Job Description

The Civil Bureau of the Pinal County Attorney’s Office (PCAO) serves as Pinal County’s in-house law firm that provides legal representation and advice to Pinal County, and its elected officials, and various departments. Part of this legal representation may include assessing, preparing, evaluating, negotiating, and litigating civil cases, and representing PCAO and/or County departments in court, hearings, and negotiations. This position is expected to effectively advise County departments and County officials while managing civil cases and civil-related issues under basic supervision.

TYPICAL CLASSIFICATION ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Represent PCAO on behalf of county clients to resolve civil cases brought for and against the County, learn PCAO guidelines and standards, and perform duties within the delegated scope of authority.
• Assist in litigating civil cases, reviewing legal documents, and analyzing case facts.
• Evaluate and discuss cases with newer attorneys, use of applicable legal motions, and advise as to appropriate dispositions.
• Conduct research and provide consultation involving complex and difficult legal issues.
• Apply legal principles to determinations on individual cases and problems.
• Confer with and offer advice and counsel to County officials and employees as clients, apply legal expertise in a variety of legal fields including administrative, contract, procurement, environmental, property and real estate, employment, public records, tax issues, and other fields of common practice in public sector law.
• Manage assigned legal cases, confer with participants, negotiate agreements, and if necessary, litigate and resolve cases.
• Review and develop recommendations for legal decisions, policies, regulations, resolutions, tax appeals, public disclosure requests, court orders, and other assigned legal matters.
• Evaluate case files, research missing and incomplete information and documents, manage collection and analysis of evidence, use various computer databases, and update files and records.
• Review status of cases with supervisor and create, process, and file memoranda and legal documents.
• Cross-train in a wide variety of civil legal areas.
• Maintain the integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of PCAO by following its rules and regulations to maintain accountability and preserve public trust.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, customer records, and restricted County information.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Exercises regular and predictable attendance and punctuality in accordance with Pinal County Personnel Policies and Procedures.
• Evaluate case files and research missing and incomplete information and documents, manage collection and analysis of evidence, research files and computer databases, and update files and records.
• Review case status with supervisor and create, process, and file memoranda and legal documents.
• Cross-train in a wide variety of legal fields.
• Maintain the integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of the County Attorney's Office by assuring that all rules and regulations are followed and that accountability and public trust are preserved.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, customer records, and restricted County information.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Advises county departments, elected officials, and county employees as clients on a variety of civil matters and issues.

Specific duties may include:

• Advises county departments, elected officials, and county employees as clients on a variety of civil matters and issues.
• Performs legal research and drafts, reviews and prepares legal documents including motions, petitions, opinions, and demands.
• Advises county officers and county departments regarding civil legal matters and represents them in court and regulatory actions.
• Provides written opinions to county officers and their employees on matters relating to the duties of their offices and/or departments.
• Acts as the legal advisor to the board of supervisors, attends its meetings and opposes claims against the county that the county attorney deems unjust or illegal.
• Represents assigned departments on civil matters in courts of law and before regulatory agencies.
• Responds to emails, questions, and phone calls from county official and employees regarding civil legal issues that arise in their departments.
• Attends Commissions, Committees, and Board meetings to provide legal advice to the respective public bodies and their members.
• Represents the County in Title 36 mental health hearings, reviews petitions for court ordered evaluation and court-ordered treatment and provide advice regarding the Title 36 process.
• Represents and advises Pinal County and the Pinal County Treasurer in all tax lien foreclosures.
• Reviews and responds to Public Records Requests received by Pinal County.
• Advises and represents Development Services regarding code enforcement issues and cases involving abatements of property, enforcement of public health laws and regulations, and matters of zoning enforcement and interpretation.
• Represents Pinal County in civil forfeiture proceedings and advises law enforcement on legal issues that involve the civil forfeiture of property seized in a criminal case.
• Coordinates civil litigation with outside legal counsel when Pinal County or a county employee in his or her official capacity is named as a party to the action.
• Represents and defends Pinal County and the Pinal County Recorder in election lawsuits and election challenges. ? Conducts transactional work on behalf of Pinal County.
• Reviews, drafts and edits legal documents, such as contracts, intergovernmental agreements, liens, deeds, and memorandums of understanding.
• Represents and defends all locally valued and assessed property tax appeals.
• Represents and advises the Pinal County Public Fiduciary in Guardianship and Conservatorship matters.
• Represents Pinal County in animal seizure and forfeiture proceedings.
• Advises and provides representation in matters related to improvement districts.
• Serves on specific task or working groups as requested.
• Participates in policy-making discussions and analysis as requested.
• Obtains additional knowledge of legal and other job-related fields through reading of related information and materials and attending training and educational classes.
• Maintains files, compiles reports, and statistics as needed.
• Performs special assignments as requested.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK

