Assistant County Attorney

Location:

Hamilton County is one of Indiana’s fastest growing, highest educated and wealthiest counties in the state and the Midwest. Two-thirds of the workforce lives and works in the county -- a percent that has remained constant since 2010.  Hamilton County is continually recognized in rankings ranging from “Best Cities to Relocate To” and “Best City to Raise a Family” to “Healthiest County in Indiana” and “Happiest Suburbs in the Nation”.  Come be a part of all Hamilton County has to offer as we work together to serve the citizens of Hamilton County.

Job Description:

POSITION:  Assistant County Attorney

DEPARTMENT:  Legal

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

STATUS:  Full-time

FLSA STATUS:  Exempt

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the position satisfactorily.  The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Hamilton County provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job unless the accommodation would present an undue hardship.

DUTIES:

Counsels County officials and personnel as needed, providing consultation on their duties as public servants, their options in respect to specific issues and considerations, and the implications and potential results of their decisions and contract provisions.  Assists with negotiating contracts and settlements and represents Hamilton County in court and/or during public meetings and hearings as needed.

Upon the County Attorney’s request, counsels and serves as the Assistant Attorney for the Board of Commissioners of Hamilton County, Hamilton County Drainage Board, Hamilton County Solid Waste Board, Hamilton County Regional Utility District, Hamilton County Airport Authority, Hamilton County Public Building Corporation, Hamilton County Redevelopment Commission, and the Hamilton County Redevelopment Authority.

Composes a wide variety of legal documents and correspondence for Hamilton County, including letters, memoranda, opinions, legal briefs, pleadings, contracts, policy statements, and other documents as required to provide counsel and representation to County officials and employees.

Provides recommendations to the County Attorney for when to hire outside legal counsel and/or experts concerning legal matters.  Assists with all the County’s outside legal work and legal strategies under the County Attorney’s supervision. Communicates regularly with outsourced legal counsel and provides regular reports to the County Attorney. Assisting with coordinating experts concerning the County’s litigation and works closely with the appropriate County elected official and/or Department director.

Assists with all public works, equipment, materials, and professional services procurements for the County. Assist the County Attorney with establishing procurement timelines and agreements concerning build operate transfer procurement methods and any other similar procurement method. Counsels the County on all federal procurement rules and regulations, state and federal grants, and any federal funds provided to the County.

Assists the appropriate County official with all real estate matters, including but not limited to right of way acquisitions, easement acquisitions, and condemnations.

Serves as counsel, under the County Attorney, to the Director of Human Resources. Counsels and works closely with the Hamilton County Safety and Risk Manager for all the County’s workers comp matters.

Conducts legal research as needed to investigate citizen complaints, provide proper counsel, and effectively negotiate contracts and represent Hamilton County in court.  Represents County in judicial and administrative conferences and hearing trials and appeals, including reviewing relevant files, interviewing complainants and witnesses, preparing examination questions, preparing opening and closing statements, preparing exhibits for evidence, and negotiating settlements.

Investigates and responds to claims, inquiries, and complaints filed by citizens regarding public nuisances, code violations, and tort actions.

Upon the County Attorney’s request, attends meetings and provides consultation for a wide variety of County departments and agencies, including but not limited to County Council, Commissioners, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Drainage Board, Hamilton County Regional Utility District, Redevelopment Commission, and Health Board.

Assists the County Attorney with reviewing the County Commissioners and County Council’s agendas, provides consultation on specific items as assigned by the County Attorney and prepares litigation reports, as requested.

Confers with County officials and personnel as needed, providing consultation on their statutory and policy related duties as County employees, their options in respect to specific issues and considerations, and the implications and potential results of their decisions and contract provisions. 

Review, draft and negotiate leases, contracts, interlocal agreements and memorandums of understanding with other local municipal, county and state governmental entities.

Composes a wide variety of legal documents and correspondence for Hamilton County, including letters, memoranda, opinions, legal briefs, pleadings, contracts, policy statements, and other documents as required to provide counsel and representation to County officials and employees.

Conducts legal research as needed to investigate citizen tort claim notices, grievances, and lawsuits, liaison with outside counsel retained by the County’s insurance provider and represent Hamilton County in both State and Federal courts.  Represents County in judicial and administrative conferences, hearings, trials, appeals and local ordinance violations including reviewing relevant files, interviewing complainants and witnesses, preparing Complaints and responsive pleadings, discovery responses, attending and conducting depositions, preparing examination questions, assisting outside counsel in the drafting of dispositive motions, preparing opening and closing statements, preparing exhibits for evidence,  and negotiating settlements.

Investigates and responds to claims, inquiries, and complaints filed by citizens regarding public nuisances, code violations, and tort claim actions to determine validity and risk exposure.

