Attorney - IV - Confidential (Extra Help)

For exact salary information please refer to the current salary schedule, County website. 

EXTRA HELP POSITION ONLY

Under general direction, to perform a variety of complex professional legal work and legal research;  to represent the County Counsel on assigned cases; to plan and coordinate investigation for legal cases; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the advanced journey level in the professional Attorney class series.  Incumbents are expected to perform the more complex professional legal work and research with minimal guidance and supervision.  In addition, they may have administrative responsibility for coordinating legal services for an assigned area.  This class differs from Attorney III in that Attorney IV's perform the most broad range of the more complex legal services and trial work.   Attorney IV's should perform the full range of legal services for the County Counsel.

REPORTS TO

County Counsel, Assistant County Counsel.

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED

Incumbents may provide work direction and coordination for professional legal staff and legal support staff. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Performs a variety of the more complex professional legal assignments and research; has demonstrable ability to work on these most complete tasks in an independent manner; and shows an understanding and ability to perform the full range of legal services which are provided by the Department ; may be assigned responsibility for an area of specialized legal services; researches and investigates cases to gather information and prepare legal documents to support all aspects of legal work as assigned; appears in court, preparing and presenting cases at preliminary hearings, trials, and Grand Jury; analyzes the facts of cases and legal precedents for preliminary hearing motions, stipulations, or waivers; confers with judges and/or opposition attorneys regarding modifications, withdrawing and/or changing charges; negotiates case settlements; anticipates and prepares for legal reasoning of opposition attorneys; drafts jury instructions; presents opening statements; argues points of law; presents final arguments and summations; and reviews court records, analyzes evidence, and prepares appellate briefs.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Principles of criminal, constitutional, civil, and administrative law.
• Judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.
• Legal research methods.
• Interviewing techniques.
• Computers and software used in professional legal work. 

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Perform professional legal and legal research work.
• Maintain administrative responsibility for an assigned area of legal services.
• Analyze facts and apply legal precedents and principles to assigned cases.
• Prepare and present cases at all levels of the court system.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Prepare and present a variety of special reports.
• Operate a computer and use appropriate software in the performance of professional legal work.
• Effectively  represent the County Counsel's office with the public, courts, law enforcement agencies, and other government jurisdictions. 
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Training and Experience:

Any combination of training or experience that would provide the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the listed duties is qualifying.  A typical way,  but not required, to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be:

-Six years of full time professional work experience in the relevant area of law,  including one year of experience performing legal work comparable to that of an Attorney III, Step 5, in the Siskiyou County Counsel's Office.

Special Requirements:

Possession of a current and appropriate driver's license.

Current membership in the state Bar of California.                                                               

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 lbs.; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, and FAX.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in an office environment; occasionally works outside; continuous contact with other staff.