Assistant Legal Counsel

Closing Date: 6th November, 2025

Description:

Marion County requires on-site work. Remote work is not available.

Marion County's Office of Legal Counsel values a strong culture that encourages excellence, service, teamwork, initiative, and creativity. County legal work and litigation covers a wide variety of legal topics, including public safety, torts, employment, civil rights, property taxes, land use, quality of life, and pushing back on state/federal regulatory overreach.

Marion County serves over 350,000 residents and includes 20 incorporated cities, 37 unincorporated communities, and nearly 1,200 square miles as Oregon's leading agricultural producer. Marion County has 17 departments, over 1,600 employees, and a fiscal year 2025-26 total budget around $743 million. Legal Counsel attorneys serve as the exclusive civil lawyers and counselors for Marion County in a wide range of areas—including board of commissioners, sheriff, district attorney, clerk, assessor, treasurer, justice court, health & human services, public works, contracts, litigation, land use, parks, economic development, housing authority, utilities, waste services, community services, human resources, finance, etc.

The Office of Legal Counsel supports Marion County's work to further its strategic plan goals:

• Public Safety: Pursue a safe and secure community by protecting people, property, and the economy of Marion County.
• Transportation, Infrastructure, and Emergency Management: Provide leadership that addresses the continual growth and increasing diversity of Marion County's population and focuses resources on best meeting the needs of residents and supporting business.
• Health & Community Services: Promote the overall health of people in Marion County by improving the delivery of quality health services and supporting community-based prevention efforts.
• Economic and Community Development: Support employers, businesses, and property owners that promotes economic development and high standards of livability in Marion County.
• Civil and Government Services: Provide efficient, effective, and responsive government through stewardship and accountability.

General Statement of Duties:
Act as legal counsel to Marion County departments, and provides support in the area of litigation and counsel to county departments.

Supervision Received:
Work under the close supervision of the Marion County Counsel, who determines goals, assigns work, and reviews work for effectiveness and conformance to policy through reports, observation, and conferences.

Supervision Exercised:
Supervision of other employees is not a responsibility of positions in this classification.

Typical Duties - Duties include, but are not limited to the following
Assistant Legal Counsel acts as legal counsel to Marion County departments and undertakes civil litigation and counsel to county departments. One hundred percent of this position's time is devoted to being a lawyer and legal counselor. The job functions may include the following:

• Prepare and conduct trial court litigation, e.g., tort claims, lien foreclosure, defending county actions, challenging state/federal actions. Represent Marion County before various administrative tribunals, in mediations, and arbitrations.
• Provide legal advice to department managers, the Board of Commissioners, and county employees. This includes telephone conferences, electronic mail, office visits, meetings, on-site visits, written opinions, seminars and training sessions.
• Undertake research and draft legal documents such as memoranda, legal opinions, complaints, answers, options, interrogatories, orders, pretrial orders, settlement releases, jury instructions, contracts, deeds, Board of Commissioners orders and resolutions, and others.
• Prepare and present ordinance enforcement cases, respond to and/or object to public records requests and subpoenas.
• Court appearances, witness preparation, legal research, viewing the scene of the incident, and dealing with opposing counsel and parties by telephone, electronic mail, letter and conference.
• Provide legal advice and representation to the Board of Commissioners, elected officials, department heads, supervisors and employees of county government on all issues relating to county operations.
• Provide advice to County departments; respond to inquiries of other government bodies and private citizens regarding County regulations, complaints and cooperative efforts.
• Cross train in various areas of law to provide legal advice and representation to entities served by this office as necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements for the Position
Experience and Training:

• Graduation from an accredited school of law; AND
• Must be a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar prior to the time of appointment OR possess the character and qualifications to be eligible for admission to the Oregon State Bar through reciprocity/comity or out-of-state bar examination score.

Special Requirements:

• Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/.
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• This is a full-time position, which is not eligible for overtime.
• This assignment is not represented by a union.
• Typical work schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., with flexibility depending upon the needs of the department and program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Good knowledge of legal terminology; State and Federal civil practice and procedures; local government and administrative practices; courtroom procedures. Ability to analyze facts, evidence and precedents to arrive at logical conclusions; set forth facts, legal argument, and opinions in concise written form; effectively communicate in both oral and written form; appear effectively before a trial court or administrative body; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, courts, co-workers, and other agencies. Skill in drafting legal documents; operating a computer to input, retrieve, and access information.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Marion County Is a Qualifying Public Employer for The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, Full-Time Employees Working at The County May Qualify for Forgiveness of The Remaining Balance on Direct Student Loans After 120 Qualifying Monthly Payments Under a Qualifying Repayment Plan. Questions About Your Student Loan Eligibility Should Be Directed to Your Loan Servicer or The Us Department of Education.

Visa Sponsorship
Marion County Does Not Offer Visa Sponsorship. Within Three Days of Hire, You Will Be Required to Complete the Us Department of Homeland Security's I-9 Form Confirming Authorization to Work in The United States. Marion County Is an E-Verify Employer and Will Use E-Verify to Confirm that Hires Are Authorized to Work in The United States.

Veterans' Preference
Applicants Are Eligible to Use Veterans' Preference when Applying with Marion County in Accordance with Ors 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235 and Oar 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015. Preference Will Be Awarded only If the Applicant Meets the Minimum Requirements of The Position and Attaches the Required Documentation at The Time of Application.

Documents Required for Veterans' Preference
One of The Following:

• Member Copy 4 of The Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (dd Form 214 or 215); Or
• Letter from The Us Department of Veterans Affairs Indicating Receipt of A Non-Service Connected Pension; Or
• Certification that Discharge or Release from Active Duty Under Honorable Conditions Will Take Place Not Later than 120 Days After the Submission of The Certificate.

In Addition to One of The Above Documents, Disabled Veterans Must Also Submit One of The Following:

• A Copy of Their Veterans Disability Preference Letter from The Department of Veterans Affairs; Or
• Certification that Medical Separation from Active Duty Under Honorable Conditions Will Take Place Not Later than 120 Days After the Submission of The Certificate.

You Can Request Copies of Your Military Service Record Through the National Archives Website at Http://www.Archives.Gov/veterans/military-Service-Records/

Marion County Is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran and Disability Employer Committed to Increasing the Diversity of Its Workforce.

Applicants with A Disability May Request Reasonable Accommodation, Through Human Resources, in Any Step of The Process to Assist Them in Demonstrating Their Qualifications to Perform the Duties

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