Description

JOB SUMMARY

Under direction of the Corporation Counsel, provides legal advice and protection for the employer.  Assists in managing civil legal affairs of the County, its departments, boards, agencies, committees and elected and appointed officials.  Negotiates, drafts and reviews legal contracts, leases and miscellaneous documents.  Researches and issues formal legal opinions.  Drafts county ordinances and various rules and regulations.  Provides legal advice as to rights, privileges and obligations of the various governmental units of the county.  Represents the county in legal actions as either plaintiff or defendant and county departments, boards, agencies, committees and elected and appointed officials and other employees for whom the county has assumed a contractual or other duty to defend or indemnify.

Represents Washtenaw County in labor relations matters and performs administrative and labor relations duties of a highly complex nature which requires the ability to make independent judgments based on expertise and experience.  This position requires knowledge of labor relations and personnel policies and procedures in order to resolve labor disputes and provide fairness to Washtenaw County and its employees.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Essential Duties:

• Negotiates, drafts and reviews contracts, leases and miscellaneous legal documents for the county and all its boards, departments and agencies to insure legality of such documents.
• Acts as legal representative for the county in courts at all levels and administrative tribunals both as plaintiff and defendant as required for county boards, agencies, committees, elected and appointed officials and other employees for whom the county has assumed a contractual or other duty to defend or indemnify.
• Performs legal research and issues formal and informal legal opinions on all aspects of county government.
• Keeps informed of legal precedents and relevant legislation by reading professional journals and court rulings, conferring with legislators and attending meetings, seminars and conferences.
• Represents the county at meetings with local, state and federal officials.
• Acts as chief negotiator for the County in collective bargaining negotiations.
• Coordinates the administration of collective bargaining agreements.
• Handles grievances and civil rights matters, by investigating and researching labor relations problems and responding to unions and administrative agencies. Makes decisions on outcome of grievances and on resolving other labor disputes.
• Prepares letters of understanding, responses to union grievances and civil rights complaints, and settlement letters to various unions.
• Represents the County at union special conferences and arbitration hearings.
• Handles labor negotiations and acts as County spokesperson.
• Attends and participates at high level strategy meetings involving the County Administrator and Human Resources Director regarding labor relations issues.
• Drafts collective bargaining agreements and prepares briefs involved in arbitration hearings.
• Interprets the collective bargaining agreements and answers inquiries from County department heads, employees and union representatives.
• Interacts with arbitrators, mediators, civil rights and union representatives on labor relations matters.
• Coordinates labor relations functions with various staff members of the Human Resources Department.
• Coordinates legal labor relations matters with Corporation Counsel and contracted law firms.
• May act as legal staff on County matters.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Human Resources Director or County Administrator.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this classification.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Requirements

LICENSE & CERTIFICATIONS

Membership in the Michigan State Bar Association.  Possession of a valid Michigan operators license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Duties require sufficient mobility to work in a normal office setting and use standard office equipment including a computer, vision to read printed materials and a computer monitor and hearing and speech sufficient to communicate in person or over the telephone.

These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

EDUCATION

Possession of a Juris Doctorate.

EXPERIENCE

A minimum of two years of experience in municipal law, labor relations and/or Human Resources, preferably in a public agency setting.

This class description intends to identify the major duties and requirements of the job and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive.  Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related duties other than those outlined above and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge for successful job performance.