CLACKAMAS COUNTY CORE VALUES
Clackamas County Employees Work To Serve The Public And Enrich Our Community. In That Spirit, We Pledge To Hold Ourselves To These Standards At All Times In Our Interactions With Customers And One Another
• Service
• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Respect
• Individual accountability
• Trust
By incorporating these values into our daily routines, we can better serve our customers, ourselves and our projects. We’re always looking to improve. That’s the Clackamas County SPIRIT . Clackamas County Core Values
Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply.
CLOSE DATE
This position will remain open until filled. The first application review will be on Monday, January 13, 2024. We reserve the right to close this recruitment at any time on or after that date.
Pay And Benefits
Annual Pay Range: $124,+10.81 - $168,628.+1
Hourly Pay Range: $60.053276 - $60.053276+
Salary offers will be made within the posted pay range and will be based on a candidate's experience (paid or unpaid) that is directly relevant to the position. This position is an “at will” position and serves under the County Counsel on an employment Contract.
Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick and vacation plan for regular status employees.
We encourage and support employee health and wellness by offering, health and wellness classes and events, and alternative care benefits, so you can customize your wellness needs to fit your lifestyle. Employee benefits become effective the first of the month following an employee’s date of hire.
Attractive benefits package and incentives for employees in regular status positions are detailed below.
Generous Paid Time Off Package, Including
• 16 hours of vacation accrual per month
• Eligible newly hired employees will have the one-time option to frontload their first year of vacation accruals in compliance with EPP 66 - Vacation Leave ! This means you have access to vacation time at time of hire.
• 8 hours of sick accrual per month
• 10 paid holidays and 1 personal day per year
Other Benefits
• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP):
• Employer-paid 6% PERS retirement contribution (The county currently pays the employee’s share of the retirement contribution.)
• A Choice of Medical Plans that include chiropractic coverage, alternative care, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• A Choice of Dental Plans
• Robust EAP and wellness programs, including gym discounts and wellness education classes
• Longevity pay
• Other retirement Savings Options that allow for additional retirement funds savings, including an option to contribute a portion of employee earnings on a pre or post-tax basis to a 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
• A variety of additional optional benefits (see links below for additional information)
This is a full time non-represented group 2 County position
Non-Represented Group 2 Full Time Benefits
Learn More About Benefits
JOB DETAILS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Clackamas County seeks an Assistant Legal Counsel to join our collaborative Office of County Counsel team. This position offers a unique opportunity to provide impactful legal guidance and advocacy in diverse areas of law, contributing to the county’s mission of serving its community effectively and equitably.
As an Assistant Legal Counsel, you will provide a wide range of legal services to the county, its elected officials, and departments. Your work will span multiple areas of municipal law, including litigation, contracts, land use, public governance, real property transactions, and regulatory compliance. Under the direction of County Counsel, you will represent the county in legal proceedings, offer sound legal advice, and draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements. You will also conduct thorough legal research to prepare opinions and recommendations.
This role is ideal for a skilled attorney who thrives in a dynamic environment and enjoys tackling complex legal challenges. Collaboration is central to your work, as you will interact with county officials, employees, outside counsel, and regulatory agencies to protect the county’s interests and advance its objectives.
As an Assistant Legal Counsel, you will be critical in representing Clackamas County in various legal matters, including litigation, administrative hearings, and appeals. You will provide strategic legal advice to county departments, elected officials, and boards on issues such as municipal governance, contracts, land use, public works, and regulatory compliance. Your work will involve drafting and reviewing contracts, agreements, ordinances, and other legal documents to ensure they align with applicable laws and county objectives. You will conduct in-depth legal research and prepare written opinions and memoranda to guide decision-making on complex legal matters. Collaboration will be essential as you work with county staff and external stakeholders to negotiate agreements, resolve disputes, and develop effective policies and procedures. Additionally, you will play a key role in educating and training county employees and officials on relevant legal topics, helping to foster a culture of compliance and proactive legal awareness. This position offers a dynamic and multifaceted workload, providing you with the opportunity to make a significant impact on the county’s operations and community initiatives.
The ideal candidate is a versatile and knowledgeable legal professional with a strong foundation in municipal law. You bring expertise in one or more areas, such as litigation, contracts, real property transactions, land use, or regulatory compliance. Your ability to analyze complex legal issues and craft practical, effective solutions is a hallmark of your practice. You excel at drafting clear and concise legal documents and presenting legal advice in a manner that is easily understood by diverse audiences. As an advocate, you are confident and effective in hearings, negotiations, and court proceedings. With a deep understanding of federal, state, and local laws affecting municipal operations, you provide not just legal counsel, but proactive legal counsel, empowering the county to navigate challenges and achieve its goals.
If you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and are eager to contribute your expertise to Clackamas County, this role offers an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Our Office of County Counsel provides an inclusive and collaborative environment where your legal expertise contributes to meaningful initiatives that serve our residents and help better our community.
Required Minimum Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills:*
• A minimum of one (1) years of related experience in municipal law or related areas (such as litigation, contracts, real property, or land use) that would provide the required knowledge and skills to perform the responsibilities of this position
• Active member of the Oregon State Bar in good standing prior to appointment. If you are currently licensed in another state, for information about the reciprocity process, please visit the Oregon State Bar Admissions website
• A juris doctor degree from an accredited law school
• Demonstrate skill to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to establish findings of fact and decisions in concise written form
Preferred Special Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills:*
• Familiarity with Oregon-specific laws and regulations governing local government
• Experience in public sector labor and employment law
• Experience in civil litigation
• Experience in a collaborative team environment as a supervisor of other attorneys or legal staff
• Experience with the organization of county government; county ordinances, rules and policies; department policies and procedures; and liability and risk management principles
Pre-Employment Requirements
• Must pass post-offer, pre-employment drug test. Learn more about the County's drug testing policy
• Must pass a criminal history check which may include national or state fingerprint records check
• Must pass a post-offer physical assessment; accommodation requests will be reviewed on an individual bases in compliance with State and Federal legislation.
