HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-01-2001-8fORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 1, 2001
Action Agenda
Item No. - $~
SUBJECT: Classification Plan Amendment -Legal Specialist
DEPARTMENT: Sheriff s and Personnel PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Revised Legal Specialist Class
Specification
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass
Extension 2909
Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director
Extension 2550
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 6$8-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider amending the Orange County Classification and Pay Plan by changing
the salary grade of the existing class of Legal Specialist from Salary Grade 69 to Salary Grade
70. The hiring range for Salary Grade 69 is $33,052 - $40,173 and the hiring range for Salary
Grade 70 is $34,703 _ $42,180.
BACKGROUND: In 1998, the Sheriffs Department obtained approval from the Board of
County Commissioners to receive certain legal support services from a Legal Specialist located
in the Sheriff's Department. In 1998, the Legal Specialist provided legal support for about 40
percent of the time in addition to performing domestic violence duties for about 60 percent of
time. Legal support duties consisted of providing legal input, advice and assistance to staff;
researching, analyzing and interpreting legal issues; and drafting court orders. Domestic
violence duties consisted of providing direct services to victims such as crisis intervention,
information and referrals, system support, follow-up, and reviewing and maintaining domestic
violence protection orders.
The duties and responsibilities of the Legal Specialist position have changed since it was
established in 1998 and the Sheriff asked Personnel to complete a current classification and
pay study of the position. In the past, the Legal Specialist, along with two Social Workers in the
Sheriff s Department spent a large amount of time serving as an advocate for domestic violence
victims by intervening in crisis situations; supplying information and referral services; and
providing support throughout the court process. Currently, the two Social Workers are primarily
responsible for providing direct services to domestic violence victims, while the Legal Specialist
is spending less time in this area. The Legal Specialist is spending more time on legal support
duties including the functions noted below:
Provides legal in-service training to employees in the Sheriff s Department, as well as other
employees in the County. Examples of training are firearms (deadly farce) and juvenile
minority sensitivity training which are both State mandated and both require certification for
instructors. Teaches civil liability to Telecommunicators in EMS Department. Writes and
updates policy manuals.
• Researches, drafts and distributes to each employee a monthly training bulletin covering
high liability legal issues. The training bulletins assist in ensuring that all employees are
aware of new case law and statutory amendments.
• Reviews and ensures that domestic violence protection orders are properly served on
defendants and are enforceable. Meets with District court judges for review and
interpretation of domestic violence orders and informs stafF of changes in domestic violence
law.
Personnel has completed the classification and pay study for the Legal Specialist position.
Based on the classification study and review of available labor market information, Personnel is
recommending that the class of Legal Specialist at Salary Grade 69 be reclassified to Legal
Specialist at Salary Grade 70 to take account of the higher level and broader scope of legal
support duties and respansibili#ies that the position has assumed. Please note that the
recommended salary grade does not reflect the salary of a practicing attorney because the
functions for the Legal Specialist do not include the full scope of an attorney such as practicing
law in court.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Funds to implement the salary grade change from Legal Specialist at
Salary Grade 69 to Legal Specialist at Salary Grade 70 are available within the approved
budget for 2000-01. The increase in cost is about $552 for the remainder of this fiscal year and
about $1,794 on an annual basis.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager, recommends that the Board amend the Classification
and Pay Plan by changing the salary grade of the existing class of Legal Specialist from Salary
Grade 69 to Salary Grade 70.
C7175-04/01
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LEGAL SPECIALIST
GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK:
Performs difficult professional work providing legal advice, input and support to the
Sheriff's department on legal matters.
Work is performed under general supervision.
TYPICAL TASKS:
Provides legal advice, counsel and representation to the Sheriff and staffpersonnel on
criminal, civil, detention, constitutional law issues;
Researches, analyzes and interprets legal issues and prepazes necessary documentation
and recommendations for action;
Researches, drafts and distributes training bulletins covering high liability legal issues to
employees;
Draft court orders, ensures orders aze enforceable, and informs Deputies of orders;
Keeps abreast of and informs staff of new laws or changes in law by reseazching State
and Federal statutes, case law and constitutional provisions;
Provides legal in-service training to all staff employees on firearm, sexual hazassrnent,
and juvenile minority sensitivity, and the like;
Works with news media to publicize pertinent information regarding statutory updates;
Drafts memos to the attention of citizens outlining statutory amendments to the State
statutes; informs local merchants of statutory regulations which affect their business;
Writes and updates policy and procedure manuals;
Reviews and ensures that domestic violence protection orders are properly served on
defendants and are enforceable;
Provides direct services to domestic violence victims involving crisis intervention,
information and referrals, system support and follow-up;
Serves as a liaison between the Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney's Office;
Performs related tasks as required.
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Thorough knowledge of North Carolina law in relation to operations, authority and
responsibilities of the Sheriff's Department; thorough knowledge of the principles and
procedures of law in relation to custody, domestic violence, collection of judgment and
involuntary commitments; thorough knowledge of the court system, court room
procedures and domestic violence issues; ability to draft legal documents; ability to
recognize and interpret legal problems and issues before they arise; ability to
communicate effectively, bath orally and in writing; ability to work with a variety of
people with varying- social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds; ability to establish
and maintain effective working relationships with complainants, attorneys, cri-urinal
justice and law enforcement agencies, human service organizations and the general
public.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an
accredited college or university with major course work in criminal justice, law, or
related field and at least 2 years experience which may include any of the following:
paralegal experience; researching and interpreting legal issues; reviewing and drafting