ATTORNEY I :

• Juris Doctorate degree or Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an accredited, ABA approved law school.
• Must pass a thorough background investigation.
• Arizona residents must have a valid Arizona Driver’s License upon hire; newly established Arizona Residents must have one within 30 days of hire.
• Applications will be accepted from candidates who have passed the Arizona bar examination, or are transferring UBE scores, and are awaiting admission to the bar, but such candidates cannot be hired until admitted, unless otherwise permitted to practice in Arizona under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 39 provisions.

ATTORNEY II :

• Juris Doctorate degree.
• Two (2) years’ experience in practicing law.
• Must pass a thorough background investigation.
• Arizona residents must have a valid Arizona Driver’s License upon hire; newly established Arizona Residents must have one within 30 days of hire.
• Applications will be accepted from candidates who have passed the Arizona bar examination, or are transferring UBE scores, and are awaiting admission to the bar, but such candidates cannot be hired until admitted, unless otherwise permitted to practice in Arizona under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 39 provisions.

ATTORNEY III :

• Juris Doctorate degree.
• Five (5) years’ experience in practicing law.
• Must pass a thorough background investigation.
• Arizona residents must have a valid Arizona Driver’s License upon hire; newly established Arizona Residents must have one within 30 days of hire.
• Applications will be accepted from candidates who have passed the Arizona bar examination, or are transferring UBE scores, and are awaiting admission to the bar, but such candidates cannot be hired until admitted, unless otherwise permitted to practice in Arizona under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 39 provisions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of Arizona civil statutes, rules, administrative orders, and applicable Federal rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of operations, functions, procedures, rules, and policies of Pinal County Courts and Arizona Superior Court.
• Knowledge of principles and protocols to gather information and records for use in court and for purposes of rendering advice.
• Knowledge of the duties, powers, authorities, and limitations of a County Attorney including rules of professional conduct and standards for ethical behavior.
• Knowledge of the duties, powers, authorities, and limitations of a county board of supervisors.
• Knowledge of legal research methods, techniques, sources, and databases.
• Knowledge of legal case management procedures, ethics, and techniques.
• Knowledge of principles of records management, maintenance of case files, and records management.
• Knowledge of rules of evidence, motion practice, court rules, and any applicable precedent.
• Skill in interpreting and explaining legal standards and procedures, applicable Federal and state rules and regulations, and PCAO policies and procedures.
• Skill in evaluating and applying civil statutes and regulations to information and other evidence.
• Skill in reviewing legal documents to extract relevant information and evaluate legal issues and legal system variables.
• Ability to operate a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in decision making.
• Ability to handle a large volume of work.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with clients, coworkers, attorneys, representatives of law enforcement agencies, courts, employees of other departments, the public, and other participants in county governance.
• Ability to make persuasive legal arguments both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrates increased knowledge in specific civil areas of practice; engage in independent decision making related to the handling of more complex civil litigation.

THE POSITION AND SALARY WILL BE DETERIMINED BASED ON APPLICANTS QUALIFICATIONS, IF SELECTED

Advancement within the classification series is not guaranteed or automatic and may be delayed. Years of experience referenced in each classification is the minimum requirement, however, placement at job level is also dependent upon quality of work product, caseload complexity, and the ability to work independently. To be eligible for advancement to the next level in the classification series, the employee must perform successfully at the current level, meet the minimum requirements for the next level, and demonstrate the ability to perform the higher level duties.

ATTORNEY I - Pay Grade 15 - $82,344.50 - $107,072

This is the trainee level classification in the Attorney series. Incumbents perform entry level legal work under close supervision

ATTORNEY II - Pay Grade 17 - $88,128 - $131,166

This is the journey level classification in the Attorney series. Incumbents perform intermediate level legal work under general supervision.

ATTORNEY III - Pay Grade 20 - $107,174 - $167,537

This is the senior level classification in the Attorney series. Perform legal work of greater complexity and difficulty, working under minimal supervision, exercising discretion, and independent judgment.

This position is an exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not a covered position under the Pinal County Merit System Rules. Incumbents in this position serve at the pleasure of their respective Appointing Authority. The employment relationship is "at-will" and employment may be terminated at any time, for any reason, with or without cause.

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