Assistant County Attorney in Child Welfare

What Success Looks Like In This Job

This attorney will perform professional legal work for the Department of Human Services including representation of Adams County in hearings and trials to the court and to a jury. This individual will be responsible for advising the Director of Human Services, Human Services management, supervisors and caseworkers. This position primarily involves child welfare Dependency and Neglect matters, but this individual may be asked to represent Human Services and the County in any Human Services related legal work including, but not limited to, Juvenile Delinquency, Adult Protective Services, Mental Health Certifications, Substance Abuse Commitments and Administrative Hearings and Child Support.

The County Attorney's Office has elected to consider a range of experience for this vacancy. A candidates' qualifications will determine the level at which they are hired.

Career: $110,684.04 - $160,491.86 Annually

Senior: $131,826.47 - $191,148.38 Annually

Examples of Duties for Success

Important and essential duties vary based on particular assignment.

• Provide legal support to Department of Human Services, including management of dependency and neglect caseload.
• Advise Department regarding statutory duties and obligations.
• Research legal questions and prepare opinions.
• Provide representation for the County at hearings, court trials, jury trials and other hearings.
• Provide legal representation in Human Services practice areas as needed, including adult protection, mental health, drug and alcohol commitments, juvenile delinquency, fraud recovery, child support enforcement, and administrative hearings.
• Provide guidance and training to clients on areas of expertise.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to less senior attorneys and staff in the County Attorney’s Office.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications for Success

• Ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to communicate effectively and calmly in situations of conflict. Collaborate and negotiate, whether with the Court, the public, opposing counsel, employees, co-workers or other professionals and lay people.
• Ability to perform statutory interpretation and legal research analysis and writing.
• Desire and ability to try cases and competently and professionally present arguments/evidence in court.
• Working knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal principles.
• Ability to use initiative and independent judgment, and work effectively without close supervision.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Proficiency in current computer software programs used for daily job functions.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal principles to complex legal problems.
• Ability to manage a high volume caseload.
• Demonstrates creativity and flexibility in problem solving and taking on new challenges and responsibilities.

More Qualifications for Success

Career:

• Experience: At least (5) years of experience as a licensed attorney in field related to assignment.
• Education and Training: Must possess a law degree from an accredited law school.
• License or Certificate:
  • Must be licensed to practice law with the State of Colorado.
  • Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Colorado Driver's License.
• Background Check: Must pass a criminal background check.

Senior:

• Experience: 10 years of experience as a licensed attorney in field related to assignment.
• Education and Training: Must possess a law degree from an accredited law school.
• License or Certificate:
  • Must be licensed to practice law with the State of Colorado.
  • Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Colorado Driver's License.
• Background Check: Must pass a criminal background check.

Adams County and the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.