Salary : $94,702.40 – $126,984.00 Annually
Location : Salem, OR
Job Type: Full-time Regular
Job Number: 601-2023-1
Department: Legal Counsel
Opening Date: 09/29/2023
Closing Date: 10/12/2023 9:51 AM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 13
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, undertakes civil litigation and counsel to county departments. 100% of this position’s time is devoted to being a lawyer and legal counselor. The job functions may include the following:
- Provides legal advice to department managers (including planning and public works), 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.
- Undertakes research and drafts legal documents such as memoranda, legal opinions, complaints, answers, motions, interrogatories, orders, pretrial orders, settlement releases, jury instructions and others.
- Prosecutes code and enforcements actions in administrative hearings and state courts. Prepares witnesses, performs legal research, deals with opposing counsel and parties by telephone, electronic mail, letter and conference.
- Provides support for other litigation such as tort claims, third party recovery claims, civil forfeiture, civil rights violations, contract violations, wrongful terminations, unfair labor practices, grievances, arbitration, and various civil claims and inmate issues. Assists in court appearances, witness preparation, depositions, discovery, legal research, viewing the scene of the incident and dealing with opposing counsel and parties by telephone, electronic mail, letter and conference.
- Responds to various inquiries from citizens and other governmental agencies.
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.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- 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.
- 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:
- 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 Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan. Questions about your loan eligibility should be directed to your loan servicer or the US Department of Education.
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
Marion County is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran and Disability employer committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.
Marion County offers a generous benefits package to regular employees working 50% or more of the regularly scheduled work week and their eligible dependents. Temporary employees and part-time regular employees working less than 50% of the regularly scheduled work week are not eligible for benefits.
For a summary of benefits, For a complete and detailed overview of the benefits package for management and supervisory employees, , and select Unrepresented Benefits from the left menu or Unrepresented Employees from the page links.
Benefits are defined based on position and are approved by the Marion County Board of Commissioners.
01
To receive credit for your supplemental questions, your answers must be supported by details in the education and/or work experience section of your application form. Do you understand this statement?
- Yes
- No
02
What is the highest level of education you have successfully completed?
- GED
- High school
- At least 1 year of college (31 semester or 45 quarter credits)
- Associate degree (62 semester or 90 quarter credits)
- At least 3 years of college (93 semester or 135 quarter credits)
- Bachelor’s degree (124 semester or 180 quarter credits)
- Master’s degree (155 semester or 225 quarter credits)
- Doctorate degree (186 semester or 270 quarter credits)
- Juris Doctorate degree
- None of the above
03
Indicate how many years of full-time work experience you have practicing civil law. (One year of work experience is equal to 2080 hours.)
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year to less than 2 years
- 2 years to less than 3 years
- 3 years to less than 4 years
- 4 years to less than 5 years
- 5 years to less than 6 years
- 6 years to less than 7 years
- 7 years to less than 8 years
- 8 years to less than 9 years
- 9 years to less than 10 years
- 10 years or more
- None of the above
04
Are you a member, in good standing, of the Oregon State Bar?
- Yes
- No
- Member, in good standing, of a different State Bar
Required Question