Employment Opportunities

Responsibilities

Basic Function

The current vacancy is in the Trial Division of the Office of the County Attorney.  This position will be assigned to the Trial Division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. The Trial Division has several important criminal justice functions. Its primary responsibility is to litigate all adult felony cases charged in Ramsey County. The felony cases are wide-ranging, from thefts to homicides, requiring prosecutors to develop and maintain relationships with partners in the community such as advocacy groups, law enforcement, victims of crime, and persons who witness crime.
 
The Trial Assistant Division Director of the County Attorney’s Office is appointed by the County Attorney as an unclassified attorney to assist in leading and managing the Trial Division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. The Assistant Director must have significant experience as a prosecutor and will be expected to successfully perform management duties that often have a high degree of difficulty and complexity. This position will assist in leading a team of over 40 professionals which includes attorneys, paralegals, law clerks, criminal justice analyst and an investigator. The Trial Assistant Division Director directly reports to the Trial Division Director.
 
The Trial Division presently includes four (4) trial teams comprised of prosecutors many of whom have their own specialty. The Trial Division also includes specialty units that handles appeals and post-conviction hearings, financial crimes, and a Joint Special Victims Unit (JSVU) that concentrates on especially egregious crimes involving particularly vulnerable victims.   

To assist in managing and directing the functions of a designated division (Pre-Trial Justice Division; Criminal Division; Juvenile Division; Civil Division; Victim, Witness and Community Services Division; Human Services Legal Division; or Child Support Services Division) of the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney; to participate as a member of the County Attorney's Management Team in the formulation and implementation of policies and procedures for carrying out the responsibilities of the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney; to assist in the supervision and direction of division staff in carrying out the mission of the assigned division; to perform designated non-managerial functions specific to the functions of the division to which assigned; and to perform related duties as assigned.
 

This position will remain open for application until filled. Applicants should respond promptly as an initial screening of resumes will occur on Thursday, June 9, 2022.  Initial interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of  June 20, 2022.

If an internal candidate is selected, salary will be set in accordance with personnel rules (i.e. promotion, transfer, or voluntary reduction).

To view or print a copy of the complete Ramsey County job (class) description for this job, go to: Job Descriptions. Once at this page, you can browse the alphabetical list or search for a job description.

Flexible Workplace
 This position is identified under the designation of ‘flex work eligible’, meaning that the employee can formally opt to be in-office full-time or work a flex schedule in which at least two-days per week are performed in office and other days can be performed in a remote-first environment. Regardless of selection, the position carries expectations regarding on-site responsibilities and will require schedule flexibility beyond the minimum expectations set forth in the county’s flexible workplace policy. To view Ramsey County’s Flexible Workplace policy, go to: Flexible Workplace policy (Download PDF reader).

