Job Details

Job Description

This position will stay open until filled. Applications will be reviewed weekly, and selected candidates will be invited for interviews.

JOB TITLE: Assistant County Attorney
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
STATUS: Full Time; Exempt
STARTING SALARY: Salary will be based on experience. Receive anniversary step increases. In addition, receive annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).

The Douglas County Attorney's Office is hiring a full-time Assistant County Attorney.

This position involves a variety of legal work, including criminal, social services, and civil cases for the county attorney's office. Strong courtroom and legal research skills are essential.

We are located in the Alexandria Lakes Area - the ultimate destination to work, live, play, and prosper. Our office consists of the elected county attorney, six assistant county attorneys, six support staff, and a part‑time investigator.

A Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree is required. License to practice law in Minnesota. (must have passed the MN State Bar Exam and maintain certification). Must possess a valid MN driver's license and pass a background check for employment.

Previous experience in a county attorney's office is preferred, but not required.

JOB OBJECTIVES

The Assistant County Attorney represents the State of Minnesota and Douglas County in the enforcement of law in District Court and other court settings.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of those specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Manage the following cases from start to finish: Truancy and Runaway Petitions, Civil Commitment Petitions (mental health and/or chemical dependency, Guardianship/Conservatorship cases, juvenile diversion cases, dangerous dog appeals, prosecute all juvenile cases (petty, misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, and felonies), Ordinance Enforcement, License Enforcement, assist County Assessor with tax appeals including litigation in Tax Court, and conduct trust reviews for Social Services.
• Manage child protection cases from start to finish, including Termination of Parental Rights and permanency cases. Collect reports. Analyze evidence. Organize the CHIPS case. Inspect all pleadings and motions. Prepare for contested hearings. Estimate the time needed for court hearings. Select witnesses. Examine witnesses in court. Argue motions. Devise and execute a trial plan.
• Manage child support cases from start to finish, including contempt cases. Collect and evaluate social services reports and data. Collaborate with the child support officer. Present the case in court. Propose an appropriate child support amount. Justify the same.
• Interpret Minnesota law. Appraise the relative strength of a criminal case. Choose appropriate criminal charges. Estimate the likelihood of a successful prosecution.
• Argue for appropriate bail in court. Justify said amount based on public safety concerns and flight risk.
• Create advisory opinions for all county departments as necessary.
• Provide legal advice to law enforcement on a 24/7 basis, including weekends.
• Review and approve 48-hour probable cause holds for weekend arrests.
• Reliable, predictable attendance and punctuality.
• Other duties, as assigned or apparent.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide information to law enforcement outside of normal office hours as needed.
• Answers phone and takes messages.
• Prepares subpoenas and miscellaneous documents.
• Copies video and audio recordings as needed.
• Directs and screens inquiries from the general public.
• Attends continuing legal education courses to keep the license to practice law current.

Accountabilities Shared By All Employees

• Performs job responsibilities in a manner consistent with the County's vision, mission, and values.
• Implicit in the employer-employee relationship is the right of Douglas County to rely upon the presence of the employee during assigned hours of work and the obligation of the employee for timely and regular attendance.
• Develops and maintains a thorough working knowledge of all department and County-wide policies, protocols, and procedures that apply to the performance of this position.
• Develops respectful and cooperative working relationships with co‑workers.
• Informs immediate supervisor of all important matters about assigned job responsibilities.
• Seeks opportunities for further personal growth and development.
• Represents the County in a professional manner to all internal and external contacts when doing the County's business.
• Complies with all rules and policies in order to maintain a safe work environment.

Access to Not Public Data

In this job, you may come across private or confidential information about people we serve. This data is protected by law and should only be viewed or used when it's truly needed for your work. You are expected to only look at private data when your job duties require it. Keep it secure and make sure others who don't need to see it don't have access. Stop accessing the data once your task is done, and store or dispose of it properly, following the rules in Minnesota's Data Practices Act (Chapter 13). If your job duties change and you need access to different private data, that access should also be limited to only what you need to do your job.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT HIRE

Education

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.
• Requires research of new legislation every year in all aspects of the County Attorney's responsibilities including criminal, juvenile, family, extradition law, and all other areas of practice.

Experience

None.

Licenses and Other Requirements

An employment background check is required. A valid MN driver's license is required. Must have passed the Minnesota State Bar Exam and remain certified throughout employment.

