A county attorney’s job description is determined the county in which the attorney practices. In general, county attorneys are government employees who work at the county level, representing the government’s interests in court and advising public officials on legal issues. They do not practice law privately, and the range of cases they handle is determined whether or not the region also has a district attorney. County attorneys handle civil and criminal cases all the way to district court if there is no district attorney. If one is present, county attorneys may only practice in county court and are not permitted to participate in criminal cases.
To work as a county attorney, you must first complete law school and pass the bar exam in the state where you intend to practice. It is recommended that an attorney focus on public interest law while in school and pursue internships that provide experience in government offices, as this will prepare an attorney for practice as a county attorney. Attorneys who have completed their education can apply to counties that have openings in order to gain work experience in an office before running for election as county attorneys. This job can be won through application and appointment if a county hires its attorneys rather than electing them.
A county attorney’s office has a variety of structures. The focus of some county attorneys’ work is on civil matters such as restraining orders, child custody disputes, and so on, as well as providing advice to county officials upon request. Officials may have concerns about policy and enforcement, as well as the legality of various county-level activities. To identify potential conflicts, county attorneys must keep up with regional laws and pay close attention to proposed ordinances and laws.
Criminal cases are also handled other county attorneys. Robbery, murder, and rape are charged as crimes against the government rather than against individual victims, and the county attorney acts as a prosecutor for the county. If the case appears to have merit, the county attorney develops a case, gathers witnesses, participates in evidence discovery, and takes the case to trial.
Working as a county attorney typically pays significantly less than working as an attorney in private practice. Benefits include access to pension funds, health insurance, government vehicles, and specialized insurance products. People typically apply for positions as county attorneys because they want to help the community.