8636 - Assistant County Counsel (County Counsel)

Jackson County Employment Opportunity!

The County Counsel is the chief legal officer for Jackson County and is ultimately responsible for all legal matters involving the Board of Commissioners, the County Administrator, elected officials, and County departments, offices, boards, commissions, and committees. Attorney’s in the County Counsel’s Office provide advice and representation on a wide range of issues including labor and employment, land use, contracts, public meetings and records, taxation, litigation, and all other aspects of the County’s diverse operations.

The County Counsel’s office is seeking to fill one vacancy at either the Assistant County Counsel or Senior Assistant County Counsel classification. If you wish to be considered for both classifications, you will need to submit separate complete applications to both Job Posting 8636 – Assistant County Counsel and Job Posting 8635 – Senior Assistant County Counsel, through the County’s website. If you only submit a complete application to one of the two job postings, your application will only be considered for the specific job posting to which you have submitted a complete application.

Jackson County strives to recruit, hire and retain the best employees!

• This position includes a market adjustment to the salary. All County market adjustments are considered temporary and may be increased, decreased, or eliminated at any time depending on a change in triggering market event(s).
• Currently, the County Counsel’s Office is looking for an attorney with an interest and/or experience in providing day to day legal advice to County Departments and litigation. The previous incumbent in the position was assigned to litigation and to provide legal advice primarily to the Sheriff’s Office, Assessor’s Office, Finance Department, and Community Justice. However, the person selected for the position should be ready and interested in providing legal advice and representation to the various County Departments and Offices.
• You must completely fill out the application to be considered for this position. 
• You may submit a cover letter and resume as an attachment to the application. However, we will not consider your resume, alone, as evidence of your education or experience if the application is not filled out completely. Statements in the application such as “See Resume” as a reference to your resume for work experience or education will not be considered as a complete application.
• Submit transcripts, if using college education to meet educational minimum requirements.
• Pass a criminal background check prior to hire. 
• Submit an acceptable DMV certified court print prior to hire. Click on the following link to review Jackson County's requirements for an acceptable driving record.  
• Pass a pre-employment drug screen, which includes screening for Marijuana. Click on the link to review Jackson County's Drug-Free Workplace Policy.
• The is a non-represented position. (Management/Confidential)

I.   Position Summary
Under the supervision of the County Counsel, performs professional legal services for Jackson County requiring knowledge of or ability to learn various areas of law including, but not limited to, municipal and Oregon public entity law, contracts and procurement, litigation, tort, labor and employment, land use, tax assessment and collection, construction, and real property law.  Also performs other lawyer-related duties as assigned.  May receive technical and functional supervision from a Senior Assistant County Counsel I or II.
 
II. Supervision Exercised
None.
 
III.  Examples of Essential Position Duties
 

• Provides written and verbal legal advice and legal counseling regarding contracts, informal agreements, and various government programs; performs legal research to gather and analyze relevant information.
• Defends and prosecutes in civil litigation involving the county including researches and prepares cases, such as code enforcement, drafts pleadings and motions, and prepares witnesses and other legal documents for trial.
• Reviews legal documents; assists in developing contracts, ordinances, instruments concerning real property and liens, and other legal documentation for purposes of ensuring compliance with federal, state and local laws and protecting the interests of the County.
• Attends various and public meetings and hearings as assigned; provides legal advice as requested and assures meetings and hearings are in compliance with applicable laws.
• Performs in compliance with the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct and Oregon State Bar directives.
• Adheres to County and departmental policies and procedures as well as safe work practices, policies and procedures.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with other staff, public officials, the general public and representatives of other agencies.
• Attends and participates in required trainings.
• Has regular and reliable attendance.
• Working irregular hours is required.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

IV. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of federal, state and local law applicable to County operations.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of legal research, analysis and writing.
• Ability to interpret and explain legal issues, solutions and processes.
• Ability to draft legal documents including, but not limited to, pleadings, motions, contracts, deeds, County ordinances, orders and Charter amendment and other legal documents and instruments.
• Ability to work by self on various matters as well as on a team within the Counsel office.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

 
V.  Minimum Requirements (Performance of the essential duties of this position includes the following requirements, physical demands and/or working conditions)
 
Education and Experience
 

• A Juris Doctor or other terminal degree (e.g. LL.B) from accredited law school.

 
Licenses, Certificates and Other
Must be currently licensed to practice law in the State of Oregon OR must obtain a license to practice law in the State of Oregon through examination within three months of hire date OR must obtain a license to practice law in the State of Oregon through reciprocity within six months of hire date. Must be willing to seek admission to the U.S. District Court of Oregon and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Must have a valid Oregon State Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.
 
Physical Demands (Performance of the essential duties of this position includes the following physical demands and/or working conditions)
Typically requires climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, sitting, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Occasionally requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force to move objects. Minimum physical effort is required. Requires driving and travel.
 
Working Environments
Work is performed both in the office and in the field with exposure to varying weather conditions, traffic, and hazardous conditions at work sites. May include exposure to disruptive people.
 
VI. Additional Information
This classification description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, knowledge, skills, abilities, or requirements, as any one position in this classification may be assigned some or all of these duties, in addition to other duties not explicitly listed here. The various duties, responsibilities and/or assignments of this position may be unevenly balanced and change from time to time based upon matters such as, but not limited to, variations in the shift, work demands, seasons, service levels and management's decisions on how to best allocate department resources. Any shift, emphasis or rebalancing of these assigned duties, responsibilities and/or assignments does not constitute a change in the job classification.

Salary : $102,864 - $131,310