Assistant County Attorney (Criminal or Civil)

$108,158.40 - $151,526.16 Salary

Level
Experienced

Position Type:

Full Time

Job Shift
Day

Education Level:

Juris Doctorate

Travel Percentage
Less Than 25%

Category
Legal

Description:
The Assistant County Attorney conducts all aspects of criminal prosecution, from the charging decision through sentencing, on felony, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor cases as assigned or as requested by the County Attorney, or in the absence of the County Attorney. This position also performs work in conjunction with the work performed by the County Attorney's Office and other departments including civil law, human services, child welfare, commitments, planning and zoning, tax appeals, probate, highway, environmental, vulnerable adults, guardianships, conservatorships, child support, child protection, and delinquency functions as assigned by the County Attorney.

Essential Functions:

• Reviews law enforcement reports, witness statements, warrant applications, subpoenas, affidavits, etc.
• Prepares witnesses and evidence that may be presented in evidentiary hearings or other preliminary hearings, administrative hearings adjudication hearings, dispositional hearings, court trials, jury trials and post-trial proceedings such as sentencing and revocation hearings.
• Represents Redwood County in District Court at arraignments, pre-trials, evidentiary and omnibus hearings, motion hearings, plea/sentencing hearings, settlement conferences, court trial, jury trials, probation violation hearings, etc.
• Coordinates with probation agents and caseworkers.
• Enforces Victim's Rights Act under Chapter 611A.
• Conducts plea negotiations.
• Drafts letters requesting or providing information, offering or responding to settlement offers, etc; Drafts complaints, petitions, legal memoranda, appellate briefs, motions, proposed findings and orders, and other assorted legal documents in a variety of both civil and criminal cases, doing legal research when necessary and incorporating, when appropriate, legal research as well as facts and reports provided by law enforcement, social workers and other stakeholders.
• Appears at conciliation court hearings, district court hearings, appellate court hearings and special hearings.
• Drafts legal documents such as easements, contracts, joint powers agreements, wage
• Conducts related administrative tasks to include:
• Attends meetings at County Attorney's request.
• Participates on committees.
• Records daily timekeeping.
• Records court results.
• Answers and returns telephone calls.
• Answers correspondence from victims, witnesses, and media at the Count Attorney's request.
• Conducts legal research, drafts legal documents and advises the County Attorney, the Board of Commissioners and Redwood County agencies.
• Maintains professional understanding of changes in law and practice through legal publications, continuing legal education seminars and legislative announcements.
• Preserves strict confidentiality in the handling of files, interviewing witnesses, and disseminating information pursuant to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and the Rules of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.
• Appears before the Redwood County Board of Commissioners and other commissions as directed by the County Attorney.
• Review and analyze information and data provided by County staff and/or law enforcement. Determine appropriate course of action including, but not limited to, composing the appropriate complaints, petitions, pleadings, and orders. Provide legal advice and direction to county staff.
• Provide for the defense of the county and its agencies as counsel or co-counsel in lawsuits brought against the county, its agents, officials, and employees. Apply legal principles combined with a working knowledge of all functions of the various county departments to identify, define, and evaluate problems facing county officials, agencies, department heads, and employees. Monitor the operations of county officers, agencies, department heads, and employees to ensure compliance with law and to aid in the county's overall risk management regime.
• Research legal issues; prepare memoranda and legal briefs or opinions. Analyze and interpret statutes/legislation, case law and other relevant information in order to maintain accurate and up to date on legal developments and changes that may affect County policy or operations. Analyze information in relation to established office policy, ethical considerations and standards, limited resources, and the social, moral, and legal objectives to be obtained.
• Review and, if requested, draft proposed changes to ordinances, administrative procedures, and county policies to comply with state or federal law, regulations and/or upon request of county staff.
• Provide legal counsel and furnishes written legal opinion to County Attorney, county boards, county administrator, elected officials, other county officials, department heads, law enforcement officers and/or and other county personnel.
• Review and/or draft various legal forms for bids, contracts, and bonds for county work.
• Draft and advise on all manners related to contracts, including real estate transactions, services agreements, joint powers agreements, etc.
• Reviews commitment/guardianship/conservatorship documents prior to filing. Also represents Redwood County Human Services at civil commitment hearings and in probate manners.
• Access to Not Public Data – The incumbent may encounter not public data in the course of these duties. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished, incumbent must properly store the not public data according to the provisions of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13).
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties performed by personnel so classified.

Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree.
• A license to practice law in the State of Minnesota.
• Member in good standing of the State Bar.

Experience And Skills Required:

• Considerable knowledge of County ordinances and State and Federal laws including accepted legal or court interpretations and Minnesota Court decisions.
• Working knowledge of principles of civil law, particularly as they relate to the ownership, acquisition, and conveyance of real property.
• Knowledge of principles of criminal law and the problems of criminal law enforcement, procedure, and evidence.
• Knowledge of what can be accomplished by legal approaches, what must be done by administrative approaches, and how the two must be balanced to achieve the intent of county departments/to protect the public interest.
• Ability to determine the limits of action available to opponents and the probable courses of action of opponents in court cases.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and have strong public relations skills.
• Ability to present and argue cases in court, having the ability to address situations as they arise.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to operate general office equipment including proficiency in information systems to include current e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, and related legal applications.
• Ability to create and maintain a participative, team-oriented work environment.
• Possession of a valid driver's license.

The qualifications listed above are guidelines. Other combinations of education and experience could provide necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this job.