Litigation and Employment Law Assistant County Attorney V

Fairfax County • Fairfax (Ej32), VA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The County Attorney's Office is seeking an attorney with exceptional legal knowledge and skills in handling employment law matters and civil defense litigation. The position is in the Office of the County Attorney's Personnel Section. The successful applicant will counsel and represent County agencies and employees in multiple areas including employment law, collective bargaining, constitutional law, workers' compensation, property damage, personal injury and alleged civil rights violations. The position will represent County agencies in employee grievances and in matters before the Fairfax County Civil Service Commission and will handle litigation in state and federal courts and before state administrative agencies while providing legal advice to County agencies. The position requires strong litigation and trial skills and the demonstrated ability to manage cases from inception to completion including conducting discovery, taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing motions and briefs, and conducting bench or jury trial. The successful applicant must also possess excellent writing skills, including the ability to analyze complex legal issues and prepare motions, briefs and other court filings. This position also offers the opportunity to analyze proposed policies and legislation and assess their potential impact on the County and its programs. It provides an excellent opportunity to work in a collegial environment on a wide range of issues involving the interplay of federal, state, and local law. Depending on the attorney’s years of practice, subject to HR approval, the offer may exceed midpoint of the advertised pay grade range. The Office of the County Attorney functions as in-house counsel to the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive, and County departments. Led by County Attorney Elizabeth D. Teare—the County’s first female County Attorney appointed in 2016—our office has a distinguished history. Multiple alumni have been appointed by the General Assembly to serve as judges in local courts. Our attorneys actively lead the Virgina State Bar, the Fairfax Bar Association, the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, and the Virginia Law Foundation. The LGA Cherin Award is named after retired Deputy County Attorney Bob Cherin for his distinguished public service. The Virginia Law Foundation’s Bobzien-Gaither Education Center is, in part, named after former County Attorney David P. Bobzien, who served as the president of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Law Foundation. Fairfax County is the largest jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1.2m+ residents and more than 13,000 employees). and is widely recognized for superior management, earning the prestigious ICMA Certificate of Excellence for 13 consecutive years. County employees are eligible for superb benefits.

Requirements

• Must be an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar.
• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to four years of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Virginia State Bar License in Good Standing (Required)
• Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to travel to various locations throughout Fairfax County to provide coverage, attend meetings and trainings.
• Must communicate with others.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in employment law and/or labor negotiations.
• Demonstrated excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Collective bargaining experience, to include drafting labor relations contracts, negotiating bargaining agreements, and/or experience before labor relations board.
• Litigation experience in state/federal court and/or the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission.
• Demonstrated experience arguing motions in state and federal court.
• Demonstrated experience drafting motions and briefs in state and federal court.
• Bilingual in English and another language.

Responsibilities

• Counsel and represent County agencies and employees in multiple areas including employment law, collective bargaining, constitutional law, workers' compensation, property damage, personal injury and alleged civil rights violations.
• Represent County agencies in employee grievances and in matters before the Fairfax County Civil Service Commission.
• Handle litigation in state and federal courts and before state administrative agencies.
• Provide legal advice to County agencies.
• Manage cases from inception to completion including conducting discovery, taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing motions and briefs, and conducting bench or jury trial.
• Analyze proposed policies and legislation and assess their potential impact on the County and its programs.

Benefits

• Retirement: A defined-benefit pension plan plus a deferred compensation plan (457)
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, alongside a robust workforce wellness program and Employee Assistance Program.
• Generous Time Off: Including paid holidays, paid family leave (up to 6 weeks per 12-month period for qualified events), sick leave, and annual leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed