Salary: $96,324.80 - $135,740.80 Annually
Location : New Ulm, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 00310
Department: County Attorney
Opening Date: 07/08/2026
Closing Date: 7/22/2026 4:30 PM Central
Position Summary
The Assistant County Attorney assists and advises the County Attorney in the prosecution of crimes, the enforcement of child support, and the protection of children and vulnerable adults. The Assistant County Attorney acts as legal counsel for all county departments and agencies. In the absence of the County Attorney, the Assistant County Attorney attends County Board meetings and committee meetings. The Assistant County Attorneys are appointed by the County Attorney, with the consent of the County Board. The Assistant County Attorney shall have the same duties and be subject to the same liabilities as the County Attorney and hold office during the pleasure of the County Attorney. The Assistant County Attorneys, along with the County Attorney, are the chief legal advisors to the County.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Criminal Law
- Prosecutes all felonies with the County.
- Prosecutes all gross misdemeanors (except aggravated DWIs occurring within an incorporated city).
- Prosecutes all misdemeanors occurring outside incorporated cities.
- Prepares and drafts all legal documents, such as complaints, search warrants and discovery materials.
- Attends all court hearings and proceedings.
- Prepares and conduct trials for all criminal cases charged, including meeting with and interviewing witnesses, preparing jury instructions, drafting memoranda of law and presenting evidence and arguments at hearings and trial.
- Provides education and training of law enforcement officers on changes of the law.
- Preparation of appeals, including briefs and oral arguments.
- Be available 24 hours per day for law enforcement purposes.
- Be a member of and participates in Drug Court, Criminal Justice Institute, Coordinating Council and MCAA.
- Conducts all phases of the Grand Jury process to obtain an indictment.
Juvenile and Child Protection Law
- Reviews reports concerning juveniles.
- Meets with law enforcement officers, social workers, doctors, and other professionals and private citizens regarding files.
- Drafts delinquency, juvenile traffic, juvenile petty offender, child in need of protection or services, termination of parental rights, transfer of permanent legal and physical custody, and adoption petitions.
- Prepares for and attend all detention, adjudicatory, dispositional, and review hearings.
- Initiates and conducts all termination of parental rights cases.
- Participates in the Child Protection Teams, School Truancy Team, Children's Justice Initiative, Juvenile Intensive Supervision Team and other groups and committees as assigned.
- Meets with and lectures community school classes at the request of instructors.
- Be available 24 hours per day for questions from and provide advice to law enforcement, human services, public officials and employees.
- Represents human services in appeals of maltreatment determinations.
- Attends Corner House interviews of children to advise forensic interviewers on civil/child protection matters.
Civil Duties
- Serves in County Attorney's absence or when necessary, attend County Board meetings, Planning and Zoning Commission and other meetings and provide advice.
- Assists the County Attorney in drainage ditch proceedings.
- Releases information and issues press releases at the direction of the County Attorney.
- Assists in preparation of all documents necessary for initiation of condemnation proceedings and conduct any trials if necessary.
- Assists in the drafting of proposed county ordinances, resolutions and rules.
- Assists in representing the state and county in collection of contested real and personal property taxes, including representing the county's position in court.
- Assists in prosecuting violations of county zoning ordinances.
- Assists in the initiation of appropriate legal documents for collection of county claims.
- Assists in commitment cases, provide advice to social workers, mental health workers, public health nurses, police, doctors, and others in the appropriateness of commitment of a person who poses a risk of harm due to mental illness, chemically dependent persons, persons with a developmental disability, and/or a person who has a mental illness and is dangerous to the public.
- Assists in commitment cases by drafting and reviewing petitions for each type of commitment, prepare for and attend all court hearings and draft appropriate finding and orders as directed by the court.
- Represents the County in medical assistance and recovery matters.
- Assists in public guardianship/conservatorship proceedings
- Other duties as assigned or apparent.
Qualifications
Education:
- A four (4) year degree from an accredited college or university and a three (3) year Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school is required.
- All applicants must have passed the two-day long Minnesota bar exam and the one-day Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination.
- All applicants must complete 45 hours of continuing legal education credits every 3 years.
- Four years' experience as an Assistant County Attorney, with experience prosecuting criminal matters preferred.
Requirements:
- License to practice law in the State of Minnesota.
- Valid Minnesota Driver's License.
