County Attorney

County Attorney

Salary – Negotiable (DOQ)

Description:

Under the direction of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), performs a variety of complex technical, managerial, administrative and professional legal work in providing legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The role involves overseeing legal matters affecting the county, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws, and representing the county in legal proceedings.

Responsibilities:

• Attend all regular Commission meetings on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 9:00 a.m., to render legal assistance, opinions and advice as required.
• Attend all Planning Board/Board of Adjustments and Appeals meetings.
• Attend all hearings of the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate.
• Attend all County Staff meetings, if requested.
• Attend all Construction Industry Licensing Board meetings, as needed after review of agenda.
• Attend Board of County Commissioner Workshops, Special Meetings, and other meetings, as needed after review of agenda and/or consultation with the County Administrator.
• Serve as attorney to the Canvassing Board.
• Represent the BOCC in legal matters, including initiating and defending lawsuits on behalf of the County, such as: appeals, civil lawsuits, evictions, administrative proceedings; and in county court hearings such as: animal control, and code enforcement, and coordinate with others as needed, with any concerns regarding legal issues.
• Acts as liaison with other legal activities under the jurisdiction of the BOCC.
• Provide legal advice and general consulting, as requested by the Board, or County Administrator and the department heads, offices and employees, on legal issues raised, or as required.
• Prepare all Ordinances and Resolutions and special legislative acts or other legal documents for legal sufficiency prior to submission to the Board.
• Prepare all county contracts or review for legal sufficiency, as requested, before submission to the Board for action.
• Prepare annual audit letter regarding litigation cases involving the County.
• The Attorney shall retain an association with, or actually as an employee at his offices, a minimum of one attorney who shall have competent experience in governmental affairs, in particular county government law and/or shall acquire such knowledge such that each attorney shall be able to attend such functions and attend to such matters as enumerated above in this contract when the Attorney is unavailable or unable to attend same.
• The Attorney shall continue to be the County’s primary representative in all litigation in any court and all other hearings, meetings, or other such functions as enumerated in this document, and not covered under the County’s insurance policy.
• The Attorney shall also represent the County in proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction and in hearings before administrative tribunals where the County is a party or intervener in respect to the issues that are pending before such court or administrative tribunal when directed to do so by the Board of County Commissioners. The Attorney may also represent the County in other matters, not specifically enumerated herein, at the request of the Board of County Commissioner or County Administrator.

Requirements:

• Possess a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. Ten (10) years’ experience as a practicing attorney in legal research and trial work with at least five (5) years in a government agency.
• Member of the Florida Bar.
• Management experience.
• Requires a valid driver license.