County Attorney Assistant Division Director (Unclassified)

Ramsey County•(Ramsey County Courthouse) Saint Paul, MN

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The current vacancy is in the Ramsey County Attorney's Office. This position is required to physically be in the office four days (M-F). Assistant Division Directors in the Human Services Legal Division manage and direct the functions of the Human Services Legal Division of the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney. They participate as a member of the County Attorney's Management Team in the formulation and implementation of policies and procedures for performing the responsibilities of the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney. They assist in the supervision and direction of staff in carrying out the mission of the Human Services Legal Division. They manage and support the litigation and advisory work performed by the Division. They also perform designated non-managerial functions specific to the functions of the Division, and they perform other related duties as assigned. The Human Services Legal Division includes three separate units: Child Support; Child Protection; and Commitments. Assistant Division Directors in the Human Services Legal Division will understand and manage the work of all three units. Many of the functions of the Human Services Legal Division are connected to or work in conjunction with functions performed by other divisions within the County Attorney's Office, including the Child Support Program, Pretrial Justice, Trial, Post Conviction Justice/Victim Witness, Youth Justice and Wellness, and Civil Divisions. Assistant Division Directors in the Human Services Legal Division will need to have an understanding of the work of other divisions within the County Attorney's Office and work collaboratively with managers and staff in other divisions to coordinate work and the services provided by the County Attorney's Office to Ramsey County residents. An Assistant Director in the Human Services Legal Division of the County Attorney’s Office is appointed by the County Attorney as an unclassified attorney to assist in leading and managing the Human Services Legal Division. An Assistant Division Director must have significant experience in litigation and advisory legal work, preferably in the areas of Child Support, Child Protection, and/or Commitments. They will be expected to successfully perform management duties that often have a high degree of difficulty and complexity. They will assist in leading a team of over 45 professionals which includes attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and law clerks. A key requirement for being an Assistant Division Director in the Human Services Legal Division is being physically and electronically available and assessable to division staff.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college of law.
Six years of experience as a practicing attorney.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota
Completion of 45 credits of legal education every three years.

Nice To Haves

Significant experience in litigation and advisory legal work, preferably in the areas of Child Support, Child Protection, and/or Commitments.

Responsibilities

Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
Direct community outreach relationships and programs to attract and retain a diverse workforce.
Assist the division director in the supervision and management of all functions of the division to which assigned, and function as division director in the director's absence.
Perform designated specialized non-supervisory functions relating to the functions of the division to which assigned.
Conduct performance appraisals on attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, investigators, advocates, child support enforcement staff, support staff, and office managers/supervisors.
Assist in the supervision of attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, investigators, advocates, support staff, child support supervisors and child support enforcement staff by reviewing, evaluating, revising and discussing work product and policy, legal opinions, charging decisions, and litigation pleadings, strategies and settlements, so that legal positions and office policies are thoughtful, accurate, consistent and well-communicated.
Conduct/participate in meetings of Division, County Attorney's Management Team, other Management Teams within Ramsey County and other Ramsey County committees.
Upon the request of the County Attorney, provide public information by speaking to media, individual citizens or groups, and respond to questions and complaints from the public to facilitate understanding of the functions of the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney and the law.
Serve as a resource and task force or committee participant for appropriate entities such as law enforcement organizations, Council on Abuse, Child Abuse Team, County Attorney's Association, medical community, citizens groups, state-wide groups, State Government groups and the Legislature by providing research and legal information.
Communicate with all law enforcement agencies on criminal justice policies and procedures of mutual interest within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney.
Provide training in the law, state and federal regulations, and in all areas of responsibility within the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney.
Advise clients in writing, in person or on telephone after obtaining facts from clients and researching applicable law so that clients may formulate policy in conformity with law and with knowledge of legal risks.
Draft legal documents such as contracts, leases, pleadings, etc. by obtaining objectives from client, researching law and writing documents so that it both conforms to law and meets client's objectives.
Draft legislation by determining client's or public policy objectives and drafting appropriate language; monitor legislative problems and communicate any problems with legislation along with suggested solutions to legislative liaison.
Participate in policy making and setting policy within Division and within the office as a whole, to include establishing and implementing charging standards, plea negotiation standards, sentencing procedures, and collection and enforcement policy, subject to the direction and approval of the Ramsey County Attorney.
Study and analyze existing systems, make recommendations for improvements, implement change and innovation, such as converting manual operations to automated systems or establishing new procedures for managing contracts, litigation, specific collection functions or administrative hearings.
Supervise the preparation of periodic reports and caseload analyses.
Interpret policies and procedures to subordinate supervisors, explain their applications and ensure that they are followed by staff.
Identify and meet the training needs of staff in order to meet program goals.
Develop standards, contracts and policies necessary in the administration of the division.
Assist the division director by developing, implementing and revising policies and procedures necessary to ensure compliance with all applicable statues and rules.
Assist the division director in developing innovative programs to address matters of public safety, crime prevention and intervention, civil law and child support and seek additional funding for these innovative programs by applying for local, state, and federal grant funds.
Assist the division director in supervising grant-funded programs and preparing all reports necessary to comply with the requirements of all local, state, or federal grants.
Assist the division director in supervising extradition of adult and juvenile offenders by: approving or declining extradition of these individuals from other states and foreign jurisdictions for return to Ramsey County; assisting other states and foreign jurisdictions in the return of their offenders residing in Ramsey County; and preparing extradition documents for signature by the Governor or United States State Department.
Assist the division director in supervising the implementation of the Uniform Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act by approving or declining the return and prosecution of prisoners in Minnesota state correctional facilities, foreign state facilities, and United States correctional facilities on criminal charges originating in Ramsey County and by supervising the preparation of appropriate documents required under the Uniform Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act.
Recommend to the court or oppose the reinstatement and forfeiture of bail in the amount of money that is just and appropriate for payment to Ramsey County or the State of Minnesota.
Assist the division director in the establishment of guidelines and criteria for the pre-court diversion of adult and juvenile offenders and, in specific cases, approve or decline the diversion of offenders who request alternative resolution of their cases.
Assist the division director in supervising the implementation of various Interstate Compacts including the Interstate Compact on Witnesses and the Interstate Compact on Juveniles by: assisting foreign jurisdictions in compelling witness residing in Ramsey County to return to the demanding state to testify; by approving the return to Ramsey County of essential witnesses residing in foreign jurisdictions; and by approving or declining the payment of money for transportation, food and lodging of these witnesses.
Assist the division director in supervising the selection of expert witnesses needed to testify in criminal and civil cases and authorizing the expenditure of money to be paid to these witnesses.
Assist the division director in evaluating, developing, preparing and presenting the division's budget recommendations to the County Attorney.
Assist the division director in implementing, supervising, monitoring and modifying the division budget.
Assist the division director in enforcing employment policies and procedures including but not limited to: evaluating and making recommendations on candidates for employment and promotion; making recommendations and enforcing disciplinary actions; and supervising the enforcement of performance improvement plans.
Supervise the selection and impaneling of the Ramsey County Grand Jury; provide legal advice to the grand jury and present cases for its review.
Assist the division director in supervising the prosecution of juvenile and adult offenders, including the decision to certify a juvenile to stand trial as an adult and/or to refer an offender for federal prosecution.
Assist the division director in supervising all legal proceedings involving the enforcement of child support and the establishment of paternity.
Assist the division director in supervising all legal matters involving child protection, civil commitments, and other areas of civil law, which are the responsibility of the County Attorney.