Child Support Assistant States Attorney I-II

Exempt; full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; full-benefits; grant-funded 

This professional position is assigned to the Child Support Division of the State's Attorney's office with responsibility for providing legal services to the Frederick County Department of Social Services. This position is supervised by the Chief Assistant State's Attorney of Child Support and/or the State's Attorney. 
NOTE: The upper pay range reflects possible wage rates for internal County transfers and promotions.  For transfers and promotions, wage rates are calculated per County policy.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE:

• 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
• 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
• 11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays
• Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
• 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
• County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan
  • Vesting after 5 years of service
  • Additional service credit for eligible previous public service, military service, etc.
• Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Other employee-paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan.
• Coming soon-early 2025: Employee Health Center with no or low cost primary and urgent care

For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage.

• Analyze and assess cases, legal research, pleading preparation, trial preparation, settlement and litigation to include Establish, Modify and Enforce Child Support
• Secure and enforce judgements; attach assets as warranted
• Provide legal advice and guidance to the Frederick County Department of Social Services
• Advise Frederick County Department of Social Services staff of statutory changes and significant case law decisions regarding child support matters
• Work with all other positions in the Child Support Division to comply with the contractual obligations of the State’s Attorney’s Office under the Cooperative Reimbursement Agreement with the Frederick County Department of Social Services
• Perform other duties as assigned

The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical requirements or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  

• Graduation from an accredited law school
• Admission to the Bar of the State of Maryland
• Some work experience in criminal Law, litigation, case analysis, trial preparation and preparation of criminal and/or juvenile court documents 

• Graduation from an accredited law school
• Current Bar Admission in the State of Maryland
• Minimum 2 years of work experience in criminal Law, litigation, case analysis, trial preparation and preparation of criminal and/or juvenile court documents

• Considerable knowledge of legal principles and procedures
• Ability to effectively evaluate and try a case
• Ability to effectively obtain information through interview, interrogation and other legal research methods
• Ability to make quick and well-reasoned case decisions under pressured circumstances
• Discretion and good judgment in working with sensitive information, with ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with; co-workers, attorneys and others in the judicial system; law enforcement offers and agencies, and the general public, including the ability to give knowledgeable and practical advice to individuals who are emotionally distraught
• Strong and effective spoken and written (English) communication skills, including the ability to maintain clear, accurate case files

• Prosecutorial experience in a State's Attorney's Office
• Maryland Rule 19 experience, or a comparable student prosecutor experience in another state and/or a judicial clerkship in any jurisdiction
• Law experience as a practicing attorney in the State of Maryland
• Competitive trial advocacy or competitive moot court
• Criminal clinical practice experience as a law student
• Completion of a law student internship with the Frederick County State's Attorney's Office
• Experience communicating and working with families in crisis
• Bilingual skills in Spanish

• While working in this position, the employee is frequently sitting, lifting up to 20 pounds and making repetitive motions
• While working in this position, the employee is constantly indoors

• This position is subject to random drug testing
• Available for varied working hours and on-call as needed
• As a representative of the people of Frederick County, it is imperative that the Assistant State's Attorney maintain competent and professional relations with the public
• This position will be full-time without a private practice

1. An evaluation of experience and training
2. One or more interviews
3. Pre-employment drug test, to include testing for marijuana
4. Pre-employment background investigation conducted by the State's Attorney's Office