Senior Associate County Attorney - Limited Duration (Unclassified)

Full Job Description

The current vacancy is in the County Attorney's Office.

Please note that this is a limited-duration position that will remain active for 12 months, or until the associated funding has been fully expended.

This position is expected to be fully in office.

Seeking an Attorney for a limited-duration position who has a demonstrated history of and ability to focus on complex criminal litigation.

This position requires an experienced and dedicated prosecutor who will be assigned to review, and prosecute, if necessary, criminal cases involving unlawful use of force, such as advising law enforcement agencies with in-depth investigations including interviews and evidence gathering, including, if necessary, the use of a grand juries.

This position will work directly for the Ramsey County Attorney, and First Assistant, and the Trial Division Director.

Preferred skills include ability to participate in thorough investigations, including interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence, proficiency in using tools like Westlaw to support persuasive legal arguments, ability to analyze complex facts and effectively present evidence to finders of facts, including grand juries.

Successful candidate must possess a strong, demonstrated commitment to justice through effective advocacy.

To view or print a copy of the complete Ramsey County job (class) description for this position, go to: Job Descriptions. Once at this page, you can browse the alphabetical list or search for a job description.

Requirements

1. Prepare cases for judicial and administrative proceedings by interviewing clients and witnesses, investigating facts, researching law, drafting pleading's, subpoenaing and interviewing witnesses, analyzing the opposition's case, and writing legal memoranda and briefs.

2. Try assigned criminal or civil cases and represent the County at judicial hearings by presenting facts, analyzing evidence and information as it is conveyed during the proceedings, and adjusting the County's case as necessary; make recommendations on whether to file appeals.

3. Determine whether to charge, drop charges or negotiate pleas by analyzing facts in relation to established charging or plea negotiation standards; contact crime victims in accordance with the Victim's Rights Act.

4. Advise less experienced staff attorneys on matters of trial strategy, analysis and presentation of evidence, case negotiation or other matters of law; assign work to and review, revise and discuss the legal opinions, pleading's, strategies and settlements of law clerks; direct the work of clerical staff in the preparation of legal documents.

5. Negotiate contracts, leases, lawsuit settlements or similar legal mattes by assessing clients' needs, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of clients' and opponents' bargaining positions and meeting with opponents' representatives so that the clients' objectives can be reached at minimal cost.

6. Analyze legislation, case law, legal publications and other relevant literature in order to maintain accurate, current information on legal developments in all areas of law.

7. Prepare legal opinions and plan litigation in order to resolve immediate issues and to establish a basis for resolving future matters of a similar nature.

8. Draft proposed legislation and respond to inquiries in relation to proposed legislation.

9. Provide training and advice to law enforcement officers, attorneys, corrections workers, social workers, and other relevant parties in areas of investigation, trial techniques, criminal and civil law, strategy, and legal issues pertinent to the area of assignment.

10. Prepare appellate briefs by analyzing issues, reviewing transcripts and doing necessary legal research; make oral arguments to appellate courts.

11. Recommend the disposition of cases to judges, referees, arbitrators and administrative law judges.

Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited college of law.

Experience: Five years of experience as a practicing attorney.

Other: Licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota and completion of 45 credits of continuing legal education every three years.

Additional Information

This is an unclassified, at-will position, holding a confidential relation to the department head or elected official. This position requires an open screening and selection process.

There is no exam for this unclassified, at-will, position. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be forwarded to the department for consideration.

Please read below for further instructions.

Definition of Unclassified from the Ramsey County Personnel Act:Subdivision 1. General. "The appointing authority may discharge employees in the unclassified service with or without cause.

Employees in the unclassified service have no right to a grievance appeal from discharge or other disciplinary action under sections 383A.281 to 383A.301.

An employee in an unclassified position shall not have tenure but shall be entitled to all benefits associated with tenure such as vacation leave, sick leave, health insurance, and other benefits as determined by the county board." Interested candidates should apply online by completing the online application prior to the close date listed and attaching a resume and cover letter detailing their experience.

Criminal Background Checks: All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment.

Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought.

However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.

E-Verify Participation: Ramsey County participates in the federal E-Verify program.

This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment.

Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I-9.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs, and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, familial or marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance status, place of residence, political affiliation, or national origin.

Ramsey County is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of its workforce.

The county strives to be equitable, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and impactful in how we serve and engage with residents, as well as Ramsey County employees.

Advancing racial equity ensures all people who need access to opportunities and services we provide, will receive them.

Racial equity is achieved when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and outcomes for all are improved.

To print a paper application for this posting click Paper Application. You will need to print this posting AND answer the supplemental questions associated with this exam and submit them with your completed paper application.

For further information regarding this posting, please contact Megan.Simmons@co.ramsey.mn.us