REQUIRED MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & QUALITIES AT HIRE

• Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
• Demonstrates knowledge of legal principles and practices.
• Demonstrates skills in a group presentation.
• Demonstrates skills in writing clearly and informatively.
• Demonstrates ability to work well under pressure.
• Demonstrates ability to share knowledge of and experience with the justice system.
• Demonstrates ability to allocate time for professional development.
• Demonstrates ability to remain current on legislative changes.
• Demonstrates ability to plan and present court cases effectively.
• Demonstrates ability to conduct legal research.
• Demonstrates ability to speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations.
• Demonstrates ability to read and interpret written information.
• Demonstrates ability to accept responsibility for own actions.
• Demonstrates ability to follow through on commitments.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively perform under high‑stress situations.

Numerical Aptitude

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; add and subtract; multiply and divide totals; determine percentages, compute discount, interest, profit, loss, ratio and proportion; and interpret same as may be appropriate.

Language Ability

Requires the ability to read a variety of professional, technical, and administrative documentation, directions, regulations, instructions, methods, and procedures. Requires the ability to communicate with people to convey or exchange professional information.

PREFERRED / DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

See required minimum qualifications at hire.

Experience

A minimum of five years of experience as an attorney is preferred.

Preferred / Desirable Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Qualities

See required minimum knowledge, skills, abilities, and qualities at hire.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Public building. Work is normally performed in an office environment.

HOURS

A minimum of a 40‑hour work week. As an exempt position, it may require more than 8 hours of work on any day or more than forty hours of work on any week to perform duties and meet expectations.

Physical Demands can involve, but are not limited to:

Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines and equipment, including but not limited to computers, copier, fax machine, DVD player, and telephone.

Must be able to move or carry job‑related objects or materials. Must be physically capable of reaching to obtain various books, printouts, file boxes, computer paper, etc.

Amount Lifted Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent: Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days.

Amount Lifted 11 to 101+ lbs.: Not Present.

Amount Pushed or Pulled Up to 10 lbs. to 101+ lbs.: Not Present.

Vision Near & Far: Constant: Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days.

Depth: Frequent: Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days.

Field of Vision: Frequent: Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days.

Color: Frequent: Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days.

Contact With Others Works Alone: Rare: Range: 5 min to 48 min or 2.6 to 26 days.

Works with and around Others Constant: Range: 5 hrs., 18 min to 8 hours or 174+ days.

Customer/Public Contact Frequent: Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days.

Clients with Behavior Challenges Occasional: Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days.

Communications Talking & Hearing & Reading Frequent: Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days.

Basic Body Positions Sitting Frequent: Range: 2 hrs., 40 min to 5 hrs., 17 min or 88 to 172 days.

Standing Occasional: Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days.

Walking/Moving About Occasional: Range: 49 min to 2 hrs., 39 min or 29 to 86 days.

Physical and Environmental Factors Form

See also Physical and Environmental Factors Form.

EXAMPLES OF EQUIPMENT USED

Office equipment. Case Management software.

OTHER

All listed above are essential functions of the job.

SALARY

*Receive anniversary step increases. In addition, receive annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) per the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Benefits

We also offer no-cost/low-cost health insurance plan options. Douglas County contributes to a Health Savings Account and a (PERA) pension plan. Become vested in as little as 3 years of employment for lifetime benefits upon retirement! Douglas County is also a qualified Employer for the Public Sector Loan Forgiveness Program.

Life Insurance

As a County employee, you will be covered by $40,000 of life insurance at no expense. Supplemental coverage is available for you, your spouse, and your dependents.

The official holidays for this Douglas County postion are

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Jr Day
• Presidents' Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Veterans' Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving (in place of Columbus Day)
• Christmas Eve Day
• Christmas Day
• Personal Holiday

Sick Leave/Earned Safe and Sick Time

An employee shall be credited with 1 day of sick leave for each month of service, accumulative to 90 days. The first 48 hours (or up to 80 hours if any eligible time was carried over) will be counted as ESST.

Vacations

Employees will accrue vacation according to the following schedule:

• 0 - 5 years - 10 working days.
• 6 -10 years - 15 working days.
• 11 - 15 years - 20 working days.
• 16 - 20 years - 25 working days.
• Over 20 years - 30 working days.

Supervision Received

Supervised