Join Missoula County in making a meaningful impact, where your work supports our vibrant community, promotes public service, and contributes to a better future for all.

Job Description:

RATE OF PAY

Civil I

• $38.75 per hour, Civil II
• $40.60 per hour, Civil III
• $42.

53 per hour.

DEPARTMENT

County Attorney's Office

BARGAINING UNIT

Non-Union, Personnel Plan

SCHEDULING/HOURS OF WORK

Regular, Full-Time

CLOSING DATE

Open until filled. Priority screening will start on Thursday, August 13, 2026. It is in your best interest to apply by this date.

TO APPLY

Please complete an application and attach the following documents: College transcripts (unofficial copies accepted), a letter of interest, a resume, a professional writing sample, and three professional references. The Missoula County Attorney's Office is seeking a Civil Attorney I, II, or III to join their team!

DEFINITION

: Civil Attorney I

• Performs legal work in the office of the Missoula County Attorney for the Civil Division. After two years, at the discretion of the County Attorney, employee may be advanced to Attorney II status based on demonstrated competencies. Civil Attorney II
• Provides legal counsel, policy guidance and representation for Missoula County departments, other governmental agencies and boards as primary legal advisor.

Works in concert with the County Attorney and Chief Deputy County Attorneys in providing legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners and other elected officials. After four years, at the discretion of the County Attorney, employee may be advanced to Attorney III status based on demonstrated competencies. Civil Attorney III

• Performs complex and responsible civil legal work in the office of the Missoula County Attorney.

Provides legal counsel, policy guidance, and representation for local government departments, agencies and boards and serves as primary legal advisor. Works in concert with the County Attorney and Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney in providing legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners and other elected officials or boards. Provides effective defense in civil actions against County departments and employees. Brings suit in civil cases on behalf of County departments.

REPRESENTIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK

Civil Attorney I

• Provides legal counsel, policy guidance, and representation for local government departments, agencies and boards.

Serves as legal advisor for local government units and elected officials and boards. Works in concert with the County Attorney and Chief Civil Deputy in providing legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners. Represents the State of Montana DPHHS in Youth In Need of Care cases. May be assigned to represent the State of Montana in Involuntary Commitment cases and serve as the Public Administrator in probate matters. Responsible for routine policy decisions and development. Directs, and where appropriate, makes policy decisions about investigations of regulatory and statutory violations conducted by other County departments. Provides training sessions to other governmental departments on legal matters. Reviews, evaluates, prepares, prosecutes and defends all types of lawsuits on behalf of the County and other government entities at all levels of administrative and judicial tribunals, both state and federal. Responsible for all phases of litigation. Provides counsel and acts as a policy spokesperson to the public in matters relating to governmental activities. Remains on-call, as assigned, to assist and advise elected officials and county departments on civil issues requiring immediate action and law enforcement agencies in criminal matters. Civil Attorney II

• Provides legal counsel to County departments and other local governmental units and elected boards as sole legal advisor.

Responsible for routine policy decisions and development. Provides work assignments and direction for paralegal staff. Provides oversight and direction for legal interns. Directs, oversees, and where appropriate, makes policy decisions about investigations of regulatory and statutory violations conducted by person of other County departments. Provides training sessions to staff attorneys and other governmental departments on legal matters. Reviews, evaluates, prepares, prosecutes and defends all types of lawsuits on behalf of the County and other government entities at all levels of administrative and judicial tribunals, both state and federal. Responsible for all phases of litigation. Provides counsel and acts as a policy spokesperson to the public in matters relating to governmental activities. Serves in an on-call capacity as assigned, to assist law enforcement agencies in civil, criminal, and mental health matters, including providing legal counsel, preparing search and arrest warrants, examining evidence, and preparing petitions. Oversees the process and cases involving involuntary commitments and guardianships; may handle limited criminal matters with subject matter crossover; maintains expertise in the field of mental health treatment and crisis management. Civil Attorney III

• Provides legal counsel to County departments and other local governmental units and elected boards as primary legal advisor.

Directs work and supervises legal interns. Works with county departments regarding investigations of regulatory and statutory violations and provides guidance regarding enforcement of applicable laws and regulations. Provides training sessions to staff attorneys and other governmental departments on legal matters. Reviews, evaluates, prepares, prosecutes and defends all types of lawsuits on behalf of the County and other government entities at all levels of administrative and judicial tribunals, both state and federal. Represents County, county departments and employees in civil litigation and administrative proceedings, both as a plaintiff and defendant. in all phases of case, including preparation of pleadings, motion practice, discovery, pre-trial preparation, trial, and appellate advocacy. Represents County government in lobbying and testifying before the State Legislature, federal agencies, and the like. Interacts with media regarding cases where appropriate. Remains on-call, as assigned, to assist and advise elected officials and county departments on civil issues requiring immediate action. Represents the State of Montana DPHHS in Youth In Need of Care cases and the state in Involuntary Commitment cases. May be assigned to represent the Public Administrator in probate matters.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Civil Attorney I

• Requires a Juris Doctor degree.

No prior legal experience required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be licensed, or eligible to become licensed, to practice law in Montana. Civil Attorney II

• Requires a Juris Doctor degree. Must be licensed, or eligible to become licensed, to practice law in Montana. Requires a minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, a significant portion of which has been in local governmental law or the equivalent. Civil Attorney III
• Requires a Juris Doctor degree.

Requires a minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, with a preference that a significant portion of which has been in local governmental law or the equivalent.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be licensed, or eligible to become licensed, to practice law in Montana.

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

Civil Attorney I

• The employee commonly remains in an office (or similar) setting.

May on occasion be required to lift up to 25 pounds and to visit sites, projects or physical locations involving steep slopes, rough terrain or other difficult environmental conditions. Requires occasional day and evening vehicle travel throughout Missoula County. Serves in an on-call capacity, as assigned, to assist county departments on civil issues requiring immediate action, mental health matters and law enforcement agencies in criminal matters. Civil Attorney II

• The work requires little physical activity and the employee commonly remains in an office (or similar) setting. Work requires the ability to work outside normal business hours and longer than 8 hours in a day. Employee will be assigned periodic "on call" duty requiring carrying a pager and reporting to work outside of normal business hours. Civil Attorney III
• The employee commonly remains in an office (or similar) setting.

May on occasion be required to lift up to 25 pounds and to visit sites, projects or physical locations involving steep slopes, rough terrain or other difficult environmental conditions. Requires occasional day and evening vehicle travel throughout Missoula County and to the state capitol in Helena and other locations for CLE/training. Serves in an on-call capacity, as assigned, to assist county departments on civil issues requiring immediate action.

Additional Job Description:

As a Missoula County employee, you will be a part of a team that is committed to positively impacting the community. Missoula County is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or military status