Government Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $112,612.66 - $197,072.10 Annually
Location : FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-00802
Department: Office of County Attorney
Opening Date: 05/30/2026
Closing Date: 6/26/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: L05
Posting Type: Open to General Public
Job Announcement
Fairfax County's Office of the County Attorney is seeking an attorney with legal knowledge and litigation experience in the area of abuse and neglect of children and the elderly. The position is located in the Office of the County Attorney's Personnel, Behavioral Health and Human Services section.
The successful applicant will represent the Department of Family Services in litigation involving abused and neglected children in the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, Circuit Court, Virginia Court of Appeals, and the Virginia Supreme Court. The successful applicant will petition the Fairfax County Circuit Court for the appointment of guardians and/or conservators for incapacitated adults in need of protective services. The successful applicant will also represent Department of Family Services employees subpoenaed to appear in courts in Fairfax County as well as other jurisdictions and represent the Department of Family Services in administrative appeals of abuse and neglect findings. The successful applicant will handle cases from inception to completion, including discovery, depositions, motions, and briefs.
Applicants must include a writing sample attached to their application to receive full consideration.
The Office of the County Attorney functions as in-house counsel to the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive, department heads, division directors, and other County employees. It also serves as counsel to various boards, authorities, and commissions. The Office is led by County Attorney Elizabeth D. Teare, who was appointed to the position in 2016, and is the County's first female County Attorney. The Office has a long list of distinguished attorneys, both past and present, including multiple alumni appointed by the General Assembly to serve as judges in local courts. The attorneys are active in the various bar associations and many of our attorneys have served in official capacities in the Virginia State Bar, the Fairfax Bar, the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, and the Virginia Law Foundation. The LGA Cherin Award is named after retired Deputy County Attorney Bob Cherin for his distinguished public service. The Virginia Law Foundation's Bobzien-Gaither Education Center is, in part, named after former County Attorney David P. Bobzien, who served as the president of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Law Foundation.
Fairfax County is the largest jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia with more than 1.2 million residents and more than 13,000 employees. Fairfax County government is widely recognized as a superior government organization. County employees are eligible for superb benefits. Highlights of the county's benefits packages are a defined-benefit pension plan; a deferred compensation plan (457); access to medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, and generous leave policies.
Underfill: Candidates not meeting the full experience requirements may still be considered if they meet underfill requirements. See the Employment Standards section of this job posting for more information.
Note: A writing sample is required to be attached with your application to receive full consideration for this position.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Knowledge of the sources of legal reference;
Knowledge of the principles and practices of law;
Knowledge of local, state and federal laws and court decisions affecting the practice of the law
at the county level;
Ability to learn Fairfax County ordinances and resolutions;
Ability to analyze facts and reach logical conclusions;
Ability to express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing;
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with associates, County officials and the
public.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar. Any combination of education and experience equivalent to four years of experience as a practicing attorney.
UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:

• This vacancy may be filled at the level of Assistant County Attorney III (Grade L03 - $92,121.95 to $161,213.52). The employment standards for Assistant County Attorney III are: Must be an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar. Any combination of education and experience equivalent to one year of experience as a practicing attorney. Upon the successful completion of the 12-month probationary period and after reaching a total of 4 years of experience, Assistant County Attorney III employees are eligible for a non-competitive appointment to the Assistant County Attorney V level.
• Click here to view the complete details and KSAs for the Assistant County Attorney III.
• Upon completion of an underfill agreement (which will require that the employee meets the employment standards above, in addition to attaining competencies defined by the hiring agency), the employee will be elevated to the level of Assistant County Attorney V.
• Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY V within two years of the job announcement's closing date of June 26, 2026.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Virginia State Bar License in Good Standing (Required at the time of application)
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check to the satisfaction of the employer.
• The appointee to the position must complete a Statement of Economic Interest form prior to starting work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent research, writing, and public speaking skills.
• Legal knowledge and litigation experience in the area of abuse and neglect of children and the elderly.
• Litigation and trial experience in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
• Demonstrated experience writing briefs in Virginia Court of Appeals and/or Virginia Supreme Court.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to travel to various locations throughout Fairfax County to provide coverage, attend meetings and trainings.
• Must communicate with others.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including ) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
#LI-AL1
Requisition 26-00802
Merit Positions
Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.
NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:
For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01
Have you completed a law degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you currently an active member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar?

• Yes
• No

03
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have as a practicing attorney?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four or more years

04
How many years of full-time equivalent litigation experience do you have?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four or more years

05
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have handling abuse and neglect cases?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four or more years

06
How many years of full-time equivalent litigation experience do you have in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four or more years

07
Do you have any experience in writing briefs in the following courts? Check all that apply.

• Virginia Court of Appeals
• Virginia Supreme Court
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• None of the above

08
To be considered for this position, you must attach a writing sample to your application. By responding YES here, you acknowledge that you may lose consideration if your application does not include a writing sample. (A writing sample must be attached.)

• Yes
• No

Required Question