Attorney I, II, III or IV (Juvenile, Protective Services & Appellate Division)

POSTING TYPE: Open-competitive
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
HOURS: Full-time
LOCATION: Judicial Center, Hastings
UNION: Attorney Employees' Association
CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on June 2, 2025
SALARY RANGE: The position level at which the offer is extended is based on the candidate's ability to meet the minimum qualifications and the candidate's relevant years of experience.
*** Attorney I - $88,458 - $138,216
*** Attorney II - $99,074 - $154,803
*** Attorney III - $110,962 - $173,379

Our current vacancy is within the Juvenile, Protective Services & Appellate Division (JPSA Division) of the County Attorney's Office. Attorneys in the JPSA Division may be assigned to represent the interests of Dakota County in civil legal matters involving child protection, civil commitment or guardianship/conservatorship actions involving vulnerable adults; represent Dakota County in juvenile delinquency matters; as well as other responsibilities as assigned by the JPSA Division Head, Chief Deputy, or County Attorney.

The specific assignment within the Division will be determined based upon the candidate's experience and the needs of the JPSA Division but is expected to be in the area of child protection.

Who We Are
Dakota County is Minnesota's third largest county and home to more than 400,000 residents. Our motto is "Be More" and we strive every day to achieve excellence public service, with a focus on four values: Service, Integrity, People, and Innovation.

*** The minimum qualifications listed below are written at the Attorney I level. You must meet these minimum requirements in order to continue in the recruitment and selection process.

* Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited Law School;
AND
* Licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota by November 1, 2025

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Specific duties and responsibilities will depend on experience and Attorney level. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Review investigative reports pertaining to criminal activity as it relates to juvenile offenders to determine the appropriateness of a delinquency prosecution.
2. Comply with the Dakota County Attorney charging and disposition guidelines for the charging and resolution of matters referred to the office for juvenile delinquency prosecution.
3. Provide advice to law enforcement personnel, child protection workers, adult protection workers, and/or civil commitment case managers regarding their legal authority and responsibilities associated with the investigation and pursuit of actions handled by the JPSA Division.
4. Represent Dakota County in various state and administrative hearings at pretrial, trial, and post-trial, as well as any resulting appellate actions. This includes preparing assigned cases for contested hearings, trials, or appellate arguments.
5. Draft complaints, petitions, warrants, motions, memoranda, findings, orders, stipulations, appellate briefs, and post-trial memoranda in support of a related juvenile prosecution(s).
6. Draft petitions, motions, memoranda, findings, orders, stipulations, and appellate briefs in support of civil actions involving child protection, civil commitment and/or guardianship/conservatorship matters involving vulnerable adults.
7. Meet with victims and/or witnesses for the purposes of explaining laws, court rules, court procedures, evidentiary rules, and case dispositions.
8. Provide training for law enforcement agencies, school resources officers, social workers and other case managers regarding applicable developments in the areas of law handled by the JPSA Division.
9. Attend staff and other required meetings.
10. Perform other duties as assigned by the JPSA Division Head, Chief Deputy, or County Attorney.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Duties 1-10 are potential essential functions.

* Sufficient knowledge of state and federal constitutional law, statutes, and court rules to effectively and efficiently prosecute juvenile delinquency cases and/or resulting appeals with minimal guidance and supervision.
* Knowledge of the applicable Rules of Professional Responsibility.
* Ability to analyze facts in light of applicable laws and evidentiary rules.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Ability to plan, organize and present a case.
* Ability to perform work effectively, independently and in a timely manner.
* Competency in the use of computers, business software applications and Internet resources to perform essential job duties.
* Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships.

Work Environment
Work is performed within a county office building. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to computer/laptop, printer, scanner, telephone, and copy machine.

Location & Schedule

This is a hybrid position that offers a mix of telework and in-person work at our Judicial Center in Hastings, MN. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Benefits

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits
• Excellent work-life balance
• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)
• Eleven paid holidays each year and one floating holiday per calendar year
• Pension with a generous employer contribution
• Ability to work from home some of the time

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct background and reference checks before hiring