The Assistant County Attorney I provides legal advice for the County. The position is appointed by the County Attorney and must process criminal cases, both adult and juvenile; enforce child support and protection laws; and advice county officials and officers on any other broad range of civil matters. The Assistant County Attorney has a number of duties that are defined by various MN Statutes and in addition, assists in advising and presenting the County Board, carries out legal duties of the office and serves as a key communicator for the County Attorney’s Office.

Professional/Technical Duties and Responsibilities

• Prosecutes adults and juveniles who violate State or county law to enhance the safety of the community.
  • Reviews law enforcement reports, determine appropriate charges and draft complaints.
  • Negotiates fair and consistent plea agreements.
  • Identifies and prepare witnesses and exhibits for trial.
  • Presents evidence in an effective and legal manner.
  • Argues cases persuasively to a judge or jury.
  • Informs victims or witnesses of their rights and obligations.
  • Researches legal complex issues to advise law enforcement, prepare legal memorandum to be filed with the court, and to write appellate briefs for the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court related to criminal and civil appeals.
• Advises County officials, in person and writing, about legal issues to protect the County from liability.
  • Reviews and suggests policies and procedures which conform to legal requirements.
  • Interprets laws and court decisions to determine their applicability to County decisions.
  • Informs County officials of changes in the laws which affect their duties and obligations.
  • Represents the County in tax appeal litigation.
• Advises and represents County Social Services to ensure protection of vulnerable members of society and fair distribution of benefits.
  • Reviews, drafts, and prosecutes child support and paternity cases.
  • Review, drafts and prosecutes civil commitments for mental illness, chemical dependency, mentally ill and dangerous, sexually psychopathic, and sexually dangerous, and individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Reviews, drafts, and prosecutes child protection and child permanency cases.
  • Represents the County on financial eligibility case appeals.
  • Represents the County on maltreatment appeals.
  • Conducts screening of child protection reports with multi-disciplinary screening team.
  • Represents the County in all licensing appeals with DHS, including, but not limited to, day care licensing and foster care licensing.
• Performs other duties as directed by the County Attorney.
  • Provides work direction to the Victim-Witness Coordinator and Administrative Assistant/ Paralegals and manages the activities of the department in absence of the County Attorney.
  • Attends and participates in workshops, seminars, in-service training as approved.
  • Follows established safety and infection control policies and procedures; and participates in all required in-service training regarding fire safety, disaster preparedness, infection control and safety regulations.
  • Maintains work areas in a sanitary and safe manner and follows departmental dress code.
  • Advises and provides training to county employees regarding data practices law.
  • Advises and conducts training to law enforcement personnel on legal issues and best practices.
  • Advises and conducts training to human services staff on a broad spectrum of legal issues and best practices.

Ancillary Duties and Responsibilities

• Responds on-call for emergencies.
• Attends training, educational and staff meetings.

While these are the primary focus of the position, we believe strongly in teamwork and employees will be called upon to perform a variety of duties as part of their role with the County.

The Assistant County Attorney II provides legal advice for the County. The position is appointed by the County Attorney and must process criminal cases, both adult and juvenile; enforce child support and protection laws; and advise county officials and officers on any other broad range of civil matters. The Assistant County Attorney II has a number of duties that are defined by various Minnesota Statutes and in addition assists in advising and representing the County Board, carries out legal duties of the office, and serves a key communicator for the County Attorney’s office. At this level, the incumbent may be assigned more complex criminal cases or more financially significant civil cases.

