Senior Assistant County Attorney – Labor and Employment

The current vacancy is in the County Attorney's Office. The eligibility list created by this vacancy may be used to hire other vacancies in the department.

This position is for a Labor and Employment Attorney who will be assigned to the Civil Division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. The Labor and Employment Attorney for Ramsey County performs professional legal work of a high degree of difficulty and complexity as a confidential, non-represented attorney in support of the County’s Human Resources and Labor Relations activities. This Attorney would meet the statutory definition of a confidential employee under Minnesota’s Public Employment Labor Relations Act (PELRA) 179A.

The Labor and Employment Attorney will represent Ramsey County and advise the County Board, Human Resources Department and Labor Relations Manager, and other County clients, on labor and employment law issues by conducting legal research and preparing legal opinions on issues for pending lawsuits and administrative matters. The Labor and Employment Attorney for Ramsey County will prepare lawsuits for trial and try cases relating to employment, personnel, civil rights, governmental authority, civil rights actions and personnel matters in State and Federal court and before administrative agencies, law judges and arbitrators.

This Attorney will advise and assist in drafting personnel policies and labor agreements, provide legal advice to the Director of Human Resources, the Human Resource Deputies and Labor Relations Manager, as well as other officials of the County. The Labor and Employment Attorney will provide legal consultation on administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreements and when requested, will actively participate in meetings and negotiations with the Labor Relations Manager on behalf of the County. This Attorney will also advise the Human Resources Department on the legal implications of labor relations and human resources management activities, including but not limited to, negotiations, mediation, interest, arbitration, grievance arbitration and personnel policy compliance. The Labor and Employment Attorney will assist in developing labor relations information as defined in Minnesota Statute 13.37 and personnel data as defined in Minnesota Statute 13.43.

Prepare lawsuits for trial and try cases relating to employment, personnel, civil rights, governmental authority, civil rights actions and personnel matters in State and Federal court and before administrative agencies, law judges and arbitrators., including but not limited to, negotiations, mediation, interest arbitration, grievance arbitration and personnel policy compliance. Represent the County in any subsequent administrative or judicial proceedings relating to such human resources or labor relations and employment activities and attend closed sessions before the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, and any other duties as otherwise assigned by the County Attorney, First Assistant County Attorney or Director of the Civil Division. 

The basic function, depending on assignment, is to provide legal services to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and other Ramsey County boards, commissions and departments; to prosecute criminal cases and provide legal representation in civil lawsuits; to provide legal services in the area of child support enforcement, paternity proceedings, foster care reimbursement; in all child protection and mental health and chemical dependency commitment matters: and to perform related duties as assigned.