Senior Attorney - Employment Law & Litigation, ...

Class Description:
Performs senior professional level legal work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Criminal work includes prosecuting criminals on behalf of the State of Maryland; civil work includes providing legal advice and court representation on routine legal matters such as handling civil litigation on behalf of Howard County in Federal and State courts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides legal advice and written legal opinions, recommendations and decisions to management personnel, primarily focused on a full range of labor and employment issues and related litigation.
• Writes and prepares legal opinions, documents and memoranda.
• Reviews prospective cases in order to determine adequacy of legal claims; prepares complaints and responsive pleadings.
• Interviews witnesses, conducts legal research, summons witnesses, obtains documents and otherwise prepares civil cases to be prosecuted or defended.
• Provides legal advice to the County on laws concerning labor and employment, including Title VII, FMLA, ADA, ADEA, Maryland Human Relations Law, Howard County Human Rights Law, FLSA and other federal and state wage and pay laws.
• Provide legal advice to the Office of Human Resources and management on all employment and labor matters, including the County's Merit System (classified and exempt services), Employee Manual, fringe benefits, collective bargaining agreements, union grievances and negotiations, and County pension plans, internal employment investigations.
• Provides advice and counsel regarding potential employee disciplinary actions, hiring issues, and all employment-related issues to County offices, departments and agencies.
• Appears in the highest state and federal courts and before administrative agencies in complex employment cases, including EEOC, MCCR, OHRE and HRC, Personnel Board.
• Responds to judicial inquiries and maintains working relationships with judges and court personnel; interacts with various agencies and personnel of county, state and federal government.
• Drafts and reviews legal documents for legal sufficiency.
• Reviews and drafts departmental and board procedures.
• Confers with and answers inquiries from County departments, boards and commissions. May provide legal advice in various practice areas other than employment, including the Public Information Act and the Open Meetings Act.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
May supervise legal or support staff.

Minimum Required Education/Experience
Law Degree and five (5) years related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Seven (7) - ten (10) years related experience.
• Civil jury trial experience.
• Excellent writing, analytical, oral communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to work well under pressure and deadlines.
• A strong work ethic and ability to work both individually and with a team are a must.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of Maryland civil, administrative, regulatory, state and local government and constitutional law, and court procedures and practices.
• Skill in word processing and database programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, including fellow attorneys, paralegals, and court personnel.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in deciding when to act independently and when to refer situations to a higher authority.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.