• Driving is required for County business on a regular basis or to accomplish work. Incumbents must possess a valid driver's license, and possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the County's driving policy
• For veterans qualified for Veterans' Preference: If you believe you have skills that would transfer well to this position and/or special qualifications that relate to this position, please list those skills and/or qualifications in the open-ended question at the end of the application and explain how those skills and/or qualifications relate to this position.
TYPICAL TASKS
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
• Under the direction of County Counsel, prosecutes and defends legal actions, suits and other proceedings regarding land use, code enforcement, tax appeals, risk claims, labor and employment, and general municipal law on behalf of the County; prepares and presents cases at trials, hearings or arbitrations; researches and analyzes legal and factual issues; interviews and deposes witnesses; prepares legal pleadings, motions, case reports and summaries; evaluates, recommends, and negotiates out of court settlements.
• Advises County departments in one or more legal specialties, and serves as back-up to other assigned specialties; provides legal counsel to County officers, assigned County departments and various boards and commissions; advises on legal rights and responsibilities and other legal issues; attends public meetings and work sessions; investigates facts; conducts legal research; manages schedules, prepares documents, memorandums and report summaries; interviews witness and County personnel; gathers information from County departments, other jurisdictions and outside agencies; conducts legal training for County employees.
• Advises County departments on appropriate action for general legal problems and issues; interprets Federal, State and local legislation, statutes, rules and regulations; reviews and makes recommendations to senior legal staff on proposed policy or procedural changes; assists with public relations and media issues.
• Analyzes, researches, drafts and/or revises ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, leases, deeds and other legal documents; advises on legal issues.
• Prepares and analyzes proposed state and federal legislation affecting County operations for review by senior legal staff; advises and reports to senior legal staff on any relevant impact to County departments or operations.
• Researches, studies and interprets the application of laws, court decisions and other legal authorities and precedents; prepares legal opinions, memoranda and briefs.
• Interacts, confers and negotiates with local government officials, city and county counsels, attorneys general, and private attorneys regarding County legal matters, including negotiating contracts and agreements with outside agencies and governments.
• Researches, reviews, prepares, negotiates and assists with real property transactional documents, including offers, purchase and sale agreements, leases, options, deeds, contracts, easements, escrow agreements, disposition and development agreements, and urban renewal-related activities.
• Researches, reviews, negotiates, assists with and ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state and other governmental regulations, including environmental requirements, land use permits, federal regulatory permits, operational compliance, and clean-up of environmentally sensitive sites.
• Negotiates, prepares and assists in financial transactions including loans, credit facilities, debentures, general and revenue bond financings; ensures compliance with all applicable state and federal public finance statutes and regulations.
• Under the direction of County Counsel or guidance of Assistant Legal Counsel, Seniors develops general legal strategies for sensitive cases and issues; assists in the development of policies, procedures and work plans; makes recommendations on work priorities.
WORK SCHEDULE
This position is included in the county’s alternate workweek program, working 40 hours during a standard workweek of Monday through Thursday (Fridays off). Specific hours of work will be discussed with the candidate selected for this position at the time an offer of employment is extended. This position is eligible for hybrid on-site/telework subject to the Clackamas County Teleworking Policy and based on the Department’s business needs. The exact amount of on-site/telework and schedule will be discussed with the hiring manager during time of offer. Telework locations cannot be located outside of Oregon or Washington. Washington residents must perform 50% of their time on-site at Clackamas County.
EXPLORE CLACKAMAS COUNTY
Clackamas County is in a prime location in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and is recognized nationally as one of the most livable areas in the United States. Located on the southern edge of the City of Portland and extending to the top of Mt. Hood, Clackamas County is part of a thriving region in the Northwest. It has a population of about 420,000 residents.
• Explore Clackamas County
• Working for Clackamas County
• Recreation, Arts Heritage
About The Department
The mission of the Clackamas County Office of County Counsel is to provide quality legal services and representation to all county departments, elected officials, service districts, and employees while being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources. We provide a full range of legal service to the Board of County Commissioners, all elected county officials, all departments and divisions, and special districts. We provide general counsel and advisory legal services countywide, and also represent the county and its agents and employees in Federal, State, and Tax Courts, labor arbitrations, land use and administrative hearings, and in small claims.
Learn more about the Clackamas County Office of County Counsel
APPLICATION PROCESS
Clackamas County only accepts online applications.
Help With Your Application
• Application Process
• Help with the Application
If you have any questions or issues you may contact the Department of Human Resources at 503-655-845+ or e-mail us . Our office hours are Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (closed on Fridays).
How To Claim Veteran's Preference
• Request Veterans' Preference
• Learn more about the County's Veterans' Preference
VISA SPONSORSHIP
Clackamas County does not offer visa sponsorships. Once a job applicant has accepted a position, they will be required to complete an I-+ and confirm authorization to work in the United States prior to their first day .
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIT Y
Clackamas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.
If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the Department of Human Resources prior to the recruitment close date. You may request an accommodation during the online application process.
RECRUITING QUESTIONS?
James Callahan, Recruiter
JCallahan@clackamas.us
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