Job Announcement
The County Attorney's Office is seeking an attorney with high-quality legal knowledge and skills in the areas of collective bargaining and employment law, including considerable experience in drafting, negotiating, and implementing labor relations contracts established as part of collective bargaining. The applicant should be proficient in collective bargaining, general employment law litigation, including solid litigation and trial experience in state and federal courts, legal research, writing, and public speaking, as well as enjoy a wide variety of challenging legal work.
The position is in the Office of the County Attorney's Personnel Section. The successful applicant will counsel and represent the county in collective bargaining with the county's bargaining units. Duties will include reviewing and drafting collective bargaining agreements, advising the Board of Supervisors and the Department of Human Resources in labor negotiations as well advising and representing agencies in grievances and other such employment law matters. The successful applicant will personally handle litigation in state and federal courts and before state administrative agencies and provide legal advice to county agencies related to employment issues including but not limited to Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act. The successful applicant will represent county agencies in employee grievances and in matters before the Fairfax County Civil Service Commission. Litigation will include personal injury, employment law, constitutional law, workers' compensation, and alleged civil rights violations. While we are looking for an experienced candidate, we are also open to underfilling the position with a less experienced attorney who demonstrates strong potential and interest in employment law and civil rights trial litigation work.
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 employees. It also serves as counsel to various boards, authorities, and commissions. Fairfax County is the largest jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia with more than 1.1 million residents and more than 12,000 employees. Fairfax County government is widely recognized as a superior government organization. In 2021, the most recent award cycle, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) announced that it had awarded its Certificate of Excellence to Fairfax County for the thirteenth consecutive year. The county is among only 31 jurisdictions across the nation recognized by ICMA for this prestigious award - the organization's highest level of recognition. 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. The county operates a licensed Employee Child Care Center in the Government Center complex; all employees are automatically enrolled in 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.
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.
Note: Applicants must include a writing sample attached to their application to receive full consideration.
This job advertisement will be used to fill multiple full-time Assistant County Attorney V vacancies.
Underfill: Candidates not meeting the minimum qualifications may be considered to be selected to fill this position as an underfill for one year, if the requirements of the underfill are met at the time of application. See Underfill Requirements in the Employment Standards section.
Illustrative Duties
(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
- Represents the County in civil suits;
- Conducts legal research;
- Writes legal briefs;
- Reviews and drafts ordinances and resolutions and other legal documents;
- Advises members of the County staff on legal matters;
- Advises individuals on aspects of civil law and County ordinances and resolutions;
- Prepares reports and correspondence on legal matters.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
- Knowledge of the sources of legal reference;
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of law;
- Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and court decisions affecting the practice of the law at the county level;
- Ability to learn Fairfax County ordinances and resolutions;
- Ability to analyze facts and reach logical conclusions;
- Ability to express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing;
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with associates, County officials and the public.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
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.
UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:
- This vacancy may be filled at the level of Assistant County Attorney III (Grade L03 - $90,315.68 to $158,052.54). The employment standards for Assistant County Attorney III are: Must be an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar. Any combination of education and experience equivalent to one year of experience as a practicing attorney. Click here to view the complete details and KSAs for the Assistant County Attorney III.
- Upon completion of an underfill agreement (which will require that the employee meets the employment standards above, in addition to attaining competencies defined by the hiring agency), the employee will be elevated to the level of Assistant County Attorney V.
- Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY V within one year of the job announcement's closing date of November 1, 2024.
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.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
- The appointee to the position must complete a Statement of Economic Interest form prior to starting work.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated experience in employment law and labor negotiations.
- Demonstrated excellent writing and public speaking skills.
- At least one year of collective bargaining experience, to include drafting labor relations contracts, negotiating bargaining agreements, and experience before labor relations board.
- Three or more years of litigation experience in general district courts, circuit courts or federal district courts in Virginia; ideally in the Fairfax County courts in employment law, constitutional law, personal injury, workers' compensation, and alleged civil rights violations.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to travel to various locations throughout Fairfax County to provide coverage, attend meetings and trainings. Must communicate with others. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.
The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to 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. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.
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Requisition 24-01703
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