About the Department

Buchanan County is seeking a full-time County Counselor to serve as in-house legal counsel for Buchanan County government. The County Counselor is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Buchanan County Commission. The position reports to the Presiding Commissioner and ultimately to the County Commission.

The County Counselor provides legal advice and representation to the County Commission, other elected officials, County departments, and boards on legal matters affecting County government. The position requires sound legal judgment, professionalism, discretion, responsiveness, and the ability to work effectively with multiple independently elected officeholders and public officials.

Position Duties

The following duties are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.

Serve as legal counsel to the County Commission, including attending regular Commission meetings and advising on legal questions that arise.
Provide legal advice to County elected officials, departments, and boards on County-related civil legal matters.
Represent the County in civil litigation, administrative hearings, and court proceedings as appropriate.
Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on contracts, agreements, leases, memoranda of understanding, purchasing documents, and related County business documents.
Research, draft, review, and advise on County ordinances, policies, regulations, procedures, resolutions, ballot language, and written legal opinions.
Advise on Missouri Sunshine Law requests and public-records issues.
Advise the County Commission and County offices on county-government authority, procedure, statutory obligations, risk management, and compliance issues.
Advise Human Resources on employment-law matters, personnel policies, handbook revisions, investigations, employee relations issues, litigation, and risk mitigation.
Serve as liaison between the County and outside counsel in specialized, complex, or other assigned legal matters.
Work with Risk Management to review and report insurance claims as necessary.
Provide legal assistance to the County Auditor regarding annual legal-claims reporting and other legal issues.
Advise the County Clerk on election-related questions, ballot issues, and election contests involving County matters.
Advise the County Collector regarding payment issues, tax sale statutes, trustee properties, and related matters.
Advise the County Assessor and represent the County in property tax appeal hearings before the State Tax Commission.
Advise Planning and Zoning staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission, including attendance at monthly Planning and Zoning Commission meetings.
Provide legal opinions regarding zoning applications, ambiguous zoning issues, code enforcement, land-use matters, and proposed zoning regulations.
Represent Planning and Zoning and the Board of Zoning Adjustment in appeals, enforcement matters, and related proceedings.
Advise and represent the Public Administrator on guardianships, conservatorships, and other probate matters.
Advise the Sheriff’s Office on non-criminal legal issues, jail-related issues, civil matters, liability issues, and coordination with outside counsel.
Represent the petitioner in civil commitment hearings under Section 632, RSMo.
Facilitate County real estate transactions, including drafting contracts, obtaining title work, reviewing closing documents, and assisting with closings.
Advise on economic development matters, including coordination with local economic development partners and review of incentive-related documents.
Provide legal research and advice regarding the County Salary Commission and compensation-related statutory issues.
Prosecute violations of County ordinances where authorized by law.

Minimum Qualifications

Special Requirements:

Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
Current license to practice law in the State of Missouri and member in good standing of The Missouri Bar.
Buchanan County residency preferred.
Must be able to pass a criminal background check and all legal hiring processes.

Education/Experience:
Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree required. Must have a valid Missouri Bar license and be a member in good standing to practice law in the State of Missouri.

Other Qualifications

The successful candidate should have knowledge of, or the ability to develop knowledge of, the areas of law described under “Duties and Responsibilities"
The successful candidate must also be able to:

Exercise sound legal judgment in a public-government environment.
Communicate clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing.
Provide practical legal advice to non-lawyer officials, department heads, employees, boards, and commissions.
Work effectively with the County Commission and multiple independently elected officeholders.
Manage competing priorities, urgent legal questions, litigation deadlines, meetings, and public-facing matters.
Analyze statutes, regulations, cases, contracts, policies, and factual issues accurately and efficiently.
Draft clear legal documents, pleadings, contracts, correspondence, policies, and opinions.
Maintain confidentiality and discretion in sensitive legal, personnel, and litigation matters.
Work independently without direct legal supervision.
Maintain professionalism in politically sensitive, high-pressure, or public settings.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

Attend evening meetings, court proceedings, administrative hearings, public hearings, and special meetings as required.
Travel locally and occasionally outside the County for court, hearings, meetings, training, or County business.
Maintain professional relationships with County officials, officeholders, employees, opposing counsel, courts, state agencies, members of the public, vendors, consultants, and outside counsel.
Monitor changes in laws and regulations affecting County operations.
Participate in continuing legal education and professional development relevant to county-government practice.