- Regular attendance.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of principles, concepts, practices and standards of the legal professional including rules of conduct, rules of evidence, rules of court, civil and criminal procedures/processes.
- Knowledge of state, federal and local laws and statutes applicable to areas of practice.
- Knowledge and skill with negotiation techniques and processes.
- Knowledge and skill with principles, techniques, methods, and resources of legal research.
- Knowledge of supervisory and management fundamentals.
- Knowledge of law enforcement policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of principles, issues and processes involved in contract review and drafting.
- Knowledge of county organizational structure and functions.
- Must be able to work independently and periodically under short timelines.
- Must be able to work with a high degree of confidential work and sensitive issues.
- Must have a very high attention to detail and be able to produce exceptional quality work product.
- Must have excellent writing and communication skills.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with department personnel, judges, attorneys, clients, witnesses, law enforcement, other County staff, elected officials, and the public.
- Ability to work with a high degree of confidential work and sensitive issues.
Position is a Grade 17 with an entry salary range of $96,324.80 to $107,993.60, DOQ. Position has a full earning potential of up to $135,740.80, DOQ.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Brown County provides a comprehensive, balanced, and competitive benefits package as part of your total compensation.
The following outline of County-offered benefits serves as an overview and does not provide all provisions, limitations, and exclusions. If there is a contradiction between this and the official plan documents, the plan documents will prevail.
Vacation
Vacation accruals, utilization, and payouts vary within each collective bargaining agreement and/or the employee handbook. The following is the general overview of the vacation benefit for full time employees:
Years of Service Biweekly Accrual Rate (based on 80-hour pay period)
Years Completed Total Hours Per Year
Up to 4 years 101.66 hours
4 years but less than 8 years 130 hours
8 years but less than 12 years 157.30 hours
12 years but less than 16 years 185.38 hours
16 or more years 201.50 hours
Sick Leave
Full time employees may earn 8 hours of sick leave per month.
Paid Holidays
Most employee groups observe the following holidays:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Day
President's Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day (Observed)
Labor Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Health Insurance
Full-Time employees and employees working 30 or more hours per week may choose between single or family coverage. Eligibility begins on the first day of the month after the date of active employment.
The County has designated a base plan which is a high deductible plan with an HSA option. The County contributes monthly towards the cost of the health plan premiums with a semi-annual county contribution into employee's HSA for the single or the family coverage plan. For regular part time employees working 30+ hours/week year around, the County will pay 75% of the county share of single coverage (base plan) which may be applied towards family coverage and also contribute 75% of the employer HSA contribution.
Life Insurance
Full-Time Employees are provided with the following term life insurance benefit at no cost to them. Regular part-time employees working 30 or more hours per week are eligible for this benefit with County paying 75% of premium. Eligibility begins on the first day of the month after the date of active employment.
$20,000 term life/$20,000 AD&D
Retirement
The County and the employee contribute to PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association)
• Employees must participate as directed by Minnesota statutes.
• Contribution rates vary depending on position.
• Employee may obtain refund of employee contribution upon termination of service.
Variable Benefits Available
The following benefits are available on an elective basis at the employee's choice:
• Dental
• Vision
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (FSA)
• Deferred Compensation (457b)
• Roth IRA
• Supplemental Life
• AFLAC Plans
Questions regarding benefit information can be directed to Human Resources at
(507) 233-6605.
01
I understand that in order for my application to receive every consideration in the selection process, I must complete all of the following supplemental questions. I understand that I will only receive credit to responses that are supported in the information I provide in my employment application and that a resume will not be accepted in lieu of an application. Please check the "yes" button if you have read and understand this.
02
Do you wish to claim Veteran's Preference? Veterans Preference points are awarded to qualified veterans and spouses of disabled/deceased veterans. Points are awarded subject to provisions of M.S. 197.455. You must provide documentation (DD214 and/or VA documents) establishing your right to claim the preference. Please attach your documentation to this application.
- Veteran: As defined in Minn. Stat. 197.447.
- Disabled Veteran: Please provide documentation of a USDVA verified disability.
- Spouse of a disabled veteran with a service connected disability rating.
- Spouse of a deceased veteran who died on, or as a result of, an active duty injury.
- Not a Veteran or do not wish to claim a veteran's preference.
03
Are you licensed as an attorney in the state of Minnesota?
Required Question
