Salary: See Position Description
Location : York, SC
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:Department: County Attorney
Division: County Attorney
Opening Date: 04/07/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
About our opportunity We invite you to apply for our County Attorney position with York County Government. In this integral position, the County Attorney provides professional legal representation, advice, and counsel on complex matters to County Council, the County as an entity, its Boards and Commissions, elected and appointed officials, and all County Departments. As needed, the County Attorney supports all phases of County operations by offering legal guidance and assistance.
This position will remain open until filled with the first review of applications beginning on April 27th. We encourage you to apply early.Competitive Compensation: This is a contract position reporting directly to a seven (7) member County Council and salary will be determined based on experience and education.
Car Allowance: This position will receive a car allowance and will be determined during the offer process.
Recruitment Brochure: Our Total Compensation Package:- Compensation - competitive market-rate pay, and negotiable based on qualifications.
- Comprehensive State Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Long-term disability
- Deferred Compensation 401K Plans
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Parental and Bereavement Leave
- Public Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness Program)
- 11 Paid Holidays + 3 Optional Holidays
- Longevity Pay
- SC State Retirement Plan Pension
- Paid Vacation and Sick Time
- Sick Bank
- Critical Care and Cancer Insurance
- Wellness Screenings
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Professional Development / Trainings / Conferences
Essential Duties & Responsibilities: - Acts as general counsel for York County, provides professional legal advice to the York County Council, it Boards and Commissions, including the York County Library, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Culture and Heritage Commission; its elected officials, including the Clerk of Court, Coroner, Probate Court, and Sheriff, provides legal counsel and advice to County Management and County Departments in all phases of County governance and operations.
- Attends Council Meetings, special and regular, council workshops, Committee meetings, conferences, retreats, and training sessions. Provides legal advice in Executive Session(s). Meetings and workshops may be held in the evening, as is often County practice. Conferences, meetings, and training sessions may be held outside the county and may involve overnight travel.
- Researches and interprets the law as it applies to the governance of the County in multiple practice areas, including but not limited to land use, FOIA, Fee in Lieu of Tax Simplification Act, special tax districts, water/sewer law, contracts and procurement, property valuation and assessment, tax sales, real estate matters, title work, condemnation matters, financing and budgeting matters, bankruptcy matters, roads and transportation, elections, employment law, civil litigation, constitutional claims, zoning and building code enforcement, animal control and enforcement cases, cost of care cases, open meetings, public records, and the day to day business of the county.
- Serves as Parliamentarian for the York County Council, Council Committees, and York County Boards and Commissions.
- Provides advice on Inducement Resolutions, FILOT agreements, Special Source Revenue Credit Agreements, and other Economic Development related matters.
- Remains current on statutes, case law, and regulations that may affect the operations and policies of the County to ensure compliance with the laws and to limit liabilities.
- Advises County Council and County Management on legislative developments that may impact the role of County Council or the operations of the County; advises and coordinates with County Management to provide effective legislative advocacy at the direction of County Council.
- Drafts, reviews and provides legal advice concerning County Ordinances, Resolutions, and contracts.
- Oversees orderly and appropriate review and revision of County Ordinances, processes, and policies in coordination with County Management; advises County Council on all facets of reviews and revisions.
- Performs all functions of County Attorney, including representing the County in civil/criminal trials and litigation in the Magistrates Court, the Administrative Law Court, Circuit Court, Federal District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and all appellate courts.
- Responsible for all aspects of case preparation including, but not limited to, drafting complaints and answers, drafting and filing motions, responding to motions, witness interviews, appearing in court, conducting legal research, drafting legal briefs and memoranda of law.
- Retains and coordinates with outside counsel as authorized by County Council.
- Represents the County before administrative Boards including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, and the Criminal Justice Academy.
- Participates in mediations and engages in settlement conferences on behalf of the County.
- Oversees all aspects of management and direction of the Office of the County Attorney and the Office of Risk Management.
- In furtherance of County objectives, provides legal advice to County Council members and committees and to County-wide teams.
- Acts as a liaison between the County Attorney's Office and County Managers, Department and Division Heads, and private and government attorneys.
