Wood County, Wisconsin

Purpose of Position

The purpose of this position is to represent the interests of the County in civil legal matters and provide legal advice to the County Board, departments, committees, and agencies. The work is performed under the direction of the Judicial and Legislative Committee and the Wood County Board of Supervisors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position.  These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

1. Represents the county in civil proceedings in circuit court, appellate court, and administrative proceedings including mental commitments, guardianships, protective placements, alcohol commitments, county code violations, small and large claims, and employee relations matters.

2. Conducts legal research and drafts legal documents.

3. Drafts and reviews contracts, agreements, deeds, and other legal documents.

4. Directs legal matters of the child support agency and provides legal representation for child support cases and paternity matters.

5. Advises County officials and staff regarding local, state, and federal law where the county has an interest or is involved.

6. Interprets duties and powers of the County Board, county officials, and departments.  Plans, prepares, and directs legal and administrative education and mediates agency disputes.

7. Directs and supervises Corporation Counsel office staff and function.  Prioritizes and assigns tasks and projects. Reviews completed and work in progress.  Advises and evaluates employees.

8. Represents the county in collection matters.  Drafts collection-related documents.  Supervises collection of judgments by staff and other agencies.

9. Handles subrogation actions for the County.

10. Drafts resolutions and ordinances.  Reviews resolutions and ordinances drafted by others.  Reviews open meeting law compliance and budget changes.

11. Interprets wills, trusts, and related complex documents regarding public assistance eligibility.
    

Additional Tasks and Responsibilities

While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the unit, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may also be performed by other unit members.

1. Performs legal secretarial duties in absence of normally assigned personnel.

2. Serves as liaison between judiciary, legislative, and executive branches of county government.

3. Serves as County Board parliamentarian.

4. Maintains office physical order.

5. Directs and coordinates county compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Serves as ADA compliance officer.

6. Acts in the capacity as county-wide Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) compliance officer for security and privacy matters.

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

Juris Doctor required, with three to five years experience practicing law, preferably in a governmental setting.  Member of Wisconsin Bar Association and a valid motor vehicle operator’s license required. 

Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

Ability to modify existing policies, strategies and/or methods to meet unusual conditions within the context of existing management principles.  Ability to analyze and categorize data and information, to determine consequences and identify and select alternatives.  Ability to decide the time, place and sequence of operations within an organizational framework, as well as the ability to oversee their execution.

Ability to negotiate and engage in formal bargaining or litigation within the context of legal guidelines.  Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding the application of policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.  Ability to persuade, convince, sell and train others.  Ability to counsel and mediate.  Ability to manage and direct a group of workers.  Ability to develop materials and to teach others.

Ability to utilize consulting and advisory data and information such as legal briefs, economic analysis, organizational analysis, contracts, agreements, blueprints, deeds, meeting minutes, agendas, depositions, medical records, time sheets, budgets, grant applications, legal opinions, pleadings, performance appraisals, law books/periodicals, computer software operating manuals, medical books, child support manuals, worker compensation manuals, Roberts Rules of Order and non-routine correspondence.

Ability to communicate orally and in writing with attorneys, judges, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, county department heads and staff, general public, and County Board Supervisors.