Salary : $102,373.00 - $198,865.00 Annually
Location : Annapolis, MD
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: 08825
Department: Law
Opening Date: 10/21/2026
Closing Date: 11/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Position Description Senior Counsel to the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services ("DSS") for complex litigation and negotiations involving the Department of Social Services.
NATURE AND VARIETY OF WORK
Employees in this class are assigned legal work with the highest level of difficulty within the Office of Law. It is expected that any case or legal issue assigned to the attorney selected for this position will be properly performed with minimum guidance and oversight. A Senior Assistant County Attorney should have extensive and varied experience in complex litigation, negotiations, transactions, and preparing legislation. The work performed by a Senior Assistant County Attorney is distinguished from that performed by the Attorney III position by the complexity of litigation and cases assigned as well as minimum supervision in handling legal issues. Cases assigned are usually high profile in nature and are significant in scope, with decisions made having a major impact on County operations. Work performed is normally reviewed by a Supervising County Attorney or a Deputy County Attorney.
Examples of Duties and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Essential Duties
- Provide guidance to the attorneys in the Human Services Section of the Anne Arundel County Office of Law.
- Provide direction, case review, observation in court, review of motions, pleadings, and memoranda to the two other Human Services Section attorneys; provide supervision to the secretary assigned to the Human Services Section.
- Represents DSS in Termination of Parental Rights cases, including filing petitions, drafting pleadings, propounding and answering discovery, issuing subpoenas, attending pre-trial conferences, preparing witnesses, drafting and litigating motions, hearings, and other trial preparation.
- Represents DSS in Child in Need of Assistance cases, Child Support, and Adult Guardianship cases which involve negotiation of settlements, drafting of pleadings, issuance of subpoenas, witness preparation, and litigation of cases.
- Provide ongoing legal advice to DSS personnel regarding any question that may arise in order to assist social workers and managers in defining the legal parameters of their obligations.
- Respond to subpoenas directed to the DSS; file motions for protective orders when appropriate and appear at hearings on behalf of the DSS to ensure confidentiality in accordance with State and federal law.
- Handle administrative matters regarding the representation of DSS, including ongoing procurement of contracts for the annotated code and private process servers; review MOUs; direct the DSS court liaison on the court docket; advise on responses to Maryland Public Information Act requests; and maintain ongoing statistical data on DSS caseload.
(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)
- Represents County officials and employees in complex litigation in federal and State courts and before administrative hearing bodies.
- Performs research and provides written and oral legal advice to department heads and County officials and employees.
- Investigates and makes decisions regarding claims filed against the County by drafting pleadings, discovery documents, motions, trial memoranda, taking depositions, preparing briefs, and planning complex litigation strategy.
- Drafts, reviews and approves for form and legal sufficiency a wide variety of contracts and legal documents.
- Conducts discovery in judicial and administrative proceedings.
- Prepares and responds to interrogatories; prepares and takes depositions and produces documents.
- Attends and provides legal advice at County Council hearings and other meetings.
- Defends County, public officials and employees involved in federal civil rights or State constitutional law litigation.
- Attends court proceedings regarding the defense of pending civil actions.
- Prepares witnesses and clients for court and related proceedings.
- Participates in County collective bargaining negotiations.
- Represents County in grievance proceedings before Personnel Board.
- Recommends for or against financial settlements to Self-Insurance Fund Committee.
- Advises Risk Management on insurance matters and assists in negotiation and settlement of claims.
- Instructs County employees on liability matters. Serves as counsel to one or more County departments; participates in resolving major legal issues; prepares for and conducts major cases in court; and collaborates with special counsel.
- Advises and assists other attorneys in the Office of Law on questions of policy, law and litigation processes, techniques and practices as requested.
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Thorough knowledge of the common law and of federal, State, and County laws, particularly in regard to general administration and regulatory functions of county government.
Thorough knowledge of judicial and administrative rules, and of the rules of evidence.
Thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research.
Thorough knowledge of the methods and practices of pleading civil cases and of effective trial techniques.
Thorough knowledge of structure, processes and functions of County government and rules of the County Council.
Ability to analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence, and precedents in highly complex cases and to present such materials in clear and logical form for oral or written presentations, as briefs, opinions, orders, or decisions.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to analyze and interpret complex legal documents and instruments.
Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with County officials, judges, court officials, and the public.
Ability to draft complex instruments, legislation, and opinions.
Ability to advise other attorneys in the Office of Law on complex litigation processes, techniques and practice.
Ability to use a personal computer.
Minimum Qualifications Graduation from an accredited school of law; admission to the bar of the State; and four or more years of experience in professional legal work as an attorney.
Note: Admission to the bar of the State of Maryland.
Supplemental Qualifications Preference will be given to candidates with the following:
Experience representing county or municipal governments
Five (5) years of experience with CINA matters
Supervisory Experience
- Medical/Health Insurance Plans
- BlueChoice Advantage EPO
- BlueChoice Advantage PPO
- Dental Insurance
- CIGNA Dental PPO (Buy-Up)
- CIGNA Dental PPO (CORE)
- CIGNA Dental HMO (DHMO)
- Vision Insurance
- Employee Life Insurance
- Term insurance of up to 2 times salary ($100,000 maximum) for employees at no cost.
- Ability to purchase Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
- Disability Income Insurance
- Pension Plan
- Normal retirement after 30 years of service or Age 60 and 10 years of service or election to enroll in the Employees Retirement Savings Plan.
- Deferred Compensation Section 457 Plan
- Direct Deposit
- Credit Union
- Holidays
- Twelve days provided per year, thirteen in general election year
- Annual Leave
- Less than 3 years - 13 days
- 3 to less than 15 years - 20 days
- 15 years or more - 26 days
- Disability Leave
- Accrual at a rate of 15 days a year
- Personal Leave Day, 5 per calendar year
- Leave Sharing
- Employee Assistance Program
- Free, confidential counseling for employee and family members 4X per year per problem per family member; also counseling on legal and financial issues; assistance in locating childcare and elder care
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Dependent Care Reimbursement
- Health Care Reimbursement
- Voluntary Benefits
- Provides you an opportunity to enroll in any or all of the benefits listed below with the convenience of payroll deduction
- Universal Life Insurance with Long Term Care Rider
- United Legal Benefits
01
The supplemental questions are a very important first step in our screening process. Therefore, you are required to complete these questions so that we may initially determine your eligibility for this position. Please do not respond to supplemental questions by indicating "See Resume". A lack of detail and explanation in the supplemental questions and in your application may result in failure or disqualification for this position. This means you will be ineligible for further consideration in this recruitment process. Please check "yes" to show that you have read and understand this statement.
02
Have you graduated from an accredited school of law; and been admitted to the bar of the State of Maryland? If yes, list your degree and bar admission number.
03
Do you have four (4) or more years experience in professional legal work as an attorney? If yes, please explain your experience and include number of years.If no, please indicate "N/A"
04
Do you have professional experience as an attorney representing county or municipal governments? If yes, please detail your experience and include number of years.If no, please indicate "N/A"
05
Do you have five (5) years of experience with CINA matters?
06
If you answered "yes" to the question above, please explain how you possess this experience to include position title, length of time in position, and MAJOR duties. This information MUST be reflected in your application. Do Not Respond with "See Resume".
07
Do you have supervisory experience?
08
If you answered "yes" to the question above, please explain how you possess this experience to include position title, length of time in position, and MAJOR duties. This information MUST be reflected in your application. Do Not Respond with "See Resume".
09
Did a county employee refer you? If yes, indicate their name, department and badge/id number. If you weren't referred by an Employee indicate N/A.
Required Question
