Assistant Civil Division Chief

Closing Date: 13th November, 2025

Description:

General Definition of Work
Performs complex professional work in the Civil Division of the County Attorney's Office; serving as an assistant to the Civil Division Chief and advisor to the County Attorney and the Chief Deputy County Attorney. Work is performed under the general direction of Civil Division Chief. Oversight is exercised over personnel within the division.

Essential Functions:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Serves as the Assistant to the Chief of Civil Division and assists in the management of the Civil Division and provides oversight for all direct reports.
• Uses independent judgment providing supervision and leadership to personnel under position's span of control; makes and participates in decisions on matters of hiring, transfer, suspension, layoff, recall, promotion, discharge, assignment, reward, adjusting grievances or disciplining employees under position's span of control; sets goals and objectives for others to work towards and monitors performance; creates and maintains a positive work environment fostering effective performance of staff.
• Serves as an advisor to the County Board and all County departments by providing legal services, direction, and advice on procedural and substantive matters affecting the County.
• Provides legal guidance to supervisors and department heads regarding all areas of civil law, election law, employment law, risk management, and litigation. This includes assisting with the drafting, reviewing and negotiating of all contracts and legal settlements involving the County.
• Assists the Civil Division Chief in the supervision, management, and direction of the Civil Division in the Wright County Attorney's Office, which includes the civil and child protection attorneys. Assigns cases and legal proceedings to attorneys; ensures that civil matters are completed, and attorney coverage is maintained for all court matters; ensures the Civil Division adheres to the guidelines/policies of the Office and the Wright County Board of Commissioners; provides guidance and training on various matters impacting the Division and the County.
• Serves as a resource and legal advisor to the County Attorney, the County Board and all department heads and supervisors under the direction of the Civil Division Chief; assists the County Attorney with leadership, supervision, and management of attorneys and support staff by setting goals, guidelines/policies, and objectives; assists County Attorney with media/public relations.
• Assists the Civil Division Chief to ensure the County's compliance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act; oversees the legal advice and guidance to office staff and other county departments on Data Practices.
• Serves as member of County Attorney's Office management team; conducts confidential discussions with the County Board of Commissioners, County Administrator, County Attorney, Chief Deputy Attorney, Chief of Criminal Division, Chief of Civil Division, Office Manager and all County Departments on a wide range of sensitive matters.
• Provides leadership, expertise and perspective on highly complex or sensitive civil matters. Maintains an individual caseload that includes performing all essential functions listed in the Attorney III job description.
• Assists the Civil Division Chief in providing legal services to the Wright Soil and Water Conservation District and all joint powers entities as requested by the County Board.
• Under the direction of the Civil Division Chief assists in overseeing and directing the work of all retained and appointed outside legal counsel on all civil matters and litigation.
• Consults, advises, and represents the County in civil matters, real estate transactions (public and private), tax appeals, condemnation proceedings, and all lawsuits brought against the County, its agents, officials, and employees. This includes the negotiating and drafting of records purchase agreements, easements, deeds, and other real estate documents.
• Serves as liaison between the County Attorney's Office and Human Services, Courts, the Wright County Children's Justice Initiative team, and other stakeholders within the child protection and child welfare system. Represents the County in civil and juvenile protection matters at the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court. Assists and consults with civil and child protection attorneys in handling appeals.
• Assists with preparation of the annual Attorney's Office budget; monitors budget administration; informs County Attorney of any concerns.
• Performs other duties and activities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Education and Experience:
Juris Doctorate in law, or related field, and six years of experience as a practicing Attorney, two years of experience as an Attorney III, or equivalent/relevant county/municipal law practice experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements:

• Successful completion of the Minnesota Bar Exam.
• Active license to practice law in Minnesota, issued by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
• License to practice in Federal District Court, Federal Court of Appeals, and US Supreme Court, if representing County in these courts.
• Requires the ability to pass a BCA background check
• Up-to-date status for continuing legal education, monitored by the Minnesota Office of Continuing Legal Education.
• A valid driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility is also required upon hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of all duties and responsibilities of the County Attorney's Office; knowledge of Minnesota statutes, rules, and regulations pertaining to civil law, child support and paternity matters, and specific statutes, ordinances, regulations, and case law affecting operation of Wright County departments and court system; knowledge of electronic legal research techniques; knowledge of courtroom decorum and trial procedures and tactics; proven leadership qualities with ability to motivate employees; skill in the use of standard office equipment, including computer and software programs; analytical skills sufficient to analyze, interpret, and apply a complex and wide variety of County, State, and Federal statutes, regulations, and ordinances; verbal and written communication skills sufficient to effectively present information and respond to questions from a wide variety of audiences; reading comprehension skills sufficient to read and understand legal documents; interpersonal skills sufficient to exchange and or convey information, receive work direction, and maintain effective working relationships; ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality regarding sensitive information; ability to be persuasive with judges, juries, other attorneys, and members of the general public; ability to apply legal principles and precedents and prepare and try complex civil or criminal cases; ability to supervise personnel in a manner conducive to efficient performance and high morale; ability to deal effectively with demanding/challenging individuals and individuals in crisis; ability to effectively organize time and anticipate, plan, make decisions and successfully respond to changing circumstances; ability to perform all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices; ability to communicate courteously and professionally while maintaining positive working relationships with others when carrying out all job functions.

Physical Requirements:
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel and occasionally requires standing, walking, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

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