Professional/Technical Duties and Responsibilities

• Prosecutes adults and juveniles who violate State or county law to enhance the safety of the community.
  • Reviews law enforcement reports, determine appropriate charges and draft complaints.
  • Negotiates fair and consistent plea agreements.
  • Identifies and prepare witnesses and exhibits for trial.
  • Presents evidence in an effective and legal manner.
  • Argues cases persuasively to a judge or jury.
  • Informs victims or witnesses of their rights and obligations.
  • Researches complex legal issues to advise law enforcement to prepare legal memorandum to be filed with the court and to write appellate briefs for the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court related to criminal and civil appeals.
• Advises County officials, in person and writing, about legal issues to protect the County from liability.
  • Reviews and suggests policies and procedures which conform to legal requirements.
  • Interprets laws and court decisions to determine their applicability to County decisions.
  • Informs County officials of changes in the laws which affect their duties and obligations.
  • Represents the County in tax appeal litigation, unemployment matters, arbitration, and small claims court.
• Advises and represents County Social Services to ensure protection of vulnerable members of society and fair distribution of benefits.
  • Reviews, drafts, and prosecutes child support and paternity cases.
  • Review, drafts and prosecutes civil commitments for mental illness, chemical dependency, mentally ill and dangerous, sexually psychopathic, and sexually dangerous, and individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Reviews, drafts, and prosecutes child protection and child permanency cases.
  • Represents the County on financial eligibility case appeals.
  • Represents the County on maltreatment appeals.
  • Conducts screenings of child protection reports with multi-disciplinary screening team.
  • Represents the County in all licensing appeals with DHS, including but not limited to, day care licensing and foster care licensing.
• Performs other duties as directed by the County Attorney.
  • Provides work direction to the Victim-Witness, Administrative Assistant/ Paralegals and manages the activities of the department in absence of the County Attorney.
  • Attends and participates in workshops, seminars, in-service training as approved.
  • Follows established safety and infection control policies and procedures; and participates in all required in-service training regarding fire safety, disaster preparedness, infection control and safety regulations.
  • Maintains work areas in a sanitary and safe manner and follows departmental dress code.
• Advises and provides training to county employees regarding data practices law.
• Advises and conducts trainings to law enforcement personnel on legal issues and best practices, and consults, reviews, and drafts search warrants.
• Advises and conducts training to human services staff on a broad spectrum of legal issues and best practices.

Ancillary Duties and Responsibilities

• Responds on-call for emergencies.
• Attends training, educational and staff meetings.

While these are the primary focus of the position, we believe strongly in teamwork and employees will be called upon to perform a variety of duties as part of their role with the County.

Assistant County Attorney I

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of Federal, State and Local criminal and civil law.
2. Knowledge of rules of evidence and skill in analyzing evidence.
3. Knowledge of court rules including civil procedure, constitutional law, MN Statutes, court rules criminal procedures, juvenile procedure, family court procedure and civil appellate procedure.
4. Must possess strong organizational skills to meet deadlines and coordinate multiple activities with little direction.
5. Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, flexibility, and diplomacy.
6. Knowledge of sentencing guidelines.
7. Skill in prosecuting criminal, civil and other cases.
8. Skill in evaluating, preparing, and managing cases.
9. Skill in performing legal research.
10. Ability to incorporate and apply information to fact situations in oral and written presentations.
11. Significant skill in presenting written and oral arguments
12. Ability to train and work with law enforcement and human services personnel.
13. Ability to work under limited supervision with general autonomy in determining how objectives are achieved; supervisors generally set operating benchmarks, goals, and objectives.
14. Ability to perform widely varied work involving many complex and significant variables, requiring analytical ability and inductive thinking in adapting policies, procedures, and methods to fit unusual and complex situations.
15. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with frequent interaction to negotiate critical agreements or motivate behavior that requires a well-developed sense of strategy and timing.

Education and Experience

1. Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school;
2. Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota;
3. Valid MN Driver’s License;
4. One-year relevant work experience.
5. Understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives;
6. Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills;
7. Highly self-motivated and directed;
8. Able to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment;
9. Excellent attention to detail;
10. Demonstrate initiative and excellent problem solving skills;
11. Demonstrate an ability to effectively handle a wide variety of projects and problems in an
               effective, efficient, and professional manner;
12. Ability to be highly organized, prioritize work tasks in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, and be responsive to emergencies that arise;
13. Ability to train on various programs/roles within the department.

Equipment and Tools

• Office and computer equipment
• Knowledge of court programs and courtroom technology

Physical and Mental Requirements

This job typically requires sitting, standing, walking, feeling, manual dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, typing, and seeing. There is prolonged exposure to computer keyboards and video screens. The position has good working conditions in general but is a diversified job requiring sustained mental effort related to public contacts, organizational issues, planning and technical areas.

The individual may encounter severe emotional strain or tension. There is sustained exposure to public contact, sitting and standing and to disagreeable seasonal conditions and/or serious injury while in and around Department equipment. There will also be some exposure to lifting (up to 25 lbs.).

This position can be subject to phone calls/emergencies that require reporting to work on weekends, holidays, or in the middle of the night.

