Assistant County Attorney

Are you an attorney looking to make a meaningful impact in your community? Join our dedicated team as an Assistant County Attorney, where you’ll play a vital role in serving Macon-Bibb County’s legal needs.

We are seeking a team player who is comfortable in a general practice public service environment, with the ability to handle both familiar and novel legal matters. Our projects will include litigation, contract negotiations, advising on in-the-moment legal issues, and assisting policymakers with turning their legislative visions into local laws.  You’ll be an integral part of a supportive team of servant leaders, focused on ensuring the best outcomes for the County and its people. Preference will be given to candidates with local government law or litigation experience; candidates who have served as judicial law clerks; candidates who completed law school in the top 33% of their class; and candidates who were on a law review or journal, or who participated in their law school’s advocacy program.

What We Do:

The Macon-Bibb County Attorney’s Office prepares every piece of legislation that is presented to the Macon-Bibb County Commission, from resolutions approving contracts to ordinances amending the County Code. Some months, the Assistant County Attorneys prepare over 40 legislative items, which each require legal research, communication between various County departments, County administration, and elected officials, and legal drafting. Additionally, the Assistant County Attorneys draft, negotiate, and review contracts to be entered into by the County; advise County department heads, administration, and elected officials on legal matters; and serve as parliamentarians to various County boards.

The Macon-Bibb County Attorney’s Office also does a significant amount of litigation in-house. Primarily, the in-house litigation is focused on prosecuting blight, nuisance abatement, and school-zone speeding cases. These litigation efforts include appearing in court almost every week.  We also have a complex nuisance enforcement program that has included bringing several cases in superior court, and have a current case pending in the Georgia Supreme Court.

What We Offer:

On-The-Job Training: Local government law is considered a specialty legal practice because of the number of state laws that apply only to local governments. While we value experience in this specialty area of law, we have a very successful training program and can readily take candidates with the right core professional skills and teach them everything they need to know about local government law.

Diverse Casework: Every day presents new and unique challenges across a wide range of legal fields. No two days are the same.

Collaborative Team: Work alongside a passionate group of professionals committed to serving the community. Our team currently consists of one part-time County Attorney, three full-time Assistant County Attorneys, and two paralegals. We all work collaboratively together to overcome challenges and support the County.

Professional Growth: Opportunities for learning and development through hands-on experience and mentorship. The County pays for multiple CLE opportunities for each attorney, including possible travel out of state, on an annual basis. Additionally, we encourage our attorneys to cross-train with each other on a regular basis.

Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the stability and balance of public sector work, with comprehensive benefits and a supportive work environment.  We do not track billable hours.  We encourage you to use your vacation days.  We understand that everyone has a life outside of the office that must occasionally take priority.

Tangible Results: As you work in the office, you will begin to see direct, tangible results of your work within our community, including ways that you have improved neighborhoods or the whole County and made lives better.   You will help create parks and public spaces; reduce crime, homelessness, and blight; and aid in the economic development of the community, and you will be able to directly observe your successes as you drive or walk around Macon-Bibb County.

If you’re ready to leverage your legal expertise and make a difference, we invite you to apply today! Join us in ensuring justice and fairness in our County, where your work truly matters.

The Assistant County Attorney is responsible for preparing legal opinions, contracts, and other legal documents; drafting legislation; responding to open records requests; performing extensive legal research in many areas of the law; representing the County in various administrative and judicial proceedings; and addressing various legal matters which arise and affect the County on a daily basis.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duties are representative of the work required for this job. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Prepare legal opinions for the Mayor, Board of Commissioners, and County departments.

• Prepare and file simple to complex legal documents for the prosecution or defense of assigned cases, including coroner’s cases, vicious animal cases, cases addressing blighted property, code enforcement prosecutions, license denial appeals, and more.

• Represent the County at assigned administrative hearings.

• Prepare and try assigned cases and appeals in state and federal courts.

• Handle routine claims made by or against the County, including reviewing and valuing claims from the Risk Management department for payment or denial.

• Negotiate settlements with adverse claimants, litigants, and enforcement agencies.

• Perform legal research in many areas of the law, including the interpretation and applicability of local, state, and federal laws, administrative regulations, and judicial procedures relating to the Mayor, Board of Commissioners, and various County departments.

• Draft ordinances and resolutions to submit to the Mayor and Board of Commissioners for adoption.

• Attend Board of Commissioners meetings and various County committee meetings as a legal advisor and parliamentarian.