Examples of Work Performed

1. Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace.
2. Direct community outreach relationships and programs to attract and retain a diverse workforce.
3. Assist the division director in the supervision and management of all functions of the division to which assigned, and function as division director in the director's absence.
4. Perform designated specialized non-supervisory functions relating to the functions of the division to which assigned.
5. Conduct performance appraisals on attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, investigators, advocates, child support enforcement staff, support staff, and office managers/supervisors.
6. Assist in the supervision of attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, investigators, advocates, support staff, child support supervisors and child support enforcement staff by reviewing, evaluating, revising and discussing work product and policy, legal opinions, charging decisions, and litigation pleadings, strategies and settlements, so that legal positions and office policies are thoughtful, accurate, consistent and well-communicated.
7. Conduct/participate in meetings of Division, County Attorney's Management Team, other Management Teams within Ramsey County and other Ramsey County committees.
8. Upon the request of the County Attorney, provide public information by speaking to media, individual citizens or groups, and respond to questions and complaints from the public to facilitate understanding of the functions of the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney and the law.
9. Serve as a resource and task force or committee participant for appropriate entities such as law enforcement organizations, Council on Abuse, Child Abuse Team, County Attorney's Association, medical community, citizens groups, state-wide groups, State Government groups and the Legislature by providing research and legal information.
10. Communicate with all law enforcement agencies on criminal justice policies and procedures of mutual interest within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney.
11. Provide training in the law, state and federal regulations, and in all areas of responsibility within the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney.
12. Advise clients in writing, in person or on telephone after obtaining facts from clients and researching applicable law so that clients may formulate policy in conformity with law and with knowledge of legal risks.
13. Draft legal documents such as contracts, leases, pleadings, etc. by obtaining objectives from client, researching law and writing documents so that it both conforms to law and meets client's objectives.
14. Draft legislation by determining client's or public policy objectives and drafting appropriate language; monitor legislative problems and communicate any problems with legislation along with suggested solutions to legislative liaison.
15. Participate in policy making and setting policy within Division and within the office as a whole, to include establishing and implementing charging standards, plea negotiation standards, sentencing procedures, and collection and enforcement policy, subject to the direction and approval of the Ramsey County Attorney.
16. Study and analyze existing systems, make recommendations for improvements, implement change and innovation, such as converting manual operations to automated systems or establishing new procedures for managing contracts, litigation, specific collection functions or administrative hearings.
17. Supervise the preparation of periodic reports and caseload analyses.
18. Interpret policies and procedures to subordinate supervisors, explain their applications and ensure that they are followed by staff.
19. Identify and meet the training needs of staff in order to meet program goals.
20. Develop standards, contracts and policies necessary in the administration of the division.
21. Assist the division director by developing, implementing and revising policies and procedures necessary to ensure compliance with all applicable statues and rules.
22. Assist the division director in developing innovative programs to address matters of public safety, crime prevention and intervention, civil law and child support and seek additional funding for these innovative programs by applying for local, state, and federal grant funds.
23. Assist the division director in supervising grant-funded programs and preparing all reports necessary to comply with the requirements of all local, state, or federal grants.
24. Assist the division director in supervising extradition of adult and juvenile offenders by: approving or declining extradition of these individuals from other states and foreign jurisdictions for return to Ramsey County; assisting other states and foreign jurisdictions in the return of their offenders residing in Ramsey County; and preparing extradition documents for signature by the Governor or United States State Department.
25. Assist the division director in supervising the implementation of the Uniform Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act by approving or declining the return and prosecution of prisoners in Minnesota state correctional facilities, foreign state facilities, and United States correctional facilities on criminal charges originating in Ramsey County and by supervising the preparation of appropriate documents required under the Uniform Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act.
26. Recommend to the court or oppose the reinstatement and forfeiture of bail in the amount of money that is just and appropriate for payment to Ramsey County or the State of Minnesota.
27. Assist the division director in the establishment of guidelines and criteria for the pre-court diversion of adult and juvenile offenders and, in specific cases, approve or decline the diversion of offenders who request alternative resolution of their cases.
28. Assist the division director in supervising the implementation of various Interstate Compacts including the Interstate Compact on Witnesses and the Interstate Compact on Juveniles by: assisting foreign jurisdictions in compelling witness residing in Ramsey County to return to the demanding state to testify; by approving the return to Ramsey County of essential witnesses residing in foreign jurisdictions; and by approving or declining the payment of money for transportation, food and lodging of these witnesses.
29. Assist the division director in supervising the selection of expert witnesses needed to testify in criminal and civil cases and authorizing the expenditure of money to be paid to these witnesses.
30. Assist the division director in evaluating, developing, preparing and presenting the division's budget recommendations to the County Attorney.
31. Assist the division director in implementing, supervising, monitoring and modifying the division budget.
32. Assist the division director in enforcing employment policies and procedures including but not limited to: evaluating and making recommendations on candidates for employment and promotion; making recommendations and enforcing disciplinary actions; and supervising the enforcement of performance improvement plans.
33. Supervise the selection and impaneling of the Ramsey County Grand Jury; provide legal advice to the grand jury and present cases for its review.
34. Assist the division director in supervising the prosecution of juvenile and adult offenders, including the decision to certify a juvenile to stand trial as an adult and/or to refer an offender for federal prosecution.
35. Assist the division director in supervising all legal proceedings involving the enforcement of child support and the establishment of paternity.
36. Assist the division director in supervising all legal matters involving child protection, civil commitments, and other areas of civil law, which are the responsibility of the County Attorney.

 
(The work assigned to a position in this classification may not include all possible tasks in this description and does not limit the assignment of any additional tasks in this classification.  Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.