Assistant County Attorney

Salary : $60,140.00 - $109,984.00 AnnuallyLocation : Brainerd, MNJob Type: Full-TimeJob Number: 2026-00046Department: County AttorneyOpening Date: 05/04/2026Closing Date: 5/18/2026 4:30 PM CentralPosition ObjectiveThe purpose of this position is to perform professional legal work assisting the County Attorney in carrying out duties as legal counsel, such as criminal prosecution for Crow Wing County. Work is performed under the general supervision of the First Assistant County Attorney and County Attorney.Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesThe following duties are normal for this job. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. Not every incumbent performs each and every duty listed below on a regular basis; however each incumbent must be able to perform all tasks of the County Attorney's Office.Prepares and presents cases brought before the court in civil and criminal matters; prepares briefs, appeals and other legal documents.Advises and represents County Commissioners, elected county officials and county employees on legal matters.Assists county employees with interpretation of statutes, rules, ordinances, regulations and other legal matters including legal correspondence.Researches, analyzes and prepares written memoranda as necessary.Responds to inquiries from the public, other agencies and the media when appropriate.Attends public hearings to render legal assistance as required.This position is expected to perform after hours and on-call duty as required.Performs all other duties that may be required, requested and/or as needed or apparent.Criminal ProsecutionCriminal prosecution includes all petty misdemeanor, ordinance violations, misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, felony, serious felony, juvenile certification proceedings, extended jurisdiction juveniles (EJJ), juvenile delinquency, juvenile traffic offenses, juvenile alcohol offenses, juvenile petty and status offenses. Prosecution includes all criminal prosecution for municipalities within the county that contract with the county prosecution services.Determines appropriate charges after reviewing and evaluating investigative reports, including follow-up communication with investigating officers.Prepares criminal complaints, legal notices, legal memoranda and other legal documents as required.Prepares search warrants, arrest warrants, subpoenas, grand jury subpoenas, administrative subpoenas, notices, trial briefs, memoranda, motions, jury instructions, complaints petitions, findings, orders, affidavits, applications and orders for pen registers and wiretaps, and forfeiture pleadings.Appears and argues on behalf of the state at bail hearings, extradition hearings, pretrial hearings, sentencing hearings, court trials and jury trials.Negotiates settlements of cases when necessary and recommends sentences to the court.Prepares all required applications and orders regarding extradition cases including obtaining prisoners from other states and returning prisoners to demanding states.Reviews law enforcement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with changing legal requirements due to changes in case law, statues, rules, ordinances, and regulations.Performs training for law enforcement officers and issues advisory memoranda related to criminal prosecution and procedure.Appelate WorkResponds to, prepares and argues appeals to the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court.Responds to, prepares and argues post-conviction relief proceedings.Responds to motions for new trial when necessary.Responds to, prepares and argues petitions and writs to Federal court. Responds to, prepares and argues appeals of administrative proceedings.Child Support EnforcementReviews referrals from child support staff and determines appropriate legal remedy.Performs drafting of legal pleadings including summons, complaints, motions, orders to show cause, finding of fact, conclusions of law, orders for judgment, affidavits, legal memoranda, garnishment documents, wage withholding orders, briefs and other legal documents as necessary.Conducts discovery proceedings including depositions, requests for paternity testing, interrogatories, and demands for production of documents.Appears in court to argue motions, present evidence, seek requested relief, and pursue cases through jury trial to establish paternity.Conducts post-judgment proceedings as necessary to enforce the order of the court and seeks appeal of orders when necessary and/or responds to appeals filed by opponents.Prepares and argues appeals to the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court.Community Services Legal MattersResearches legal questions posed by Crow Wing County Community Services' staff; prepares appropriate written and oral responses.Provides legal representation and guidance at hearings for all Community Services' employees subpoenaed to give testimony and/or produce department records.Provides legal guidance with regard to maltreatment and abuse determinations to child protection team and staff; assists with administrative appeals of said determination.Reviews vulnerable adult reports and determines appropriate legal remedy; prepares appropriate legal documentation and all required legal work to pursue chosen remedy.Reviews pre-petition screening reports, medical and psychological reports, consult with expert witnesses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and physicians; drafts appropriate commitment pleadings.Appears at detention, probable cause, commitment and involuntary neuroleptic medications (Jarvis) hearings to present evidence to prove commitment petition.Attends and participates in placement review proceedings in court and in administrative hearings.Reviews law enforcement and Community Services' reports with regard to child protection matters including children in need of protection or services (CHIPS), runaways, truants and other child protection issues.Prepares appropriate legal pleadings to initiate child protection proceedings in court. Appears in court for initial, detention, motion, pretrial, trial disposition and review hearings.Drafts all findings of fact, conclusions of law and court orders related to out of home placements.Prepares appropriate pleadings for required changes to court ordered dispositions and files appeals and responses as necessary.Land Use MattersAdvises Crow Wing County Land Services on legal issues related to the interpretation, administration and enforcement of the Crow Wing County Planning and Zoning Codes/Ordinances and associated Statutes and Rules.Represents Crow Wing County in litigation enforcing the above-cited ordinances, and in appeals brought by