Salary: $87,407.00 – $144,221.00 Annually
Location : Lillington, NC
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: LEG 1887
Department: Legal
Opening Date: 07/13/2023
Closing Date: 8/21/2023 5:00 PM Eastern
POSITION SUMMARY
An employee in this position performs complex professional and administrative work in overseeing the legal affairs of the County. Specifically provides legal counsel to the Harnett County Sherriff’s Office. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Senior Staff Attorney and the County Manager or his/her designee. The Assistant Staff Attorney will be primarily responsible for legal matters pertaining to the Sheriff’s Office of the County. The Assistant Staff Attorney will also provide legal advice and counsel to County staff, the Board of Commissioners, and other County boards and commissions across a wide variety of legal areas. The Assistant Staff Attorney will also review and draft contracts, ordinances, and other documents. The Assistant Staff Attorney will represent the County in court, supervise outside counsel, and otherwise perform professional legal services and related administrative work for the County. This role requires a deep understanding of federal, state, and local laws and court decisions that impact the County. Work requires the use of sound professional judgment in counseling and advising parties; interpreting and applying laws and regulations; giving presentations; and reading, writing, and interpreting legal documents.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
- Position will be housed in the Sheriff’s Office in Lillington, NC and would require on-call legal advice afterhours.
- Provides legal advice to sworn and non-sworn employees at the Sheriff’s Office.
- Drafts and interprets legislation and recommends policy changes to reflect changes in the law.
- Prepares, reviews, and approves court orders and motions for sworn officers to assist in criminal investigations.
- Conducts legal research and analyzes legal changes and legislation impacting the Sheriff’s Office and the County. Prepares legal guidance and reports as necessary.
- Assists the Senior Staff Attorney in civil litigation and negotiate settlements as needed.
- Represents, at times in cooperation with other retained counsel, the County in lawsuits and administrative proceedings.
- Renders legal advice to the Board of Commissioners, Sheriff, County Manager, Department Heads, and staff as requested or required.
- Prepares and reviews ordinances, resolutions, policies, contracts, and other legal documents for the County; reviews and offers legal advice as to the legal acceptability of such documents.
- Makes major legal determinations regarding litigation, claims, leases and contracts, and related legal matters.
- Coordinates and works with the Senior Staff Attorney and County Manager or his/her designee in assuring policies and ordinances are workable, enforced, and fairly implemented.
- Addresses legal inquiries and requests for public records from the public and various County officials.
- Works with the Human Resources Director, the Sheriff, the Senior Staff Attorney, and County Manager or his/her designee regarding personnel related matters.
- Provides guidance on public employment law, policy development, workers compensation, liability, FLSA, ADA, FMLA and employment separations.
- Provides legal advice and direction based on Federal and State regulations regarding procurement matters, Requests for Proposals/Qualifications, contracts, etc. as needed, and in the best interest of the County.
- Ensures terms and conditions of grant agreements are acceptable and other legal implications are considered.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:
- Juris Doctorate law degree;
- Four (4) years of professional legal work experience, preferably in a law enforcement agency or local government setting;
- Or equivalent education and/or experience;
- Possession of a valid North Carolina Driver’s license; and
- Possession of North Carolina State Bar License; and
- Successful completion of the North Carolina State Bar required hours of annual CLE credits.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of constitutional, federal, state, and local laws affecting law enforcement and local government.
- Thorough knowledge of, and the ability to properly interpret, apply, and make decisions in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and court decisions affecting law enforcement and local government.
- Ability to prepare clear and concise administrative, technical, and legal reports and documents.
- Ability to provide legal advice on site during search warrant executions, law enforcement operations, demonstrations, joint task force operations with federal and other law enforcement agencies.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the philosophies, principles, and practices of public personnel administration.
- Experience and capacity to engage in litigation on behalf of the County including an understanding of judicial and quasi-judicial procedure and rules of evidence.
- Demonstrated competency with methods of legal research.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with County officials, court officials, members of the bar and the general public.
- Ability to handle complex trial and appellate litigation.
- Demonstrated ability to oversee outside counsel.
- Ability to negotiate settlements and other contracts.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Must be able to perform sedentary work and occasionally exerting up to 20 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. This work also involves the physical abilities of perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, discriminating among sounds, using mental acuity, performing repetitive motion, and expressing ideas by the spoken word. An incumbent must also possess the visual acuity to analyze data, work with color, determine accuracy, and to operate a computer and office equipment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The employee works in a general office environment in a climate-controlled facility and sometimes in a courtroom or boardroom.
Harnett County takes pride in offering an excellent benefit package including health, dental, vision and life insurance, membership in the North Carolina Local Government retirement, free health clinic for employees and anyone in their household and other benefits. To see more information about the benefits offered by Harnett County, click
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