DSS Attorney I

Legal Team Position

Joining the team at Gaston County Government means being part of a community that is dedicated to improving the lives of its citizens. We are a dynamic organization that values innovation, collaboration, and commitment to service.

As an employee of Gaston County, you will have the opportunity to make a difference in your community every day. Whether you are working in public safety, social services, or administration, your contributions will help improve the lives of our residents and build a better future for our county.

Description

The Gaston County Department of Social Services Legal Team provides legal representation to the staff of the agency in areas of Child Support Enforcement, Adoption, Protective Services for adults and children, and Guardianship.

Examples of Duties

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $41.97 - $49.84. The duties listed below are not all of the duties that may be assigned but are those that are considered as essential for an employee to perform.

• Represents the Division of Social Services in juvenile matters arising under N.C.G.S. Chapter 7B. Effectively represent the Division in court, counsel staff on legal matters and ensure court orders are completed timely.
• Represents the Division of Social Services in Child Support matters arising under N.C.G.S. Chapter 110. Effectively represent the Division in court, counsel staff on legal matters and ensure court orders are completed accurately and timely.
• Represents the Division of Social Services in Adult Protective Services matters arising under N.C.G.S. Chapter 108A and Guardianship matters under N.C.G.S. Chapter 35A. Effectively represent the Division in court, counsel staff on legal matters and ensure court orders are completed timely.
• Attend CLE's, review statutes, case law and listserv, and generally make efforts to obtain and maintain expertise in all relevant areas of the law. Provide training to staff on an assigned and/or as needed basis to ensure staff are acting in compliance with relevant law and/or policy.
• Other duties as assigned to include but not limited to attending board meetings, adoption committee meetings and assisting with matters to facilitate completion of adoptions, coordinating responses to media requests, ensuring proper response to subpoenas directed at the agency from third parties, and advising the director.
• Employee must be available to work mandatory emergency shelters.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited school of law with a Juris Doctorate degree with at least two (2) years of experience required. Must be currently licensed to practice law in North Carolina and hold membership in North Carolina and Gaston County Bar Association. Attorney must have familiarity with laws, ordinances, regulations, statutes, and policies primarily regarding juveniles, probate, child support, and adult protective services and such other areas as may be required to represent the Department of Social Services. A copy of transcripts must be included with the application. Failure to attach your college transcripts will result in an automatic rejection of your application.

Additional Information

The applicant selected must undergo a criminal background check and pass a drug screening test prior to employment. In compliance with G.S. 153A-94.2 (b), if the position being filled requires an applicant for employment to work with children in any capacity, the County must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI. These checks must be performed in accordance with G.S.143B-1209.26, which authorizes the SBI to provide fingerprint-based state and national criminal record checks to cities and counties.

At Gaston County, we are committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees, job applicants, and members of the community we serve. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable laws.

Gaston County will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Full-Time employees are eligible for the total compensation package which includes:

• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement Savings Plans
  • Pension
  • 401K (with 5% county contribution annually)
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Discounted YMCA Membership

Part-Time employees are eligible for certain benefits as a part of employment with Gaston County such as:

• Pro-Rated Sick and Annual Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Local Government Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

Half-Time employees are not eligible for benefits. To learn more details about the many benefits we provide view our Employee Benefits Guide. Overall, if you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career with competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, Gaston County is the place for you.