Job Description

Work Location : 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Suite 969 | Bradenton, Florida 34205

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

This position will be posted until filled.

The Manatee County Attorneys Office is seeking a dedicated and skilled legal professional to serve as an Assistant County Attorney. This position offers the opportunity to work on meaningful and complex legal matters that impact our growing and dynamic community and support the operations of County Government. Our team provides comprehensive legal services to the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, and various departments and agencies under the Boards jurisdiction. Desired candidates will have at least three years of experience in one or more of the following practice areas or subject matters: appellate practice, city/county/local government, code enforcement, contracts, eminent domain, labor and employment, land use/planning/zoning, litigation, procurement, public finance and bonds, public records, public utilities, and real estate. At the Manatee County Attorneys Office, we offer a collaborative and collegial work environment, a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for professional growth and development. Please apply to this posting and submit a cover letter and resume to: patricia.nolan@mymanatee.org. Position open until filled. Writing samples and references may be requested. Manatee County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Note: This position has been designated by the Manatee County Commission as serving at the will and pleasure of the County Attorney. Employees so designated may be terminated at any time with or without cause.


Working Conditions Indoor/outdoor situation; high noise environment while performing certain responsibilities. Lifting equipment up to 50 lbs. alone; up to 100 lbs. with assistance.
Essential Duties
These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.
Drafts memoranda addressing questions of law or the application of law to facts.

Drafts, and where needed assists in negotiating leases, licenses, contracts, franchise agreements and similar documents.

Provides advice and counsel to the County Commission, County Administrator and other officials as assigned.

Assists County Administrator and senior managers with the development of administrative policies and procedures which are compliant with laws, due process, and other relevant legal concerns.

Drafts and presents ordinances and resolutions for consideration and adoption by the Board of County Commissioners.

Reviews proposed state or federal legislation and advises the County Commission, Administrator, or County staff or lobbyists as to the legal effects or import of the legislation and assists in drafting proposed legislative amendments as needed. May be assigned to directly lobby legislators or legislative staff where appropriate.

Litigates cases before state or federal judicial and quasi-judicial officers or bodies, including reviewing, evaluating and drafting pleadings, witness interview and preparation, taking and defending depositions, drafting and responding to discovery requests and drafting and arguing appellate briefs.

Undertakes and conducts settlement negotiations without direct supervision subject to approval limits established by County ordinance or policy.

Actively practices preventative law by recognizing and addressing possible legal problems before they become problems and designing and conducting training to County staff on legal matters.

May supervise or oversee the work of outside special counsel, including review of work performed and billing statements.

Occasionally provides information or official statements to media representatives on matters concerning legal services being performed, or in order to ensure the County's legal position is appropriately articulated.

Assists County Attorney in hiring and directs and evaluates the work of assigned legal assistants and paralegals and supervises any assigned interns or law clerks.

Performs such other duties as the County Attorney may assign.

Performs other related work (including weather or extreme emergency duties) as required.

Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school is required.
Up to Three (3) years for position to be hired at or near entry level of pay range.

Three to Seven (3 - 7) years relevant experience (may vary by practice area(s) depending on office needs) with significant local government or relevant practice area experience to be hired at rate significantly higher than entry level of pay range.

Florida Bar member in good standing required.

Candidates with at least three years of experience in any combination of these practice areas will be considered: real estate, eminent domain, litigation, appellate practice, city/county/local government, contracts, labor and employment, and procurement.

Valid driver's license required with valid Florida driver license required within 30 days of hire.

Certification in local government law or other relevant practice area desired.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of the constitutional, common, administrative and statutory law of Florida relevant to Florida local government and to any assigned practice areas, as well as relevant federal constitutional, common, administrative and statutory law.

Knowledge of all relevant County policies and procedures, including the meeting procedures of the Board of County Commissioners.

Knowledge of all relevant ethical and legal rules governing the practice of law and the conduct of attorneys, including the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar.

Working knowledge of rules of evidence, civil procedure, and appellate procedures both in the judicial and quasi-judicial contexts.

Ability to analyze complex factual and legal problems and develop understandable, comprehensive strategies, recommendations or other responses to the client.

Knowledge of the methods and techniques relevant to effective legal research, and skill in identifying and analyzing information, and ability to express sound judgments based upon findings. This includes firm working knowledge of the use of online research products such as Westlaw and Lexis, as well as traditional paper case reporters, legal encyclopedias, digests, and the like.

Ability to effectively oversee and evaluate the work of assigned assistants and paralegals.

Ability to clearly, effectively, succinctly, confidently professionally and discreetly communicate, verbally and in writing.

Ability to exercise sound independent judgment without the need to consult unnecessarily with the County Attorney on routine matters and discernment regarding his or her duty to keep the County Attorney informed of significant matters.

Ability to organize, prioritize and manage a significant workload so as to ensure all matters assigned are performed in a timely and thorough manner.

Ability to honor the duty of client confidentiality, and to exercise mature discretion with respect to all communications both within the office and outside of it, avoiding gossip, rumormongering, or denigration of colleagues, staff, elected or appointed officials, or others.

Ability to remain calm and professional in the face of provocation by opposing counsel, agents of the client, or others.

Ability and willingness to work hard, and to spend such time and effort on an assigned matter so as to produce a timely, successful work product.

Knowledge of and ability to effectively use modern business software including current Windows operating system, e mail systems, electronic calendaring and scheduling, word processing programs such as Word, and metadata screening software.

Ability to travel to conferences, meetings, depositions, trials and the like, both by car and plane.

Ability to sit at a desk for long periods of time, and to type on a keyboard. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Job Tags

Work at office, Local area, Monday to Friday,

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