Senior Assistant County Attorney

Anne Arundel County•Annapolis, MD

20d

About The Position

The Senior Assistant County Attorney serves as senior counsel to the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services (DSS), handling complex litigation and negotiations. The position performs legal work of the highest difficulty in the Office of Law and is expected to handle assigned cases and legal issues with minimal guidance and oversight. Assignments are generally high-profile and significant in scope, with decisions that may substantially affect County operations. Work is normally reviewed by a Supervising County Attorney or Deputy County Attorney. The attorney provides guidance to the attorneys in the Human Services Section and supervises the secretary assigned to that section. The role represents DSS in matters including Termination of Parental Rights, Child in Need of Assistance, child support, and adult guardianship cases, and provides ongoing legal advice to DSS personnel. It also handles administrative matters related to DSS representation. The position additionally represents County officials and employees in complex litigation, provides legal advice to County departments and officials, handles claims and litigation strategy, drafts and reviews legal documents, and participates in hearings, negotiations, and other proceedings. The role may serve as counsel to County departments, advise other Office of Law attorneys, and perform related duties as required.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of law.
Admission to the Maryland bar.
At least four years of professional legal work experience as an attorney.
Thorough knowledge of common law and federal, State, and County laws, particularly laws concerning general administration and regulatory functions of County government.
Thorough knowledge of judicial and administrative rules and rules of evidence.
Thorough knowledge of legal research principles, methods, materials, and practices.
Thorough knowledge of civil pleading methods and practices and effective trial techniques.
Thorough knowledge of County government structure, processes, and functions and County Council rules.
Ability to analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence, and precedents in highly complex cases and present them clearly in oral or written legal materials.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Ability to analyze and interpret complex legal documents and instruments.
Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with County officials, judges, court officials, and the public.
Ability to draft complex instruments, legislation, and opinions.
Ability to advise other attorneys on complex litigation processes, techniques, and practices.
Ability to use a personal computer.

Nice To Haves

Experience representing county or municipal governments.
Five years of experience with Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) matters.
Supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Provide guidance, case review, court observation, and review of motions, pleadings, and memoranda for the other Human Services Section attorneys.
Supervise the secretary assigned to the Human Services Section.
Represent DSS in Termination of Parental Rights cases, including filing petitions, drafting pleadings, conducting discovery, issuing subpoenas, attending pre-trial conferences, preparing witnesses, litigating motions, and preparing for hearings and trials.
Represent DSS in Child in Need of Assistance, child support, and adult guardianship cases, including negotiating settlements, drafting pleadings, issuing subpoenas, preparing witnesses, and litigating cases.
Provide ongoing legal advice to DSS personnel about legal issues and the parameters of their obligations.
Respond to subpoenas directed to DSS, file motions for protective orders when appropriate, and appear at hearings to protect confidentiality under State and federal law.
Handle administrative matters related to DSS representation, including contract procurement, reviewing memoranda of understanding, directing the DSS court liaison on the court docket, advising on Maryland Public Information Act responses, and maintaining DSS caseload statistics.
Represent County officials and employees in complex litigation in federal and State courts and before administrative hearing bodies.
Research legal issues and provide written and oral legal advice to department heads, County officials, and employees.
Investigate claims against the County and prepare pleadings, discovery documents, motions, trial memoranda, depositions, briefs, and complex litigation strategy.
Draft, review, and approve contracts and other legal documents for form and legal sufficiency.
Conduct discovery in judicial and administrative proceedings, including preparing and responding to interrogatories, taking depositions, and producing documents.
Attend County Council hearings and other meetings to provide legal advice.
Defend the County, public officials, and employees in federal civil rights and State constitutional law litigation; attend court proceedings and prepare witnesses and clients.
Participate in County collective bargaining negotiations and represent the County in grievance proceedings before the Personnel Board.
Recommend financial settlements to the Self-Insurance Fund Committee and advise Risk Management on insurance matters and claims negotiations and settlements.
Instruct County employees on liability matters.
Serve as counsel to County departments, resolve major legal issues, prepare and conduct major court cases, and collaborate with special counsel.
Advise and assist other Office of Law attorneys on policy, law, and litigation processes, techniques, and practices.
Perform related duties as required.