County Attorney

Job Summary: The County Attorney provides legal counsel and representation of the County Commissioners, County Departments, County boards, and various County entities. This role involves managing all legal affairs, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, drafting legal documents, and representing the County in legal proceedings. The County Attorney plays a critical role in supporting County governance and maintaining the integrity of legal processes.

This position reports directly to the County Commissioners of Kent County.

Salary Range: $96,752 to $154,803

Position Status: Full-time or Contractual

Essential Functions

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as the County may deem necessary.

1. Legal Counsel

• Provides legal advice and counsel to the County Commissioners as a body and to individual Commissioners as may be applicable; provides legal advice, as needed, via the County Administrator to County Departments, County boards, and other County officials on a wide range of issues.
• Conducts legal research related to County policies, positions, and legal matters; prepares legal memoranda and formal opinions.
• Reviews and composes legal correspondence, documents, and recommendations.

2. Document Preparation

• Drafts, reviews, and ensures the legal sufficiency of contracts, leases, deeds, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents.
• Negotiates and prepares settlement agreements as necessary.

3. Regulatory Compliance & Ethics Oversight

• Advises on compliance with local, State, and federal regulations, including the Open Meetings Act, Maryland Public Information Act, and County ethical requirements.
• Assists County employees and officials with ethics filings, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements to the Maryland State Ethics Commission.
• Stays updated on legal, regulatory, and policy developments affecting County operations.

4. Litigation & Legal Enforcement

• Initiates and manages legal proceedings to enforce County ordinances and pursues debt collection efforts.
• Represents the County in legal actions, including litigation, hearings, and other legal proceedings.

5. Meeting & Legislative Support

• Prepares and presents legal agenda items for County Commissioners' meetings.
• Attends County Commissioners' meetings and other relevant County boards to provide legal guidance.
• Drafts and supports the legislative process by preparing proposed ordinances and resolutions.
• Reviews staff-submitted documents to County Commissioners for legal sufficiency.

6. General Legal Oversight

• Oversees and manages all legal affairs of the County with a high degree of independence and discretion.
• Develops legal policies, responses, and recommendations to support County governance and operations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of the provisions of Maryland law.
• Extensive knowledge of local government functions and organizations.
• Proficiency in planning, developing, implementing and administering a legal services program dealing with various governmental functions and programs.
• Proficiency in negotiating agreements which accommodate the conflicting interests and viewpoints of numerous groups and organizations.
• Proficiency in oral and written communication sufficient to develop defenses of, and justifications for, decisions reached.
• Proficiency in performing legal research and analysis.
• Proficiency in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other governmental and bi-county agencies.
• Ability to attend meetings and perform work assignments at locations outside the office.

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited law school; minimum of seven (7) years of experience as a practicing attorney in the State of Maryland; working knowledge of Maryland State, county, and other local government laws and regulations, or a demonstrated ability to assimilate same in a brief period of time.
• Prior experience as a State or local government attorney, is preferable.
• Admission to practice law in the State of Maryland and maintain good standing before the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Conditions of Employment:

• Substance Abuse Test: Must pass a pre-employment urinalysis test for designated controlled dangerous substances.
• Criminal Background Check: Must pass a Criminal Background Check as defined in Kent County Handbook.
• Essential Functions: Must be able to execute the "Essential Functions" listed in this Class Specification at the time of hire and while employed in this class series, unless a request for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act is received and granted.
• Driving Record: Valid Maryland Class ?C? or equivalent.
• Personnel Rules and Regulations: Must comply with the terms of the Kent County Personnel Rules and Regulations, including the Substance Abuse Policy, while employed for Kent County Government.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:

Work is conducted in an office setting with comfortable lighting, temperature, and air conditioning. The position occasionally requires stooping or bending. Occasional very light lifting, such as three or four reams of paper, books, or other materials (up to 20 pounds} may be required.

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices or meeting rooms, e.g.: use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls and observance of fire regulations.

The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this position.

Kent County Government provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.