Senior Assistant County Attorney

Salary: $121,880.10 - $204,910.58 Annually
Location : 12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville, FL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: FY26-17307
Department: County Attorney
Division: County Attorney
Opening Date: 08/07/2026
Closing Date: 8/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Minimum Qualifications
Alachua County seeks a Senior Assistant County Attorney to join its well established, collaborative in house legal team. This position is ideal for an attorney who values teamwork, public service, and the opportunity to serve as a trusted advisor within a dynamic local government environment.

Preference will be given to candidates that meet one of the following: (a) at least five years of experience in public procurement and related transactional matters; or (b) at least five years of experience in real estate matters, including acquisitions, sales, leases, transfers, or real property disputes. Experience in both areas is a plus.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional written and oral communication skills, a disciplined work ethic, and the ability to convey legal guidance clearly and effectively to clients at all organizational levels. The successful candidate will work cooperatively with County staff, contribute to consensus building, support timely, practical solutions to operational needs, and be able to manage assigned matters independently with sound professional judgment.

While subject matter expertise is expected in assigned areas, the Senior Assistant County Attorney may be asked to handle matters outside their primary practice areas. The role includes litigation responsibilities and regular appearances before public boards, including in televised settings. A flexible, hybrid work schedule may be available based on client needs and office operations.

Candidates must be licensed to practice law in Florida and be in good standing with The Florida Bar.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree, and
• Membership in the Florida Bar Association, and
• Five years of progressively responsible legal experience which must include litigation experience, at least three (3) years of which have been largely devoted to the attorney's area(s) of specialization so that, when combined with the applicable training, the attorney possesses intermediate to advanced level of knowledge in federal, state and local law regulations and practices in the area of the attorney's specialization. Board certification in a relevant area of law, including, but not limited to City, County and Local Government Law, is highly desirable but not required.
• At least five years of experience in public procurement and related transactional matters; or at least five years of experience in real estate matters, including acquisitions, sales, leases, transfers, or real-property disputes. Experience in both areas is a plus.

Must be able to demonstrate proficiency within six months of assuming this role for technical skills necessary to use software and platforms to communicate effectively with staff, colleagues and court officials virtually. Must be able to maintain internet connection from remote site and maintain security and confidentiality of communications and records.

Required Pre-employment Screenings:
Successful completion of a criminal history background investigation.
Successful completion of a drug screen

Application Requirements
Applicants must submit all of the following:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• List of professional references

Applicants must submit a cover letter describing their relevant experience and interest in the position. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered complete.

The anticipated annual salary range for the Senior Assistant County Attorney position is $121,880.10 to $204,910.58. The final starting salary will be contingent upon the selected candidate's qualifications, including relevant education, legal experience, specialized knowledge, skills, certifications, and the County's established compensation policies.
Position Summary
This is highly responsible, professional legal work in assisting the County Attorney with a variety of legal issues, providing legal analysis and advice to the Board of County Commissioners, the County's administrative staff, various County-related agencies and boards and committees. The Senior Assistant County Attorney takes all legal action necessary to achieve County goals and protect County interests; involves specialization in certain legal fields; assignments include matters of substantial importance.

An employee assigned to this classification is required to litigate in designated areas of assignment.

Work is performed under the direction of the County Attorney and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained.

Examples of Duties
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, employees in this classification are required to work.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with the County's core values.

Independently prepares pleadings, discovery documents, motions, briefs and other legal documents in matters involving litigation of a complex and difficult nature and of substantial importance, obtains and evaluates expert testimony and participates in settlement negotiations, serves as trial counsel for the County when needed.

Supervises and coordinates the activities of subordinate employees including determining work procedures and schedules; issuing instructions and assigning duties; reviewing work; recommending personnel actions; conducting performance reviews; and conducting departmental training and orientation.
May supervise Assistant County Attorneys, Interns and/or Externs on specific projects and assist the County Attorney with review of formal legal opinions and attorney work product prepared by Assistant County Attorneys, Interns and/or Externs to ensure accuracy, efficiency and compliance with County Attorney and legal standards.
Drafts or files a variety of documents, which may include: contracts, deeds, resolutions, policy recommendations, legal correspondence, motions, memoranda of law, briefs, pleadings, legal opinions and/or other legal documents.

Conducts legal research regarding complex problems and/or projects; prepares reports and memoranda, drafts opinions containing proposed or recommended courses of action or solutions.
Interprets and applies legal principles and precedents in resolving complex legal issues.

Reviews documents and renders opinions as to their legal validity and/or acceptability.
Advises and assists County officers with legal matters.

Represents departments, officials, boards and commissions in matters that require the professional services of an experienced attorney.
Prepares resolutions, ordinances and other proposed legislation of a unique or complex nature.

Attends meetings of the county commission, boards, agencies and other County Attorney's Office clients; may require attendance at meetings outside of normal working hours.

Demonstrates leadership and evaluates, develops and motivates employees.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Considerable knowledge of judicial procedures and the methods and practices of legal research.

Knowledge of statutory and constitutional laws of the State of Florida, especially as these apply to Alachua County government.

Knowledge of video conferencing, document collaboration tools, and remote document management software (including but not limited to e-signature, matter management, contracts management, public records and agenda review platforms).

Technical skills to attend certain hearings, seminars and meetings remotely.

Ability to communicate effectively, present evidence and question witnesses through remote platforms.

Ability to draft legal documents and proposed legislation.

Ability to effectively supervise and coordinate the activities of subordinate employees.
Ability to organize a variety of projects effectively.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing including public speaking.

Ability to prepare written reports and memoranda.

Ability to organize and present cases for trial.

Ability to conduct trials, hearing and proceedings.

Ability to litigate for areas of assignment.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County officials, other public officials, and the general public.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 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 sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms, and use hands to finger, handle or feel.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 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.
Opportunity to work remotely, when not needed in-person, if the employee in this classification has technical skills to use the necessary software and platforms to communicate effectively with staff, colleagues and court officials virtually. Must be able to maintain internet connection from remote site and maintain security and confidentiality of communications and records.
Supplemental Information

Confidential Position: Certain personal information for employees (and specific family members) in this job position is exempt from public records pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.
An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future. BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance
• Employee Life Insurance
• Florida Retirement System
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits

You may also view regarding benefits.

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement. A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows:

1. New Years Day
2. Martin Luther King Day
3. Memorial Day
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day
6. Labor Day
7. Veterans' Day
8. Thanksgiving Day
9. Friday following Thanksgiving
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)
11. Christmas Day
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)
13. 2 Floating Holidays (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF - International Association of Firefighters Pay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave - Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to .

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.
01

I understand that once my application has been submitted for this specific position that I will NOT be able to make any changes to it. Any changes to my master application will only be reflected in any future positions for which I may apply.

• Yes
• No

02

I understand that if I earned a bachelor's or master's degree outside the United States, I must submit a foreign credential evaluation with my application or email it to achr@alachuacounty.us. International degrees without an evaluation will not be considered toward minimum qualifications.

• Yes
• No

03

If an applicant meets all minimum qualifications as posted he/she is referred to the appropriate hiring manager. The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for the ones with the specific experience he/she is seeking.Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given