Assistant County Attorney / Senior County Attorney - Human Services

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive.) 

• Represents the County in legal matters concerning the Board of County Commissioners, elected officials, and County departments in administrative hearings and court proceedings.  
• When supporting the Human Services Department will provide legal advice and representation to the County Human Services Department in Dependency and Neglect (D&N) cases. Handle all stages of D&N or child welfare matters, including but not limited to emergency protection or removal orders, filing of the petition, represent the Department at emergency hearings, review hearings, trials, and proceedings for termination of parental rights. Prepare and review drafts of contracts, petitions, appeals, guardianships, grant applications, and other legal documents.  Prepare cases for emergencies, mediation, negotiations, and trials. Prepare department staff for testimony in civil, administrative and domestic court proceedings.  Provide legal oversight in adoption hearings and subsidy appeals.  Prepare cases for review by the Administrative Courts for appeals of child abuse findings. Review records for release.  Ensure legal aspects of child welfare cases are in compliance with all state and federal rules and laws including but not limited to: ASFA, Families First, Title IVE, ICWA, HIPAA, FERPA, IDEA, Federal law Title 42 regarding substance abuse treatment related information, and Colorado law regarding confidentiality and privilege. Represent the Department in delinquency court proceedings when needed. Review Memorandums of Understandings. Serve in a legal advisor capacity for the Douglas County Child Protection Teams and the Citizens Review Team when needed.
• Conducts legal research, interviews County Officers, employees, and witnesses, and handles other matters in preparation for trial and/or hearings of any type.
  
• Prepares legal briefs, develops strategy, arguments, and testimony in preparation for presentation of cases.
  
• May conduct trials in cases in state and federal court.  Briefs and argues appellate cases in state and federal court.  
  
• Explains and interprets statutes, regulations, and status of cases to County officials and employees.
  
• Provides legal advice and memoranda on legal questions to elected officials, department and division heads, and employees.
  
• Assists elected officials, commissioners, and other County personnel in preparing contracts, leases, deeds, easements, license agreements, resolutions, regulations, and other legal documents.
  
• Negotiates contracts, leases, deeds, easements, license agreement, and other legal documents.
  
• Available on an as needed basis for any legal issue on any topic affecting the County.
  
• Must maintain a degree of skill in the practice of law that allows for competent and detailed legal advice in a variety of areas of law with minimal or no immediate oversight.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:  

Assistant County Attorney:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with an LL.B./J.D. degree.
• A minimum of one year as a practicing attorney. 
• Prior government experience is highly desirable.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered.

Senior Assistant County Attorney: 

• Requires an LL.B./J.D. degree.
• At least seven years of legal practice with experience in litigation. 
• Experience working with vulnerable populations, special victims units, child welfare, dependency and neglect cases, family law, law enforcement, contracts, land use or other County or public sector related experience is beneficial.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS: 

• Must be admitted by the Colorado Supreme Court to practice law in the State of Colorado.
• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s License upon hire, with complying insurance. Review of motor vehicle record is required at time of hire and periodically throughout employment.
• This position requires successful completion of a criminal background check including fingerprinting through a national database.