Assistant County Attorney I or II - CIVIL

Benton County•Mn 56329, MN

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Benton County Attorney’s Office is seeking a dedicated Assistant County Attorney I or Assistant County Attorney II – Civil to join their team. This position offers the chance to practice civil law, advise local government, and serve Benton County. The role involves handling a diverse range of legal matters on behalf of Benton County, including civil litigation, administrative matters, and providing legal counsel to County departments, offices, boards, and commissions. Specific areas of focus include land use, data practices, contracts, employment, taxation, Human Services, local governance, public services, and community well-being. The position also entails collaboration with County officials, employees, and other professionals.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
Must be admitted to practice law in the State of Minnesota
Have an active Minnesota license in good standing with the Minnesota Supreme Court
Be authorized to practice law in Minnesota throughout employment
One (1) year of relevant work experience (for Assistant County Attorney I)
Eight (8) years of relevant work experience (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, County staff, and other legal and professional partners (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and experience in one or more areas of criminal law, civil law, juvenile law, or appellate practice, with the ability to independently handle legal matters appropriate to the assigned level of the position, including significant and complex cases as applicable (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Demonstrated leadership capabilities (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Ability to provide training on various programs, procedures, and roles within the County Attorney’s Office (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Ability to mentor and provide guidance to Assistant County Attorneys I (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Regular attendance in accordance with the department’s established work schedule (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Maintain satisfactory performance and remain in good standing (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Maintain required safety, data privacy, and data security training (for Assistant County Attorney II)
Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the State of Minnesota
Must successfully complete a background check
Obtain and maintain certifications and licensures
Ability to obtain and maintain BCA Privacy and Security Training Certification
Knowledge of municipal, county, state, federal, common, and constitutional law.
Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local civil law, including applicable rules of evidence, and skill in analyzing evidence.
Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local criminal law, rules of evidence, and sentencing guidelines.
Knowledge of applicable judicial and administrative procedures and court rules, including civil, criminal, juvenile, family court, and civil appellate procedures.
Knowledge of county government organization, practices, and legal issues.
Thorough knowledge of civil and administrative case preparation and the ability to evaluate, prepare, manage, and litigate criminal, civil, juvenile, and other cases, including drafting pleadings and briefs and advocating in court proceedings.
Thorough knowledge of legal research methods and the analysis and preparation of legal documents, with the ability to conduct legal research, analyze legal issues, and prepare clear and well-supported legal opinions.
Strong ability to present statements of law, facts, and legal arguments clearly, logically, concisely, and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to analyze the legal aspects of governmental issues and provide sound legal advice and assistance to County officials.
Ability to provide legal guidance, training, and support to law enforcement and human services staff.
Ability to exercise sound legal judgment in negotiations and settlements in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and the guidelines and policies of the County Attorney’s Office.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, courts, County staff, and the public, and to negotiate agreements using effective strategy and timing.
Ability to work under general supervision, exercising appropriate judgment and initiative in determining how assigned objectives are achieved, within the goals and direction established by the County Attorney and senior management.
Ability to demonstrate initiative, integrity, ethical conduct, and excellence in work performance through personal example.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and, at times, stressful environment involving multiple and varied factors, and to apply analytical and inductive thinking to complex situations.
Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize work, and meet deadlines.
Ability to travel within your daily work assignment.
Ability to travel within Minnesota, including extended overnight stays.
Ability to work extended, evening, and weekend hours as needed.
Must comply with organizational and departmental policies.
Performs the physical/mental demands of the work environment requirements for this position.
Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours, as necessary.
Effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from different organizations, and citizen customers.
Must comply with data practices policies and standards related to private data. Access to private data is limited strictly to what is necessary to perform assigned job duties. While accessing such data, the employee must take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access by individuals without a work-related need. Once the work-related purpose has been met, private data must be properly secured and stored in accordance with county policies and Minnesota Statutes.

Nice To Haves

County Government knowledge and experience.
Knowledge of, or the ability to acquire knowledge of, property condemnation, tax appeals, contract negotiations and bidding laws, planning and zoning, the Open Meeting Law, and government data practices is preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Represent the County in civil litigation, zoning enforcement actions, human service administrative appeals, forfeiture actions, tax appeals, condemnations, and drainage proceedings.
Provide legal counsel, legal training, and guidance to the County Board, Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, County departments and offices, Benton Soil and Water Conservation District, and other applicable boards, commissions, and entities; and attend meetings as needed.
Assist in providing legal counsel to the County Board and other county officials and employees on county matters, including representing employees subpoenaed to testify.
Conduct legal issue reviews and provide advice regarding data practices, human services, land use, right-of-way, wetlands, drainage, employment, elections, taxation, recording matters, and other County legal matters.
Review and draft ordinances.
Review plat and subdivision issues.
Draft and review contracts.
Advise and provide training to county employees related to data practices law and other necessary training.
Manage adult civil commitment matters, including reviewing pre-petition screening reports, medical and psychological reports, and drafting Court orders, including final commitment orders and Jarvis Orders.
Assist Human Services with child support establishment and enforcement actions, paternity adjudication actions, and financial collections.
Draft pleadings, including summons, complaints, motions, orders to show cause, findings of fact, conclusions of law, orders for judgment, affidavits, wage withholding orders, and garnishment documents.
Prepare for and attend Expungement Hearings.
Determine appropriate remedy for reimbursement of costs associated with out-of-home placement, medical assistance, and treatment of children.
Responsible for bankruptcy questions, issues, and documents.
Represent Benton County and the State by prosecuting petty misdemeanors, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and felonies, including contested evidentiary hearings, court trials, jury trials, bail hearings, omnibus hearings, and probation violation hearings.
Perform file review, including review of criminal histories, sentencing guidelines, legal research, rules of criminal procedure, case law, and Minnesota statutes.
Attend all criminal court appearances, including Rule 5, Rule 8, bail hearings, pretrial, contested omnibus, settlement conference, trial, sentencing, restitution, probation violation, review hearings, and post-conviction relief hearings.
Review and analyze criminal cases with police reports, video, and other evidence.
Advise the Victim Services staff, manage relationships with victims of crime, and analyze restitution claims.
Convene, prepare, and present evidence before the Grand Jury, as required.
Review and prepare extradition paperwork to return the Defendant to the Demanding State.
Prepare and review search warrants, arrest warrants, administrative subpoenas, pen registers, and wiretaps.
Represent Benton County and the State by prosecuting juvenile petty offenses, juvenile delinquency matters, Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ) matters, and Adult Certification matters, including contested evidentiary hearings, court trials, detention hearings, pre-trial hearings, and probation violation hearings.
Manage all aspects of juvenile delinquency and child protection matters, including drafting CHIPS petitions, Court orders, and all other pleadings in juvenile matters, and handle all appeals in juvenile delinquency and child protection matters.
Review and analyze juvenile delinquency cases with police reports, video, and other evidence.
Advise Victim Services staff, manage relationships with victims of crime, and analyze restitution claims.
Attend training as needed.
Rotate on-call responsibilities.
Perform other duties as assigned or apparent.