Staff Attorney - Child Support

Position Overview:

Lucas County Child Support Services is seeking a dedicated Attorney to provide legal representation in the establishment and enforcement of paternity and child support orders. This role involves litigation, legal research, and collaboration with internal staff, court personnel, and external attorneys to ensure timely and accurate legal action.

Key Responsibilities:

• Represent the agency in court proceedings (Common Pleas, Municipal, Probate, and Federal Bankruptcy Courts)
• Handle interstate and international child support matters
• Draft, review, and sign legal pleadings, motions, and court orders
• Conduct legal research and advise staff on case strategy and legal procedures
• Review and correct court orders and manage case documentation
• Respond to legal inquiries from staff, clients, attorneys, and court personnel
• Maintain detailed case notes and ensure proper service of pleadings
• Assist in training and orienting new staff as needed

Benefits of Joining our Team:

• Starting rate of pay is $32.57/hr. with an increase to $34.18 after successful completion of 180-day probationary period, with annual increases thereafter
• Full-time employment with paid lunch hour
• Impressive benefit package that includes medical, prescription, dental, and vision
• 15 ½ paid holidays each year
• 80 hours annually of paid vacation after one year of service
• 40 hours of personal leave each year
• Bi-weekly accrual of sick leave up to 120 hour per year
• 14% Employer Contribution to OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System)
• Employer paid Life and Accidental Death or Dismemberment Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account option
• Voluntary Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance

Essential Functions:

1. Legal Representation
   Acts as a legal representative of the Agency in various courts and legal settings, including court hearings, administrative hearings, and interviews, in accordance with guidelines, statutes, and regulations.
2. Child Support Enforcement
   Focuses on establishing, collecting, enforcing, and modifying child support orders, including UIFSA (Uniform Interstate Family Support Act) cases, on behalf of service recipients.
3. Court Practice
   Represents the Agency in a wide range of courts, including Federal Bankruptcy Court, Probate Court, Municipal Court, all divisions of Common Pleas Court, relevant appellate courts, and any other courts necessary to fulfill support-related duties.
4. Contempt Case Preparation
   Prepares and processes misdemeanor criminal cases related to child support enforcement.
5. Interdepartmental Guidance
   Provides legal guidance and support to co-workers and other divisions within the Agency.
6. Legal Research & Case Preparation
   Conducts legal research, prepares cases for hearings or trials, drafts pleadings, and presents cases in court.
7. Legal Documentation
   Prepares legal briefs, formal opinions, and other legal documents relevant to the Agency’s responsibilities.
8. Trial Preparation
   Interviews witnesses, prepares them for testimony, attends depositions, and manages all aspects of trial preparation.
9. Legal Consultation
   Responds to legal inquiries from Agency staff, other government entities, and service recipients as appropriate.
10. Negotiations & Settlements
    Negotiates with opposing counsel or defendants, prepares judgment entries, and drafts orders for both settled and contested cases.
11. General Legal Duties
    Performs additional legal work as assigned, including drafting documents related to core responsibilities.
12. Reporting & Compliance
    Provides data and input for statistical reporting and completes required surveys, such as random moment time studies.
13. Legislative Interpretation
    Interprets and applies relevant laws, rules, regulations, and agreements as they pertain to job duties.
14. Other Duties as Assigned
    Performs other related duties as required. 

Graduate from an accredited law school.

Admitted to the Ohio Bar for practice in this State pursuant to ORC 4705.01.

Ability to communicate and interact with staff members and clients in a professional manner.

Ability to prepare entries on time and within the limits established in the court rules.

Ability to prepare a variety of simple legal documents, petitions, motions, and orders as needed to perform the functions of the CSEA.

Basic knowledge of the judicial system, civil hearing procedure, and laws and rules applicable to the operation of the Agency.

As a condition of employment, the practice of domestic or juvenile family law related to the Agency’s child support functions is prohibited. Private legal practice is not permitted during Agency work hours, except during lunch, vacation, or approved unpaid time.