Civil Attorney - I, II, or III

Join Missoula County in making a meaningful impact, where your work supports our vibrant community, promotes public service, and contributes to a better future for all.

About the role

The Missoula County Attorney's Office is seeking a Civil Attorney I, II, or III to join their team. This role involves performing legal work in the Civil Division, providing legal counsel, policy guidance, and representation for Missoula County departments, other governmental agencies, and boards.

• Civil Attorney I: Performs legal work in the office of the Missoula County Attorney for the Civil Division. After two years, at the discretion of the County Attorney, the employee may be advanced to Attorney II status based on demonstrated competencies.
• Civil Attorney II: Provides legal counsel, policy guidance, and representation for Missoula County departments, other governmental agencies, and boards as the primary legal advisor. After four years, at the discretion of the County Attorney, the employee may be advanced to Attorney III status based on demonstrated competencies.
• Civil Attorney III: Performs complex and responsible civil legal work, providing legal counsel, policy guidance, and representation for local government departments, agencies, and boards. Serves as the primary legal advisor and works closely with the County Attorney and Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney.

Responsibilities

• Civil Attorney I:
  • Provides legal counsel, policy guidance, and representation for local government departments, agencies, and boards.
  • Serves as legal advisor for local government units, elected officials, and boards.
  • Represents the State of Montana DPHHS in Youth In Need of Care cases and may handle Involuntary Commitment cases or serve as the Public Administrator in probate matters.
  • Directs and makes policy decisions about investigations of regulatory and statutory violations.
  • Provides training sessions to other governmental departments on legal matters.
  • Reviews, evaluates, prepares, prosecutes, and defends lawsuits on behalf of the County and other government entities.
  • Provides counsel and acts as a policy spokesperson to the public on governmental activities.
  • Remains on-call to assist elected officials, county departments, and law enforcement agencies on civil and criminal matters.
• Civil Attorney II:
  • Provides legal counsel to County departments and other local governmental units as the sole legal advisor.
  • Responsible for routine policy decisions and development.
  • Provides work assignments and direction for paralegal staff and legal interns.
  • Directs and oversees investigations of regulatory and statutory violations.
  • Provides training sessions to staff attorneys and other governmental departments.
  • Handles all phases of litigation for the County and other government entities.
  • Serves in an on-call capacity to assist law enforcement agencies in civil, criminal, and mental health matters.
  • Oversees involuntary commitments, guardianships, and may handle limited criminal matters with subject matter crossover.
• Civil Attorney III:
  • Provides legal counsel to County departments and other local governmental units as the primary legal advisor.
  • Directs work and supervises legal interns.
  • Works with county departments on investigations of regulatory and statutory violations.
  • Provides training sessions to staff attorneys and other governmental departments.
  • Represents the County, its departments, and employees in civil litigation and administrative proceedings.
  • Handles all phases of litigation, including appellate advocacy.
  • Represents County government in lobbying and testifying before the State Legislature and federal agencies.
  • Interacts with media regarding cases where appropriate.
  • Remains on-call to assist elected officials and county departments on civil issues requiring immediate action.
  • Represents the State of Montana in Youth In Need of Care and Involuntary Commitment cases, and may serve as the Public Administrator in probate matters.

Requirements

• Civil Attorney I:
  • Juris Doctor degree.
  • Must be licensed, or eligible to become licensed, to practice law in Montana.
• Civil Attorney II:
  • Juris Doctor degree.
  • Minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, with a significant portion in local governmental law or equivalent.
  • Must be licensed, or eligible to become licensed, to practice law in Montana.
• Civil Attorney III:
  • Juris Doctor degree.
  • Minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, preferably with a significant portion in local governmental law or equivalent.
  • Must be licensed, or eligible to become licensed, to practice law in Montana.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Civil Attorney I:
  • Primarily office-based, with occasional site visits involving steep slopes, rough terrain, or difficult environmental conditions.
  • May require lifting up to 25 pounds.
  • Occasional day and evening vehicle travel throughout Missoula County.
  • On-call duty to assist county departments on civil issues, mental health matters, and law enforcement agencies in criminal matters.
• Civil Attorney II:
  • Primarily office-based with minimal physical activity.
  • Ability to work outside normal business hours and longer than 8 hours in a day.
  • Periodic on-call duty requiring availability outside of normal business hours.
• Civil Attorney III:
  • Primarily office-based, with occasional site visits involving steep slopes, rough terrain, or difficult environmental conditions.
  • May require lifting up to 25 pounds.
  • Occasional day and evening vehicle travel throughout Missoula County and to the state capitol in Helena for CLE/training.
  • On-call duty to assist county departments on civil issues requiring immediate action.

Pay

• Civil Attorney I: $38.75 per hour
• Civil Attorney II: $40.60 per hour
• Civil Attorney III: $42.53 per hour

Schedule

Regular, full-time position.