Closing Date: 16th July, 2026
Description:
Position Summary/class Description*Anticipated Hiring Salary Range**
$105,308 - $185,592
Salary Determined by Qualifications and Experience.
Position Summary:
This Attorney Position Requires Advanced Legal Work in The Office of Law. Work Involves Handling a Wide Variety of Complex Legal Issues for County Government Involving Labor, Employment, Personnel, and Other Matters, Including Representing the County in Civil Litigation and Administrative Proceedings, and Advising Agency Administrators and Legislative Policymakers, Decisionmakers and Decision-Making Bodies. This Position Will Not Perform Mid-Management or Criminal Work.
Class Description:
Performs Senior Professional Level Legal Work, Which May Include Supervisory Responsibility, Under General Supervision from An Administrative or Technical Superior. Criminal Work Includes Prosecuting on Behalf of The State of Maryland; Civil Work Includes Providing Legal Advice and Court Representation on Difficult Legal Matters, Including Handling Civil Litigation on Behalf of Howard County in Federal and State Courts.
This Position Is Executive Exempt, Meaning It Is a Part of The Exempt Service of The Howard County Merit System. Executive Exempt Positions Are Appointed and Serve at The Pleasure of The Appointing Authority, the County Solicitor. This Position Does Not Receive Merit Protections Received by The Classified Service. *
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Legal Advice and Counsel:
Other Related Duties as Assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Performs Senior Professional Level Legal Work, Which May Include Supervisory Responsibility, Under General Supervision from An Administrative or Technical Superior. Criminal Work Includes Prosecuting on Behalf of The State of Maryland; Civil Work Includes Providing Legal Advice and Court Representation on Difficult Legal Matters, Including Handling Civil Litigation on Behalf of Howard County in Federal and State Courts.
This Position Is Executive Exempt, Meaning It Is a Part of The Exempt Service of The Howard County Merit System. Executive Exempt Positions Are Appointed and Serve at The Pleasure of The Appointing Authority, the County Solicitor. This Position Does Not Receive Merit Protections Received by The Classified Service. *
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Legal Advice and Counsel:
- Provides Legal Advice and Written Legal Opinions on Labor and Employment Issues.
- Provides Legal Advice on Laws Including Title Vii, Fmla, Ada, Adea, Maryland Human Relations Law, Howard County Human Rights Law, Flsa, and Other Wage/pay Laws.
- Provides Legal Advice to The Office of Human Resources and Management on Matters Such as The Merit System, Employee Manual, Fringe Benefits, Collective Bargaining Agreements, Union Grievances, Negotiations, Pension Plans, and Internal Investigations.
- Provides Advice on Disciplinary Actions, Hiring Issues, and Other Employment-Related Issues.
- May Provide Legal Advice in Other Areas Including the Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act.
- Litigation and Case Preparation:
- Reviews Prospective Cases to Determine Adequacy of Legal Claims; Prepares Complaints and Responsive Pleadings.
- Interviews Witnesses, Conducts Legal Research, Obtains Documents, and Prepares Civil Cases for Prosecution or Defense.
- Appears in State and Federal Courts and Before Administrative Agencies (eeoc, Mccr, Ohre, Hrc, Personnel Board) in Complex Employment Cases.
- Responds to Judicial Inquiries and Maintains Working Relationships with Judges and Court Personnel.
- Document Drafting and Review:
- Writes and Prepares Legal Opinions, Documents, and Memoranda.
- Drafts and Reviews Legal Documents for Legal Sufficiency.
- Reviews and Drafts Departmental and Board Procedures.
- Writes and Prepares Persuasive, Well-Organized, Written and Reasoned Position Statements, Pleadings, Motions (including Dismissal, Summary Judgment) and Appellate Briefs.
- Interagency Communication and Support:
- Confers with And Responds to Inquiries from County Departments, Boards, and Commissions.
- Interacts with Agencies and Personnel of County, State, and Federal Government.
Other Related Duties as Assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
May Supervise Legal or Support Staff.
Minimum Required Education/experience
Law Degree from An Accredited Law School and Five (5) Years Related Experience, or An Equivalent Combination of Education and Experience.
Admitted to Practice and In Good Standing with The Maryland Supreme Court.
Required Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations:
Law Degree from An Accredited Law School and Five (5) Years Related Experience, or An Equivalent Combination of Education and Experience.
Admitted to Practice and In Good Standing with The Maryland Supreme Court.
Required Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations:
Graduated from An Accredited Law School and A Member in Good Standing with The Maryland Bar.
