Senior Assistant County Attorney

CLOSES: 8/14/25

Interview Dates: Wednesday, September 3 - Thursday, September 4, 2025. 

Second Interview Dates: Tuesday, September 9 - Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Location: Carlton County Justice Center Conference Room

Healthcare Benefits:

• Family Health Insurance - Monthly Premium of $320.16
• Single Health Insurance – Premium paid in Full by Employer
• HEALTH INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES COVERED IN FULL WITH A VEBA ACCOUNT FUNDED BY EMPLOYER

BASIC FUNCTIONS:

• Prosecute criminal cases. Provide legal services in the area of child protection, child support enforcement, guardianships, commitments, paternity proceedings, and foster care reimbursement. Provide legal services to the Carlton County Board of Commissioners and other Carlton County boards, commissioners and departments, and provide legal representation in civil lawsuits. (This is the ‘full performance’ class in this series. It differs in that employees are assigned the more difficult legal issues confronted by the County Attorney’s office and involves the application of knowledge and skills typically obtained through experience as an Assistant County Attorney. In addition, employees in this class may function as lead workers or as project leaders on special projects.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Legal Case Work

• Prepare assigned cases for judicial and administrative proceedings by interviewing clients and witnesses, investigating facts, researching law, drafting pleadings, subpoenaing and interviewing witnesses, analyzing the opposition’s case and writing legal memoranda and briefs.
• 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.
• Determine whether to charge, drop charges or negotiate pleas by analyzing facts in relation to established charging or plea negotiation standards; consult with crime victims in accordance with the Victim’s Rights Act.
• Negotiate contracts, leases, lawsuit settlements or similar legal matters 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.
• 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.
• Recommend the disposition of cases to judges, referees, arbitrators and administrative law judges.
• Direct the work of clerical staff in the preparation of legal documents.
• Advise County staff on legal issues affecting the County.

Training and Mentoring

• 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 work of paralegal.
• Provide training and advice to law enforcement officers, attorneys, corrections officers, 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.

Legal Research and Analysis

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

Legislation

• If necessary, draft proposed legislation and respond to inquiries in relation to proposed legislation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Eight (8) years of full-time work experience as a practicing attorney.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job.

Training Required:

• None.

Certificates/Licenses Required:

• Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota with the ability to complete 45 credits of continuing legal education every three (3) years to maintain licensure.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license.

Additional Notes:

• Must pass a security background investigation.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Required at Entry:

• Strong and competent knowledge of criminal and civil law and their application.
• Strong and competent knowledge of pretrial, trial and appellate procedure and rules of evidence.
• Strong and competent knowledge of specific statutes, ordinances, regulations and case law affecting the operation of Carlton County departments.
• Strong and competent knowledge of the court system in Carlton County.
• Detailed knowledge of Carlton County operations.
• Adequate knowledge for working with subject matter experts.
• Strong and competent knowledge of office productivity software, such as, but not limited to, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook and Prosecutor by Karpel.
• Strong and competent skill in the application of legal research techniques.
• Strong and competent skill in the methods of computerized legal research.
• Strong and competent skill in preparing, presenting, and trying complex civil or criminal cases and solving complex legal issues.
• Strong and competent skill in presenting statements of fact, law, and argument clearly, effectively and forcefully, both in written and oral form.
• Strong and competent skill at establishing solid working relationships with county leadership, governmental agencies, State Attorney General, U.S. Attorney’s Office, or other County Attorneys’ Offices, private, corporate and other public attorneys, law enforcement personnel, probation officers, social service professionals, scientific and medical experts, crime lab staff, crime victims and witnesses, etc.
• Advanced ability to weigh the consequences of decisions which affect the office, county law enforcement agencies and the public.
• Advanced ability to train and direct the work of other professional and non-professional staff members.
• Advanced ability to appraise, interpret and apply legal principles and precedents to difficult and complex legal issues.
• Strong and competent written and oral skills to communicate with and relate calmly, logically and sensitively to crime victims, police, other attorneys, County departments, labor union representatives, community organizations, the media and the public.
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills to prepare reports, case documentation, presentations, legal defense, etc.