legislation.

Ability to effectively supervise and coordinate the activities of subordinate employees.

Ability to organize a variety of projects effectively.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing including public speaking.

Ability to prepare written reports and memoranda.

Ability to organize and present cases for trial.

Ability to conduct trials, hearing and proceedings.

Ability to litigate for areas of assignment.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County officials, other public officials, and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms, and use hands to finger, handle or feel.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Opportunity to work remotely, when not needed in-person, if the employee in this classification has technical skills to use the necessary software and platforms to communicate effectively with staff, colleagues and court officials virtually. Must be able to maintain internet connection from remote site and maintain security and confidentiality of communications and records.

Confidential Position: Certain personal information for employees (and specific family members) in this job position is exempt from public records pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.