entities affected by said ordinances.Provides legal advice to the Crow Wing County Board of Adjustment, the Crow Wing County Planning Commission, and the Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners regarding the above-described issues.Attends meetings of the Crow Wing County Planning Commission and Crow Wing County Board of Adjustments.Minimum QualificationsValid state issued driver's licenseGraduation from an accredited undergraduate university or collegeGraduation from an accredited law schoolLicensed to practice law in the State of MinnesotaCompletion of the MN State and multi-state bar examination and professional responsibility examinationWorking knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, and ordiancnes and established precedentDesirable QualificationsKnowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and ordinancesAbility to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; calculates percentages and decimals.Ability to read a variety of professional, legal, and administrative documents and proposals.Ability to produce a variety of reports.Ability to communicate orally and in writing and to be able to effectively argue for the appropriate position.Ability to make effective presentations to large and small groups as required.Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with internal and external customersAbility to resolve problems on a timely basis while under pressure.This summary is intended for general information purposes and does not represent the legal description of our benefit package. The summary plan descriptions, Crow Wing County personnel manual, or applicable labor contract contains more complete information and will prevail in the event of a discrepancy.CompensationThe county strives to be a market competitive employer with compensation rates that are externally competitive and internally equitable. Compensation rates are governed by the county pay matrix and applicable labor contract. Information regarding the county pay programs is available in the Human Resource Department.Paid Time Off (PTO)PTO benefit accrues at the rate of 21 days per year for the first 3 years for regular full-time staff and is pro-rated for regular part-time staff.HolidaysThe 12 calendar holidays that are observed by Crow Wing County are as follows: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday following, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.Health InsuranceRegular full-time employees and their dependents are eligible for group health insurance coverage, administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. Eligibility begins on the first of the month following 30 days of employment.Regular part-time employees regularly scheduled 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health insurance coverage on a pro-rated basis.Dental InsuranceDelta dental benefit is available to those participating in a health insurance plan. Calendar year annual maximum of $1000 per person.Life InsuranceRegular full-time employees shall be provided a term life insurance policy of $50,000. Optional life insurance is available at the employee's expense.Short-Term DisabilityRegular full-time and part-time staff regularly scheduled at least 30 hours per week are eligible for short-term disability following 6 months of qualifying employment. Short-term disability payments begin on the first day following 14 consecutive calendar days of absence attributable to a qualifying disability. The plan provides income replacement of up to 50% of regular pay subject to a maximum limit of $1,000 per week.Long-Term DisabilityRegular full-time and part-time staff regularly scheduled at least 30 hours per week are eligible. Long term disability pays 50% of salary up to a maximum of $4,000 per month beginning on day 91 of total disability. The maximum benefits duration is up to the social security normal retirement date.Retirement PlanRetirement benefits are provided through the Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA). For more information on PERA visit their at01Are you a graduate of an accredited law school?YesNo02Are you licensed to practice law in Minnesota?YesNo03Please indicate the number of years licensed to practice law in Minnesota.0 - 1 year1 - 2 years2 - 5 yearsMore than 5 years04Do you have experience as a Student Attorney or Law Clerk?YesNo05If you answered yes to the previous question, please describe your experience as a student attorney or law clerk, indicating where you worked and what type.06Please indicate your PAID LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE ONLY in a government agency or public defender's office.No paid experience in a government agency or public defender's office0 - 1 year in a government agency or public defender's office1 - 2 years in a governement agency or public defender's officer2 - 5 years in a government agency or public defender's officeMore than 5 years in a government agency or public defender's office07Of your PAID LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE, how many of those paid hours in a government agency or public defender's office were spent on Criminal proceedings.No Experience0 - 1 year in a government agency or public defender's office were spent Criminal proceedings experience.1 - 2 years in a government agency or public defender's office were spent Criminal proceedings experience.2 - 5 years in a government agency or public defender's office were spent Criminal proceedings experience.More than 5 years in a government agency or public defender's office were spent Criminal proceedings experience.08Please indicate your legal work experience (paid or unpaid) in criminal matters other than in a government agency or public defender's office.No Experience0 - 1 years1 - 2 years2 - 5 years5 or more years09Describe any significant or relevant work experience that would contribute to your application of the interest in the public in the office of a government attorney.10Tell us about a challenging work experience within the last three years. What was it, what did you do adn what was the outcome.11Tell us briefly and concisely the areas of law that you understand to be involved in a County Attorney's Office and which of these areas of law interest you the most and why.12Tell us briefly and concisely about a professional accomplishment that you are proud of relevent to your career as an attorney and why.13I verify that all of my responses to the supplemental questions are true and accurate. I understand that if my supporting documentation and/or later steps in the selection process do not support one or more of my responses to the supplemental questions that I may no longer be considered for the position.YesNo