Assistant Legal Counsel

Marion County's office of legal counsel is looking to fill a Senior Assistant Legal Counsel position. Marion County will consider candidates meeting the Assistant Legal Counsel or Senior Assistant Legal Counsel classification requirements. The level at which the successful candidate is hired will be determined by the hiring manager.

SALARY

Assistant Legal Counsel: 

$8,209.07 - $11,006.67 Monthly - $114,108.80 - $152,838.40 Annual

Senior Assistant Legal Counsel: 

$9,509.07 - $12,736.53 Monthly - $98,142.40 - $132,080.00 Annual 

Marion County’s Office of Legal Counsel values a strong culture that encourages excellence, service, teamwork, initiative, and creativity. The ideal candidate for this position would have interest in serving as the lead attorney on litigation matters from start to finish, including motions, discovery, trial, appeal, etc. in both state and federal courts. The ideal candidate would have an interest in handling an initial workload focused primarily on litigation and similar matters. County litigation covers a wide variety of topics, including public safety, torts, employment, civil rights, property taxes, land use, quality of life, and pushing back on state/federal regulatory overreach.

JOB DUTIES

Assistant Legal Counsel acts as legal counsel to Marion County departments and undertakes civil litigation and counsel to county departments. One hundred percent of this position’s time is devoted to being a lawyer and legal counselor. The job functions may include the following:

• Prepare and conduct trial court litigation, e.g., tort claims, lien foreclosure, defending county actions, challenging state/federal actions. Represent Marion County before various administrative tribunals, in mediations, and arbitrations.
• Provides legal advice to department managers, the Board of Commissioners, and county employees. This includes telephone conferences, electronic mail, office visits, meetings, on-site visits, written opinions, seminars and training sessions. 
• Undertakes research and drafts legal documents such as memoranda, legal opinions, complaints, answers, options, interrogatories, orders, pretrial orders, settlement releases, jury instructions, contracts, deeds, Board of Commissioners orders and resolutions, and others.
• Prepare and present ordinance enforcement cases, respond to and/or object to public records requests and subpoenas.
• Court appearances, witness preparation, legal research, viewing the scene of the incident, and dealing with opposing counsel and parties by telephone, electronic mail, letter and conference.
• Provides legal advice and representation to the Board of Commissioners, elected officials, department heads, supervisors and employees of county government on all issues relating to county operations.
• Provides advice to County departments; responds to inquiries of other government bodies and private citizens regarding County regulations, complaints and cooperative efforts.
• Cross train in various areas of law to provide legal advice and representation to entities served by this office as necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Senior Assistant Legal Counsel job functions may include all of the above Assistant Legal Counsel duties and others but at a higher complexity and risk level, which requires additional skill, initiative, and experience.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSISTANT LEGAL COUNSEL

1. Graduation from an accredited school of law; AND
2. Must be a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar prior to the time of appointment OR eligible for admission to the Oregon State Bar through reciprocity/comity or out-of-state bar examination score.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SENIOR ASSISTANT LEGAL COUNSEL:

• In addition to the education and training requirements listed above, the Senior Assistant Legal Counsel must have at least four additional years of experience practicing law, with emphasis in civil law, preferably with experience in municipal government, civil law, or litigation.

PREFERENCES

• Preference will be awarded to applicants with litigation experience and interest in handling an initial workload that is focused primarily on litigation and similar matters.