Assists the County Attorney with all stages of employee disciplinary processes including drafting of the Notice of Disciplinary Action form used by the County, meeting with the affected employee’s supervisor and coworkers to obtain information necessary to issue a legal opinion regarding discipline, meet with the affected employee to pronounce disciplinary sanction; defend the County’s decision in administrative hearings with Department of Workforce Development Administrative Law Judges on issues related to unemployment compensation; draft positions statements defending the County’s decision with the EEOC and, if required, defend the County in lawsuits alleging wrongful termination.

Upon request, attends meetings and provides consultation for a wide variety of County departments and agencies, including but not limited to the Board of Commissioners, Hamilton County Cemetery Commission and, on occasion, the Personnel Committee.

Assist the County Department of Health in public nuisance actions including reviewing the case, assisting with the drafting of citations or Complaints and proceedings in Court.

Assists County officials and departments with the drafting of ordinances and resolutions as required and then presenting the proposed legislation to the Board of Commissioners for a decision.

Receives, reviews and responds to requests submitted by citizens pursuant to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, makes decisions as to what public records will be provided to the requesting party and drafts a responsive letter.

Assists the Human Resource Director with amendments to the County of Hamilton, Indiana Employee Handbook.

Attends professional development education seminars, including special training for the representation of government officials and personnel.  Attends and maintains membership in professional organizations as needed.

Periodically attends interdepartmental meetings in County Attorney's absence as directed.

Performs any and all related duties as assigned by the County Attorney.

Completes special tasks and programs as assigned by the County Attorney.

I.  JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Must be a licensed attorney in State of Indiana and the U.S. District Court – Northern and Southern District of Indiana, with continuing completion of all licensing requirements.

Thorough knowledge of all federal, state, and local laws governing County operations, with ability to effectively counsel and represent Hamilton County personnel and officials accordingly.

Thorough knowledge or and ability to apply legal experience of a broad range of legal concerns affecting County operations and personnel, with ability to effectively predict, investigate, research, and/or resolve issues both before and after they occur.

Practical knowledge of standard accounting practices and procedures with ability to

read, interpret, detailed financial statements and documents.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to state requirements.

Shall comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to supervise and direct the support staff, including providing training, planning, and delegating work assignments, ensuring proper staff development, providing continuing education, and maintaining discipline and terminating employees when needed.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, County Council, Commissioners, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Drainage Board, Hamilton County Regional Utility District, Redevelopment Commission, Health Board, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment.

Ability to work on several tasks at the same time and work rapidly for long periods, occasionally under extreme time pressure.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.

Ability to count, compute, calculate, and perform basic arithmetic operations.

Ability to regularly work extended hours, evenings, and weekends. Also possess the ability to occasionally travel out of town, sometimes overnight, for the purpose of conferences.  Ability to respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

Ability to work remotely when required as determined by the County Attorney or Hamilton County Board of Commissioners.

II.  DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Incumbent provides legal counsel, research, and representation for Hamilton County, exercising judgment to continually assess and assure Hamilton County's compliance with all regulations, respond to complaints, manage, and limit risk exposure, and effectively negotiate contracts and represent the County in Court.  County legal work can involve a broad range of legal issues, often requiring careful consideration of new and/or unusual circumstances and multiple, complex variables and interrelationships.

III.  RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent provides necessary legal services for all Hamilton County personnel and officials, including legal consultation, research, and representation.   Objectives of Incumbent's work are not always known, with multiple variables of consideration.  Highly unusual and/or sensitive cases reviewed with Supervisors as needed.  Incumbent's work is reviewed for attainment of objectives, compliance with all applicable regulations, and continuing effectiveness of Legal Department.

IV.  PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains communication with co-workers, other County departments, County Council, Commissioners, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appels, Drainage Board, Hamilton County Regional Utility District and Health Board, and the public, for a wide variety of purposes, including negotiating contracts and settlements, responding to complaints, and providing legal counsel, research, and representation.

Reports directly to the County Attorney.

IV.  PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs duties in a standard office environment, involving sitting/walking at will, sitting/standing/walking for long periods, lifting/carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds, close/far vision, depth/color perception, keyboarding, handling/grasping/fingering objects, speaking clearly, and hearing sounds/communication.

Incumbent is regularly required to work extended hours, evenings, and weekends, and occasionally travel out of town, sometimes overnight, for the purpose of conferences.  Incumbent is occasionally required to respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

APPLICANT/EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The job description for the position of Assistant County Attorney for the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners describes the duties and responsibilities for employment in this position. I acknowledge that I have received this job description and understand that it is not a contract of employment. I am responsible for reading this job description and complying with all job duties, requirements and responsibilities contained herein, and any subsequent revisions.

Hamilton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We participate in E-Verify.