Assistant County Attorney

Archuleta County is seeking a qualified Assistant County Attorney. The Assistant County Attorney earns a salaried wage of $84,903.31- $118,946.05/per year, depending on experience and qualifications. We also offer excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(a) retirement plan, County will match employee contribution, up to 7%, 11 paid holidays, PTO, and $50,000 of life and AD&D insurance.

ABOUT ARCHULETA COUNTY

Pagosa Springs is the county seat for Archuleta County and is located in the Colorado Sunbelt, just 35 miles north of the New Mexico border along the western slope of the Continental Divide. The combination of a high desert plateau and the Rocky Mountains to the north and east of town creates an unusually mild mountain climate. As a portal to the nearly 3 million acres of the San Juan National Forest and Weminuche Wilderness Area, Archuleta County is a doorway to the four seasons of outdoor adventure which landed us in Outdoors Magazine's top 10 best Towns in American (2015) and Men's Journal's "20 Best Mountain Towns in America (2017).

In order to assemble and retain team members who share our core values of honesty, integrity, sound judgment, customer service, professionalism, and accountability, we work hard to be an employer of choice. We offer competitive pay, generous benefits, and a positive work culture.

JOB SUMMARY

Under general direction of the County Attorney, assist in providing legal advice, representation, and legal services to the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners and other assigned County departments.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other nonessential or peripheral duties that may be required. The administration retains the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of the job at any time.

• Provide counsel and legal representation, supported by one Paralegal, for Archuleta County, which may include research, all aspects of litigation, policy review, and general legal advice regarding current issues under consideration by the County.
• Advise and represent the Archuleta County Department of Human Services on child welfare cases, delinquency cases, other legal matters, and various administrative matters. Approximately 50% of the Assistant County Attorney's time will be dedicated to the Archuleta County Department of Human Services.
• Assume responsibility for legal matters handled by the Attorney's Office, including but not limited to the following:
  • Matters and legal actions regarding child welfare, child support enforcement, dependency and neglect and adult protection;
  • Property tax appeals;
  • Building and land use code enforcement;
  • Responses to public records requests and litigation related to same;
  • Land use applications under the County's Land Use Regulations;
  • Review contracts, draft resolutions, ordinances, property transactions and other legal instruments for legal sufficiency, and;
  • Otherwise perform tasks related to providing legal advice and representation of the County and its elected and appointed officials.
• Draft and respond to motions; research legal issues; analyze cases; prepare cases for hearing and present evidence, including witness testimony at various hearings, adjudicatory trials and termination of parental right's hearings.
• Train and partner with Department of Human Services caseworkers.
• Participate as a colleague in a highly valued, well trained, respected, agile and responsive law office.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the level of required knowledge and abilities will be considered.

• A Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, with a record of strong academic performance.
• Three to five years of practice experience is preferred with county, municipal or other local government, including experience handling child welfare, child support enforcement, dependency and neglect and adult protection legal matters.
• Membership in good standing with the Colorado Bar, either full admission or practice pending admission pursuant to CRCP 205.6(1) required.

Salary

• $84,903.31 - $118,946.05/year