Maryland Public Information Act - Assistant County Attorney (Attorney I)

Position Description

This posting will be used to fill a full-time permanent Attorney I position within the Office of Law. The primary responsibility of this position will be to provide advice and assistance to various County agencies and departments regarding Maryland Public Information Act ("MPIA") requests and responses thereto, including advice on whether a request under the MPIA seeks specific material is privileged or otherwise exempt from production. This position may also have civil litigation responsibilities in MPIA, general tort, and contractual matters. An attorney in this position is expected to provide clear, well-reasoned written communications.

Nature and Variety of Work

Work assignments involve handling matters and legal advice related to the Maryland Public Information Act, as well as research, analysis, and discussing matters before providing a legal opinion and the complexity of case assignments involves preparing memoranda, pleadings, and discovery; and appearing before administrative hearing agencies, and Circuit and District courts. Assignments are based on general guidance, and considerable latitude is given to preparing for cases and working with the parties involved.

Work performed is evaluated by a higher-level attorney. An employee in this class may be the legal specialist in a specific subject matter discipline and/or provide varied legal services and advice for a number of County departments or agencies.

Examples of Duties and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)

Examples of Duties

• Provide advice and assistance to various County agencies and departments regarding Maryland Public Information Act ("MPIA") requests and responses thereto, including advice on whether a request under the MPIA seeks specific material is privileged or otherwise exempt from production.

• Civil litigation responsibilities in MPIA, general tort, and contractual matters.

• Analyzes legal issues and recommends disposition;

• Performs related duties as required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of:

• The common law and of county, state, and federal laws and precedents, with particular reference to the subject area of the assignment

• Judicial procedures and of the rules of evidence

• Principles, materials, methods, and practices of legal research

• Civil pleadings and of effective techniques in the trial of cases in court

Ability to:

• Analyze legal issues, facts, evidence, and precedents in difficult cases and to present such materials effectively in oral or written form

• Analyze and interpret legal documents and instruments

• Prepare contracts, other legal instruments, and court presentations with high effectiveness

• Deal tactfully and effectively with county officials, court officials, and the public

• Operate a personal computer.

Provide clear, well-reasoned written communications.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited school of law; and admission to the bar of the State.

Note: Accredited University or College, is the recognition from an accrediting agency that an institution maintains a certain level of educational standards. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accrediting agencies it recognizes for schools within the United States.

For a University or College outside the United States, the applicant must provide documentation of accreditation and educational equivalency which can be accomplished through a credential evaluation service. Applicants with a foreign degree must provide this documentation upon the close of the announcement.

Supplemental Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants with recent experience with the MPIA and in administrative hearings or civil trials in the Maryland District or Circuit Courts.

• Medical/Health Insurance Plans

• Open Access Aetna Select HMO-EPO

• Aetna Open Choice PPO

Dental Insurance

• CIGNA Dental PPO (Buy-Up)

• CIGNA Dental PPO (CORE)

• CIGNA Dental HMO (DHMO)

Vision Insurance

• EyeMed

Employee Life Insurance

• Term insurance of up to 2 times salary ($100,000 maximum) for employees at no cost.

• Ability to purchase Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance

Disability Income Insurance

Pension Plan

• Normal retirement after 30 years of service or Age 60 and 10 years of service or election to enroll in the Employees Retirement Savings Plan.

Deferred Compensation Section 457 Plan

Direct Deposit

Credit Union

Holidays

• Twelve days provided per year, thirteen in general election year

Annual Leave

• Less than 3 years

• 13 days

• 3 to less than 15 years

• 20 days

• 15 years or more

• 26 days

Disability Leave

• Accrual at a rate of 15 days a year

Personal Leave Day, 5 per calendar year

Leave Sharing

Employee Assistance Program

• Free, confidential counseling for employee and family members 4X per year per problem per family member; also counseling on legal and financial issues; assistance in locating childcare and elder care

Flexible Spending Accounts

• Dependent Care Reimbursement

• Health Care Reimbursement

Voluntary Benefits

• Provides you an opportunity to enroll in any or all of the benefits listed below with the convenience of payroll deduction

• Universal Life Insurance with Long Term Care Rider

• United Legal Benefits
  01

The supplemental questions are a very important first step in our screening process. Therefore, you are required to complete these questions so that we may initially determine your eligibility for this position. Please do not respond to supplemental questions by indicating "See Resume". A lack of detail and explanation in the supplemental questions and in your application may result in failure or disqualification for this position. This means you will be ineligible for further consideration in this recruitment process. Please check "yes" to show that you have read and understand this statement.

• Yes

• No

02

Have you graduated from an accredited school of law?

• Yes

• No

03

If yes, list your law school.

04

Have you been admitted to the bar of the State (Maryland)?

• Yes

• No

05

Please list you bar association number.

06

Do you have recent experience with the MPIA?

• Yes

• No

07

If yes, please explain your experience and include number of years.

08

Do you have recent experience with administrative hearings or civil trials in the Maryland District or Circuit Courts?

09

If yes, please explain your experience and include number of years.

10

Note: Accredited University or College is the recognition from an accrediting agency that an institution maintains a certain level of educational standards. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accrediting agencies it recognizes for schools within the United States. For a University or College outside the United States, the applicant must provide documentation of accreditation and educational equivalency, which can be accomplished through a credential evaluation service. Applicants with a foreign degree must provide this documentation upon the close of the announcement. Have you attached the appropriate documentation to verify your education?

• Yes

• No

11

Did a county employee refer you? If yes, indicate their name, department and badge/id number. If you weren't referred by an Employee indicate N/A.

Required Question

Agency Anne Arundel County

Address Heritage Complex

2660 Riva Road, First Floor

Annapolis, Maryland, 21401

Phone (410) 222-7595

Website http://www.aacounty.org/Personnel/Index.cfm