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
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 Talk or Hear. the Employee Frequently Is Required to Sit. the Employee Is Occasionally Required to Stand; Walk; and Use Hands to Finger, Handle, or Feel. Specific Vision Abilities Required by This Job Include Close Vision, and Ability to Adjust Focus.
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.
Language Skills, Mathematical Skills and Reasoning Ability:
Ability to Read, Analyze, and Interpret Legal and Technical Documents, Statutes, Regulations and Case Law. Ability to Write Legal Documents, Memoranda, Letters, Reports, Business Correspondence, and Procedure Manuals. Ability to Effectively Present Information and Respond to Questions from Clients, the Legal Community and The General Public.
Ability to Calculate Figures and Amounts Such as Discounts, Interest, Commissions, Proportions, Percentages, Area, Circumference, and Volume. Ability to Apply Concepts of Basic Algebra and Geometry.
Ability to Define Problems, Collect Data, Establish Facts, and Draw Valid Conclusions. Ability to Interpret an Extensive Variety of Technical Instructions and Deal with Several Abstract and Concrete Variables.
Additional Information:
To Apply: You Must Complete an Employment Application Online to Be Considered for This Recruitment. Resumes Cannot Be Substituted for Completion of The Job Application Work History. No Paper Applications Will Be Accepted.
Selected Candidates May Be Subject to Drug Screening, Background Screening, and Reference Checks.
At Time of Application, Please Submit a Copy of Any College Degree, Coursework, Licenses, or Certifications that You Have Referenced on Your Application. Applicants Who Have Education Obtained Outside of The U.S. May Need to Provide Proof of The Equivalent U.S. Education as Determined by A Foreign Credential Evaluation Service, Such as The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.Naces.Org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.Wes.Org/).
Howard County Government Is Not Sponsoring Employees in Application of The H-1 B Visa or Providing an Extension of An Existing H-1 B Visa. All Applicants Must Be Legally Authorized to Work in The United States Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
- Ten (10) to Fifteen (15) Years of Related Experience.
- Civil Jury and Trial Experience, and Appellate Oral Argument.
- Excellent Writing, Analytical, Oral Communication, and Organizational Skills, with The Ability to Work Well Under Pressure and Deadlines.
- A Strong Work Ethic and Ability to Work Both Individually and With a Team Are a Must.
- Knowledge of The Principles and Practices of Maryland Civil, Administrative, Regulatory, State and Local Government and Constitutional Law, and Court Procedures and Practices.
- Skill in Word Processing and Database Programs.
- Ability to Establish and Maintain Effective Working Relationships with Others, Including Fellow Attorneys, Paralegals, and Court Personnel.
- Ability to Exercise Good Judgment in Deciding when To Act Independently and When to Refer Situations to A Higher Authority.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
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 Talk or Hear. the Employee Frequently Is Required to Sit. the Employee Is Occasionally Required to Stand; Walk; and Use Hands to Finger, Handle, or Feel. Specific Vision Abilities Required by This Job Include Close Vision, and Ability to Adjust Focus.
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.
Language Skills, Mathematical Skills and Reasoning Ability:
Ability to Read, Analyze, and Interpret Legal and Technical Documents, Statutes, Regulations and Case Law. Ability to Write Legal Documents, Memoranda, Letters, Reports, Business Correspondence, and Procedure Manuals. Ability to Effectively Present Information and Respond to Questions from Clients, the Legal Community and The General Public.
Ability to Calculate Figures and Amounts Such as Discounts, Interest, Commissions, Proportions, Percentages, Area, Circumference, and Volume. Ability to Apply Concepts of Basic Algebra and Geometry.
Ability to Define Problems, Collect Data, Establish Facts, and Draw Valid Conclusions. Ability to Interpret an Extensive Variety of Technical Instructions and Deal with Several Abstract and Concrete Variables.
Additional Information:
To Apply: You Must Complete an Employment Application Online to Be Considered for This Recruitment. Resumes Cannot Be Substituted for Completion of The Job Application Work History. No Paper Applications Will Be Accepted.
Selected Candidates May Be Subject to Drug Screening, Background Screening, and Reference Checks.
At Time of Application, Please Submit a Copy of Any College Degree, Coursework, Licenses, or Certifications that You Have Referenced on Your Application. Applicants Who Have Education Obtained Outside of The U.S. May Need to Provide Proof of The Equivalent U.S. Education as Determined by A Foreign Credential Evaluation Service, Such as The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.Naces.Org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.Wes.Org/).
Howard County Government Is Not Sponsoring Employees in Application of The H-1 B Visa or Providing an Extension of An Existing H-1 B Visa. All Applicants Must Be Legally Authorized to Work in The United States Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
