Assistant County Attorney V, Personnel

The County Attorney's Office is seeking an attorney with exceptional legal knowledge and skills in handling employment law matters and civil defense litigation. The position is in the Office of the County Attorney's Personnel Section.

The successful applicant will counsel and represent County agencies and employees in multiple areas including employment law, collective bargaining, constitutional law, workers' compensation, property damage, personal injury and alleged civil rights violations. The position will represent County agencies in employee grievances and in matters before the Fairfax County Civil Service Commission and will handle litigation in state and federal courts and before state administrative agencies while providing legal advice to County agencies.

The position requires strong litigation and trial skills and the demonstrated ability to manage cases from inception to completion including conducting discovery, taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing motions and briefs, and conducting bench or jury trial. The successful applicant must also possess excellent writing skills, including the ability to analyze complex legal issues and prepare motions, briefs and other court filings.

This position also offers the opportunity to analyze proposed policies and legislation and assess their potential impact on the County and its programs. It provides an excellent opportunity to work in a collegial environment on a wide range of issues involving the interplay of federal, state, and local law. Depending on the attorney's years of practice, subject to HR approval, the offer may exceed midpoint of the advertised pay grade range.

Fairfax County's Office of the County Attorney functions as in-house counsel to the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive, department heads, division directors, and other County employees. It also serves as counsel to various boards, authorities, and commissions. The Office is led by County Attorney Elizabeth D. Teare, who was appointed to the position in 2016, and is the County's first female County Attorney. The Office has a long list of distinguished attorneys, both past and present, including multiple alumni appointed by the General Assembly to serve as judges in local courts. The attorneys are active in the various bar associations and many of our attorneys have served in official capacities in the Virginia State Bar, the Fairfax Bar, the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, and the Virginia Law Foundation. The LGA Cherin Award is named after retired Deputy County Attorney Bob Cherin for his distinguished public service. The Virginia Law Foundation's Bobzien-Gaither Education Center is, in part, named after former County Attorney David P. Bobzien, who served as the president of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Law Foundation. Fairfax County is the largest jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia with more than 1.2 million residents and more than 13,000 employees. Fairfax County government is widely recognized as a superior government organization. County employees are eligible for superb benefits. Highlights of the county's benefits packages are a defined-benefit pension plan; a deferred compensation plan (457); access to medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, and generous leave policies. all employees are eligible to access services offered by the Employee Assistance Program; and the county operates a workforce wellness program to help employees, and their families stay well during the workday and beyond.

COVER LETTER REQUIRED: Applicants must include a writing sample attached to their application to receive full consideration.

Schedule: Work hours may extend beyond the normal business day and may include evenings, weekends, or holidays as necessary to meet workload demands, filing deadlines and legal requirements.

Confidential Position: This position is designated as confidential under the county's Collective Bargaining Ordinance. This position assists and acts in a confidential capacity to persons who formulate, determine, and effectuate management policies with regard to labor relations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar. Any combination of education and experience equivalent to four years of experience as a practicing attorney.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
License to practice law in the state of Virginia.

For specific, specialized County Attorney positions, at the request of the County Attorney, the Human Resources Director may approve consideration of candidates who are members of a Bar Association in a state other than Virginia. For these approved positions, membership in the Virginia State Bar must be obtained within 9 months of hire.

• This position is considered Emergency Service Personnel to ensure the continuity of essential operations and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
• This position is designated as confidential under the county's Collective Bargaining Ordinance. This position assists and acts in a confidential capacity to persons who formulate, determine, and effectuate management policies with regard to labor relations.
• The appointee to the position must complete a Statement of Economic Interest form prior to starting work.
• The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
• All positions allocated to the County Attorney series are under the Fairfax County Merit System of personnel administration and are limited to full-time employment and preclude the private practice of law. However, the phrase "private practice of law" does not include the provision of pro bono public legal services in a pro bono legal services program approved by the County Attorney and in accordance with the policy of the County Attorney governing participation in an approved program.

• Demonstrated experience in employment law and/or labor negotiations.
• Demonstrated excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Collective bargaining experience, to include drafting labor relations contracts, negotiating bargaining agreements, and/or experience before labor relations board.
• Litigation experience in state/federal court and/or the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission.
• Demonstrated experience arguing motions in state and federal court.
• Demonstrated experience drafting motions and briefs in state and federal court

• Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally
• Ability to travel to various locations throughout Fairfax County to provide coverage, attend in-person hearings, meetings, and trainings.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.

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Requisition 26-00680