- Responds to questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner.
- Communicates and coordinates regularly with other county departments to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities.
- Examines public records and assists with FOIA requests.
- May be designated to report to work during hazardous weather or emergency conditions.
- Performs related work as assigned by County Council.
About you Education and Experience - Juris Doctorate (JD) Degree.
- Eight (8) years of experience in the practice of law, preferably in local government.
Certifications and Licenses- Valid driver's license.
- Must be licensed to practice law in the State of South Carolina in good standing; and must be admitted to the Bar of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Physical Demands / Work Environment / Disclaimer Physical DemandsPhysical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.
- Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.
Full-time employees are allowed to participate in group medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance programs offered by York County Government. If employees elect to secure dependent coverage, the employee should pay the additional costs for such coverage. All statements of insurance coverage are subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and other eligibility requirements that are set forth in various insurance plan documents.
Our full-time benefits through PEBA (South Carolina Retirement Systems and State Health Plan) include health insurance, prescription benefits, dental, vision, life insurance, MoneyPlus, Health Savings Accounts, retirement (Membership in the South Carolina Retirement System is mandatory for county employees), and deferred compensation. Making decisions about your insurance and retirement benefits can sometimes be complicated and difficult. The Navigating Your Benefits series provides common-language explanations and can help you find your way in the world of your insurance and retirement benefits:
Other full-time benefits include longevity allowance, annual leave, sick leave, holiday pay, Sick Leave Bank, wellness benefits, Employee Assistance Program, etc. Please contact Human Resources at Human.Resources@yorkcountygov.com if you would like more information.
Longevity Allowance
Full-time regular county employees, elected officials, appointed officials, and judges with ten or more years of full time continuous governmental service are eligible to receive a monthly longevity allowance in addition to their regular compensation. Continuous service transferred from employment with another county, municipality, state or a political entity created by the State may contribute toward eligibility for the longevity allowance. Longevity allowances are paid according to the following schedule.
Longevity Allowance
Years of Continuous Service Monthly Longevity Amount
10-14 Years $20.00
15-19 Years $25.00
20-24 Years $30.00
25-29 Years $35.00
30-34 Years $40.00
35-39 Years $45.00
40+ Years $50.00
Parental LeaveEmployees that have been employed at least 12 months with the county may be eligible for up to 30 days of parental leave immediately following the birth, adoption or placement of a legal dependent child.Bereavement Leave
Three (3) days of bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member, which includes a spouse, parent, grandparent or child.Annual Leave
Probationary and regular full-time county employees that work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave with pay. Employees in their new hire six (6) month probationary period shall not be able to use annual leave until they become regular county employees. Employees who are separating from county service shall be paid for all accrued, unused annual leave up to 360 hours provided they give York County as the employer the proper notice as required. Employees in their six (6) month New Hire probationary period who are terminated or separated from employment shall not be paid for accrued annual leave. The maximum amount of annual leave carried into each calendar year is 360 hours.
Earning Rate for Full-Time Employees
Full-time employees with less than ten years of continuous service earn at the rate of eight hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve month period. Full-time employees with at least ten years, but less than twenty years of continuous service will earn at the rate of ten (10) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve-month period. Full-time employees with twenty or more years of service will earn at the rate of twelve (12) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve (12) months period.
Sick Leave
Full-time county employees may be entitled to earn sick leave with pay. Employees may accrue up to 1,440 hours of sick leave. Upon termination of employment with the County, employees may not be reimbursed for any unused sick leave. When a paid holiday occurs while an employee is on sick leave with pay, the day may not be charged as sick leave.
Earning Rate of Sick Leave
Full time employees will earn eight hours of sick leave per month of service during a twelve month period.
Paid Holiday's
The following days may be observed as paid holidays for York County Employees:
January - December: 3 Optional Holidays per Calendar Year
January: New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Day
May: Memorial Day
June: Juneteenth Day
July: Independence Day
September: Labor Day
November: Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Friday after Thanksgiving
December: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
Training:
Quality training and educational programs are available at various times for county employees in order to support workforce development that is consistent with organizational objectives. Training to 
