Assistant County Attorney

Deadline to Apply:      Thursday April 11^th, 11:59 p.m.

Department:               Attorney

Salary Range:             $38.46 - $48.07/hour

FLSA Status:               Exempt

Status:                         Full-Time

Benefit Status:             Eligible for benefits.

Job Summary 
Serves as legal counsel to the County and represents the Department of Human Services (DHS) in trials, appeals, and administrative proceedings in court and in State administrative agencies statewide. Provides legal services in the areas of child protection, child support, adult protection and welfare fraud, overpayment, and recovery for Moffat County. Performs other work as necessary.

Essential Job Functions:
Represents the People of the State of Colorado in dependency and neglect cases, child support cases, adult protection cases, and administrative hearings in the District Courts, Appellate Courts, and Administrative Law Courts.
Prepares memoranda of law and opinion letters as needed and directed by the County Attorney.
Researches and interprets the Colorado Children’s Code, Probate Code, Social Services Code, and the Colorado Code of Regulations pertaining to same.
Researches state and federal statutory and common law, regulations, policies, agency letters, legal treatises, articles, manuals, and other writings as needed to prepare all cases, discovery, or legal issues for hearing, trials, or other resolutions.
Interprets and applies Colorado Rules of Civil, Juvenile, Probate, and Appellate Procedure.
Represents the County in state administrative hearings regarding intentional program violations for TANF, food stamps, Medicaid, low-income energy assistance program, old age pension and aid to the needy and disabled, adoption subsidies, and administrative recovery of overpayments in these programs.
Provides legal advice to DHS Director and staff on legal issues.
Provides training to DHS staff regarding legal aspects of case preparation, trial/hearing preparation, testimony, and related legal processes as needed.
Provides other legal services as requested by the County Attorney.
Organizes trial and hearing preparation; drafts and files legal documents and prepares questions and arguments necessary for hearings or trials; notifies and interviews witnesses; reviews evidence.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with County officials and employees, other attorneys, representatives of community and governmental agencies, and the general public.
Executes administrative duties as requested by the County Attorney.
Attends meetings with DHS staff to coordinate legal services and policies with client.
Meets with counsel representing parents, children, at-risk adults, and other parties to identify legal issues, and then resolve them through mediation, negotiation, stipulation, and/or trial.
Performs other duties as required.
 
Other Duties/Responsibilities:  
Conducts legal research, drafts legal opinions, affidavits, motions, pleadings, dependency petitions, dependency orders, and other legal documents relating to civil matters.
Drafts reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
Conducts depositions, drafts discovery for services upon opposing parties, and compiles discovery responses.
Prepares cases for trial and litigates; prepares and argues appeals.
Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
Accounts for time in representation of DHS in accordance with State requirements.
Compiles records related to the representation of the DHS for budget purposes.
At the direction of the County Attorney, provides professional legal and technical counsel to the Board of County Commissioners, Elected Officials, Department Heads, and various County Boards, Commissions, and Departments.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Material and Equipment Used:  
Computer                          General Office Equipment

Minimum Qualifications Required:

Education and Experience:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school and a minimum of two years of experience as a practicing attorney.
Thorough knowledge and skill in statutory interpretation, legal research, and legal analysis. Strong organizational and writing skills. Good judgment. Experience in court. Dedication to public service. Proven ability to develop strong relationships with clients, courts, and co-workers. Desire to work as a member of a team.
Preferred qualifications include: background in Colorado child and adult protection law, child support enforcement, and administrative law, preferably in a local government setting.

Licenses and Certifications:
License to practice law in the State of Colorado.
Colorado Driver’s License

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:  
Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of law, specifically in the areas of juvenile, family, administrative, appellate, probate, contract, civil, and bankruptcy law.
Principles and practices of public administration.
Recordkeeping, report preparation, filing methods, and records management techniques.
Code of professional responsibility.
All applicable state, federal, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
Methods and techniques of legal research, trial preparation, and proceedings.
Computers and related equipment and software, files, and storage.

Skill In:  
Using tact, discretion, initiative, and independent judgment within established guidelines.
Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments.
Communicating clearly and effectively, orally, and in writing.

Mental and Physical Abilities: 

Ability to conduct legal research and draft legal briefs and memoranda of law.
Ability to analyze complex problems and develop appropriate solutions.
Ability to keep complex records, assemble and organize data, and prepare reports.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.
Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures, and government regulations.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to negotiate.
Ability to attend to detail.
Ability to be self-motivated.
While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and speak and hear.
While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is occasionally required to walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls, and reach with hands and arms.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions:  
Work is performed in a normal environment with little exposure to outdoor temperatures or dirt and dust.
The incumbent’s working conditions are typically quiet.
This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this job description. Any essential function or requirement of this description will be evaluated as necessary should an incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation for the specific disability will be made for the incumbent/applicant when possible. Moffat County prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, color, national origin, creed, ancestry, religion, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, or any other status protected by federal or state law.

Moffat County is an Equal Opportunity Employer:
Females/Minority/Veterans/Disabled/ Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity 

Questions?  Contact Human Resources at (970) 824-9195.