• Prepare and develop contracts and various legal instruments to which the County is a party, including grants, agreements, MOUs, deeds, real property filings, leases, easements and encroachments of County property.

• Review and interpret various contracts and legal documents.

• Negotiate contract terms with vendors and other third parties.

• Assist with, manage, or advise on various aspects of projects or contracts, before, during, and after the performance period on an as-needed basis.

• Draft, edit, and review procurement solicitation documents for conformity with County policies and state law.

• Coordinate the progress of legal and contractual matters through various departments, County administration, and third parties.

• Conduct real estate title research and real estate transactions.

• Receive and respond to Open Records Requests, coordinate records investigations across multiple departments and agencies.

• Give general advice through telephone/video conferences and correspondence.

• Work with the public on general complaints and matters of County business.

• Train department heads, boards, commissioners, and administration on relevant and novel legal issues.

• Advise various departments and agencies on general County procedures and specific job-related matters that arise from day to day.

• Work with state and federal legislators to prepare relevant legislation.

• Review and edit paralegal work product.

The Assistant County Attorney must be a graduate of an accredited three (3)-year law school with an LLB or JD degree and have the training and experience necessary to perform the duties and task required by this position.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of a VALID Georgia Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.

• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.

SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assistant County Attorneys supervise and approve any work they assign to the office paralegals, but do not otherwise exercise supervisory or managerial authority over other employees.

PROGRESSION:

An Assistant County Attorney who has been in the position for a minimum of two years, has developed strong relationships with all assigned departments, and has consistently demonstrated professional competence, leadership, and subject matter expertise in those areas of County operations in which they are routinely involved may be considered for promotion to the position of Assistant County Attorney II.

An Assistant County Attorney who has developed strong relationships with at least a supermajority of County departments, including assigned and non-assigned departments, and has consistently demonstrated professional competence, leadership, and subject matter expertise in all or nearly all areas of County operations may be considered for promotion to the position of Assistant County Attorney III.

For purposes of the County Attorney’s Office’s organizational chart, any positions designated for an Assistant County Attorney may be filled by an Assistant County Attorney at any level of progression, provided that the total number of Assistant County Attorneys may not exceed the number of positions designated on the organizational chart.

TRAVEL:

The Assistant County Attorney is required to travel minimally, but may be required to do so on occasion.

The Assistant County Attorney must be knowledgeable of the following principles, procedures, and concepts:

• Knowledge of English grammar and spelling.

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, across many fields of legal practice.

• Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.

• Knowledge of County ordinances and an understanding of their accepted interpretations.

• Ability to draft legal instruments, proposed legislation, and legal opinions.

• Knowledge of personal computers and relevant office software.

• Proficiency with Westlaw Edge, Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Acrobat Pro.

• Proficiency with various electronic court filing systems, as needed.

• Ability to type quickly and effectively.

• Ability to work courteously with others and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, administrative officials, local government staff, vendors, and members of the general public.

• Knowledge of the organizational, functional, and legal limitations of the authority of the Mayor, Board of Commissioners, County staff, and other governmental entities and elected officials.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing on complex legal subjects.

• Ability to analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence, and precedents and to effectively present such material orally and in writing.

• Knowledge of changes to the law within each legislative session and the ability to train others on the nature and effect of new laws.

• Ability to effectively manage time spent on tasks, to work on multiple projects at once within strict deadlines, and to effectively prioritize work efforts.

• Ability to work independently or collaboratively under minimal supervision.

(ADA) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and understand written materials in English. Ability to effectively communicate information to supervisors, employees, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with basic mathematical concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

Must be able to effectively communicate orally and in written form in a professional manner in order to give or exchange information, resolve problems, and/or provide service. In addition, this position requires extensive contact with other employees and the general public, often involving problem-solving circumstances. Must be able to communicate and explain complex legal concepts in an effective manner to non-attorneys.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to interpret and understand a variety of forms, reports, manuals, state and federal statutes, regulations, local ordinances, and case law, and other means of instruction and guidance.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires light demands with intermittent sitting, standing, walking, computer use, and occasional lifting of lightweight objects.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work environment is primarily an indoor office work area, with occasional travel to field sites, courtrooms, or training seminars.

PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS:

The ability to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and decorum, including under the State Bar of Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, and strictly following the same ethical standards imposed upon attorneys practicing law in Georgia.

FINANCIAL SKILLS:

The ability to understand and apply basic financial concepts, such as budgets, credits, debits, payments, and rates of payment.