Assistant Corporation Counsel

Closing Date: 31st May, 2024

Description:

Dane County Corporation Counsel has a current vacancy for a full time (1.0 FTE) Assistant Corporation Counsel in General Legal Services.
Equity, Definition and Examples of Duties
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion
As an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality service is a shared goal. All employees must be able to demonstrate multicultural competence – the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented populations including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
Definition and Examples of Duties
Under the direction of the Corporation Counsel, this classification provides legal services in one (1) or more of the following areas: Airport Legal Services, Child Support Agency, General Legal Services or Permanency Planning. Appointees will be expected to perform other related work assigned by the Corporation Counsel and must be able to perform considerable independent legal research in both federal and state law as necessary. Appointees may be assigned to one (1) of several work sites, some of which are physically located in other county departments.
Airport Legal Services: This position provides legal advice to the Dane County Regional Airport staff, the Airport Commission, and maintains regular contact with airport consultants. Duties include drafting ordinances related to airport regulations; and drafting, reviewing, and negotiating on a variety of leases, contracts, including real estate, construction, architectural, engineering, design and professional services contracts; advising on procurement laws, open records and open meetings laws; monitoring proposed legislation and court decisions related to airport activities, and evaluating their impact on airport operations. The position also prosecutes airport related ordinance violations, and represents the interest of the Dane County Regional Airport before federal/state courts and administrative agencies.
Child Support Enforcement: This position establishes paternity, obtains orders for payment of child support and/or health insurance, and monitors and enforces those orders.
General Legal Services: This position provides legal advice to the county's various entities, including county officials, departments, commissions and the county board and its committees; drafts resolutions, ordinances and motions; represents the county before state administrative agencies such as in workers compensation, unemployment compensation and labor relations cases; prosecutes ordinance violations; drafts leases and contracts; prepares documents relating to real estate transactions; represents the county's interest in litigation before state and federal courts.
Permanency Planning: This position represents the public interest in civil commitment, guardianship, termination of parental rights and CHIPS cases; drafts petitions; conducts pretrial discovery; and conducts bench and jury trials.
Education, Experience & Special Requirements
Education, Training and Experience:
Graduation from an accredited law school and admission to the State Bar of Wisconsin is required as of the date of appointment/ hire.
Special Requirements:
Must have a valid driver's license, or access to reliable personal transportation, or equivalent. Must be available for occasional night or weekend work as required, for example in preparation for and assistance with a contested matter such as a jury trial.
Background Check Statement: Some positions may require a criminal background check which can include fingerprinting due to the nature of the job's responsibilities. Wisconsin's Fair Employment Law, s. 111.31 – 111.395, Wis. Stats., prohibits discrimination because of an arrest or conviction record. However, Dane County may disqualify an applicant if the position's responsibilities are substantially related to the applicant's criminal history (e.g., the nature of the crime and its relationship to the position, whether hiring, transferring or promoting an applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees, customers and vendors, etc.). Management reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.
Physical and Environmental Work Requirements:
Ability to use hand and wrist motion. Ability to see and hear within normal ranges with or without adaptive devices. Ability to skillfully multi-task, work quickly and accurately, with a variety of personalities, performing fast paced legal work in an administrative setting where workload can be excessive, time-sensitive, and deadlines are dictated by Federal and Wisconsin Law and the Judiciary. Staff should expect to work in an office setting. Remote work is a possibility at the discretion of the supervisor.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Basic knowledge of civil law and a desire for extensive trial practice. Must have the ability to provide effective legal advice to county elected and appointed officials in a variety of settings, including during meetings of legislative bodies.

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