ATTORNEY II- Child Support/Adult Services-DSS

POSITION SUMMARY

Job Description Summary:

This attorney serves as a staff attorney for the Department of Social Services. He/she will be primarily assigned to the Child Support and Adult Protective Services Units. They will also backup the attorneys who represent DSS in abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings, termination of parental rights proceedings, and litigation relating to the Responsible Individuals List. This attorney does support a full range of legal services to DSS, to include representing the agency in matters relating to eligibility for Medicaid and other public assistance programs.
Hiring Range: $94,530.00 to $109,892.00

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Job Functions:

Provides representation for DSS with respect to Child Support Enforcement, establishment, paternity testing, interstate, program integrity and the adult services units.

Prepares for and conducts both routine and complex litigation at trial and on appeal.

Drafts and/or reviews petitions, motions, responses, proposed orders, and other documents.

Routinely meets with, consults with, and provides advice to child support staff and adult services staff both before and after court dates. Consults with staff in regards to all aspects of Child Support, Adult Services and Program Integrity.

Conducts training programs for Child Support and Adult Services social workers with respect to all aspects of court, to include preparing court reports and giving testimony.

Participates on the Senior Leadership Team of the Harnett County Department of Social Services as requested by the Director or the Director's designee.

Participates in the hiring, training, and supervision of paralegals and assistants in the legal division as requested by the Director or the Director's designee. Works closely with other staff attorneys, paralegals, and assistants to manage the child support and adult services case load.

This attorney will also regularly provide legal services to child protective services staff as directed by Director or Director’s designee.

This attorney will also regularly provide representation to other units in the agency, to include providing advice and counsel with respect to eligibility for Medicaid and other public assistance benefits and providing counsel with respect to fraud cases involving public assistance benefits.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Other Job Functions

Performs additional duties as assigned.

This attorney is required to work during emergencies, to include conducting non-legal work at emergency shelters during public emergencies, which includes but is not limited to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, disease outbreak, terrorist attack, and other similar emergencies.

Management reserves the right to add or amend duties at any time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of state and federal law and regulations pertaining to Social Services.

Thorough knowledge of civil law principles and procedures, judicial procedures, and quasi-judicial procedures, especially as related to child protective services, child support, and adult protective services.

Considerable knowledge of methods of legal research, investigation methodology, and the rules of evidence.

General knowledge of county government structures and operations.

General knowledge of department programs, particularly programs relating to public assistance benefits and an ability to interpret wills, trusts, deeds, and other documents that may be relevant to eligibility for public assistance or suspected fraud with respect to public assistance programs.

Ability to conduct routine and complex civil litigation before the Clerk, in the trial division, and in the appellate division. A general understanding of how to conduct criminal litigation, how criminal litigation impacts DSS cases, and how to assist prosecutors who are handling criminal cases that are related to DSS work.

Ability to research, interpret, and apply constitutional provisions, statutory provisions, administrative regulations, court decisions, and other precedent.

Ability to express conclusions and arguments clearly and logically in oral and written form.

Ability to plan, program, supervise, and control the work of employees involved in diverse program areas.

Ability to supervise paralegals and legal assistants. Ability to supervise and guide social workers who are preparing legal documents.

Ability and willingness to use North Carolina’s e-filing/e-courts/Portal/Odyssey system and willingness to work with staff, paralegals, the Clerk’s office, judges, and others to use and improve e-courts in North Carolina.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Physical Requirements

The work in this class is primarily sedentary in nature. Physical requirements include sitting for extended periods of time, walking, bending, stooping, and lifting books and files of approximately 10 lbs. or less. Work may include extended periods of time viewing a computer video monitor and/or operating a keyboard. Work includes operation of a motor vehicle. Employee may be exposed to hazardous materials.

Exposure Control

Work activity does not entail predictable or unpredictable exposure to blood or body fluids.

Minimum Experience and Training

Graduation from a recognized school of law.

Four years of professional legal experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

License to practice law and admission to the Bar in the State of North Carolina is required.

The attorney is required to complete the necessary continuing legal education to maintain the license to practice law.

A valid driver’s license is required.

Harnett County takes pride in offering an excellent benefit package including health, dental, vision and life insurance, membership in the North Carolina Local Government retirement, free health clinic for employees and anyone in their household and other benefits. To see more information about the benefits offered by Harnett County,