What are the responsibilities and job description for the Attorney II position at St. Louis County, MO?
The Family Court of St. Louis County is hiring for a full time Attorney II for it's Legal Department. This is a non-merit position. Recruitment for this position will be handled by the Family Court of St. Louis County.
This position represents the Juvenile Officer in neglect and delinquency matters brought before the Court. Work involves independently conducting research, litigation; reviews documents submitted by police, social and school agencies to determine whether the Family Court has jurisdiction to act; prepares pleadings, memoranda of law and appellate level briefs, and performs other related duties as assigned.
Entry salary is $80,000 - $83,000. This position within the Family Court/Juvenile Office is eligible for 10% addition to pay.
As an employer, St. Louis County cares about the health and well-being of our employees. In an effort to provide for the best possible work-life balance, the County offers a generous benefit package which includes affordable health insurance, dental and vision coverage, 4 weeks of Paid Time Off the first year, 11 paid holidays, deferred benefit retirement plan, paid life insurance as well as short and long term disability. A full listing of benefits is available under the benefit tab at the top of this page.
Examples of Duties
This position represents the Juvenile Officer in neglect and delinquency matters brought before the Court. Work involves independently conducting research, litigation; reviews documents submitted by police, social and school agencies to determine whether the Family Court has jurisdiction to act; prepares pleadings, memoranda of law and appellate level briefs, and performs other related duties as assigned.
- Searches for, interprets and applies statues, rules, court decisions and other legal authorities in the preparation of briefs, pleadings, petitions and other legal papers in connection with juvenile related trials and other proceedings.
- Litigates cases including appearances on pre-hearing conferences, pre-trial discoveries, and subpoenas witnesses and records; prepares and analyzes cases and reviews evidence; prepares briefs and memoranda and argues cases before trial and appellate court.
- Handles all phases of trial preparation, such as motions to modify, motions for continuances, file pleadings, etc. Cases may involve delinquency, care and protection, Termination of Parental Rights, and certification issues.
- Provides legal review of juvenile cases referred to the court; reviews booking/screening decisions.
- Presents cases for trial, including direct, re-direct, cross-examinations, etc.
- Interviews witnesses, victims, police officers, experts and other parties in person, in writing or over telephone.
- Ensures thorough investigation of dispositional information provided by a Deputy Juvenile Officer to determine if it coincides with legal requirements.
- Provides oral and written legal opinions on juvenile law and Court-related matters when requested.
- Maintains records of legal cases and briefs and prepares reports.
- Researches, interprets and applies statutory and decisional law in the preparation and review of pleadings and filings before trial courts.
- Assists in the preparation and issuance of capias warrants.
- Prosecutes violations of state laws, including misdemeanor and felony cases.
- Provides guidance regarding the acceptance, processing, and disposition of cases, directs the investigation of cases, maintains liaison with courts and advises and coordinates trial strategy.
- Oversees and directs investigations delegated to the Legal Investigator
Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited law school with a juris doctorate and possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Missouri is required; plus two years of professional legal experience; extensive trial experience in juvenile family or criminal law is desirable, or any equivalent experience.
Additional Information
All applicants conditionally offered a permanent part-time, full-time, term or on-call position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Screening will be performed by a reputable clinical laboratory. The cost of screening will be paid by the County. Applicants will also be required to submit to an extensive background and criminal record check.
The Family Court of St. Louis County is an equal opportunity employer. Please contact the Human Resources Department at (314) 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo711 or 1-800-735-2966 if you need special accommodations in the application process or would like this posting in an alternative format
St. Louis County offers its employees many excellent benefits with paid medical insurance, 20 days of PTO (paid time off) the first year and increasing with seniority, and 11-12 paid holidays. Employees hired for full time employment will participate in the St. Louis County retirement plan where they contribute 4% of their salary to the defined benefit plan with vesting after 7 years. Other benefits include: paid life insurance, a credit union, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, pre-tax premium pay plan, dependent care and medical expense reimbursement plans, and short and long term disability insurance.
In addition to these benefits, as of January 1, 2023, St. Louis County approved up to 480 hours of paid parental leave for eligible employees welcoming new children, either by birth or adoption. The employee can also take up to 80 hours of leave for prenatal care and up to 80 hours for care of the child within the first year.
Salary : $80,000 - $83,000