The physical demands described here are representative to those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office environment and in the field. There is some exposure to aggressive individuals, hostile property owners, inclement weather, temperature extremes and stressful situations. Travel is required to other facilities, agencies, meetings, and training.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative to those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Competencies Common to All County Positions

• Develop, maintain a thorough working knowledge of, and comply with all departmental and applicable County policies and procedures.
• Demonstration by personal example the spirit of service, excellence, and integrity expected from all staff.
• Develop respectful and cooperative working relationships with co-workers, including willing assistance to newer staff so job responsibilities can be performed with confidence as quickly as possible.
• Confer regularly with and keep immediate supervisor informed of all important matters which pertain to the applicable job functions and responsibilities.
• Represent Wadena County in a professional manner to the public, outside contacts and constituencies.

Assistant County Attorney II

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Thorough knowledge of Federal, State and Local criminal and civil law.
2. Thorough knowledge of rules of evidence and skill in analyzing evidence.
3. Knowledge of court rules including civil procedure, constitutional law, MN Statutes, court rules criminal procedures, juvenile procedure, family court procedure and civil appellate procedure.
4. Must possess strong organizational skills to meet deadlines and coordinate multiple activities with little direction.
5. Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, flexibility, and diplomacy.
6. Thorough knowledge of sentencing guidelines.
7. Advanced skill in prosecuting criminal, civil and other cases.
8. Advanced skill in evaluating, preparing, and managing cases.
9. Skill in performing legal research.
10. Ability to incorporate and apply information to fact situations in oral and written presentations.
11. Significant skill in presenting written and oral arguments.
12. Ability to train and work with law enforcement and human services personnel.
13. Ability to work under limited and/or no supervision with general autonomy in determining how objectives are achieved; supervisors generally set operating benchmarks, goals, and objectives.
14. Ability to perform widely varied work involving many complex and significant variables, requiring analytical ability and inductive thinking in adapting policies, procedures, and methods to fit unusual and complex situations.
15. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with frequent interaction to negotiate critical agreements or motivate behavior that requires a well-developed sense of strategy and timing.

Education and Experience

1. Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school;
2. Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota;
3. Valid MN Driver’s License;
4. Three years relevant work experience.
5. Understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives;
6. Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills;
7. Highly self-motivated and directed;
8. Able to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment;
9. Excellent attention to detail;
10. Demonstrate initiative and excellent problem solving skills;
11. Demonstrate an ability to effectively handle a wide variety of projects and problems in an
               effective, efficient, and professional manner;
12. Strong skill set in criminal law, civil or appellate work and has handled significant and complex
           cases;
13. Ability to be highly organized, prioritize work tasks in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment,
            and be responsive to emergencies that arise; 
14. Ability to train on various programs/roles within the department;
15. Ability to mentor Assistant County Attorney I
16. Equivalent combination of education/training/experience 

Equipment and Tools

• Office and computer equipment
• Knowledge of court programs and courtroom technology

Physical and Mental Requirements

This job typically requires sitting, standing, walking, feeling, manual dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, typing, and seeing. There is prolonged exposure to computer keyboards and video screens. The position has good working conditions in general but is a diversified job requiring sustained mental effort related to public contacts, organizational issues, planning and technical areas.

The individual may encounter severe emotional strain or tension. There is sustained exposure to public contact, sitting and standing and to disagreeable seasonal conditions and/or serious injury while in and around Department equipment. There will also be some exposure to lifting (up to 25 lbs.).

This position can be subject to phone calls/emergencies that require reporting to work on weekends, holidays, or in the middle of the night.

The physical demands described here are representative to those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office environment and in the field. There is some exposure to aggressive individuals, hostile property owners, inclement weather, temperature extremes and stressful situations. Travel is required to other facilities, agencies, meetings, and training.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative to those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Competencies Common to All County Positions

• Develop, maintain a thorough working knowledge of, and comply with all departmental and applicable County policies and procedures.
• Demonstration by personal example the spirit of service, excellence, and integrity expected from all staff.
• Develop respectful and cooperative working relationships with co-workers, including willing assistance to newer staff so job responsibilities can be performed with confidence as quickly as possible.
• Confer regularly with and keep immediate supervisor informed of all important matters which pertain to the applicable job functions and responsibilities.
• Represent Wadena County in a professional manner to the public, outside contacts and constituencies.

Wadena County is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. 

Salary : $48 - $69