Legal Services

The Vendor is required to provide legal services to the county on a contractual basis.
- Requirement:
• To perform the duties and responsibilities required pursuant to the local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations applicable to levy county and the general laws of the state.
• To advise, research, assist, and render written opinion to the county on a wide variety of legal areas, including but not limited to: general county law, labor law, general, state, and federal laws relating to county government, intergovernmental relations, and rules and regulations.
• To serve as legal advisor and counselor for all departments and all of its officers in matters relating to their official duties.
• To prepare, review, or advise on all contracts, bonds, and all other legal and official instruments in which the county is concerned and shall endorse on each his approval of the form and correctness.
• To review all agenda items.
• To advise, research and assist the county on a wide variety of legal areas including but not limited to: grants, budgets, bonds, user fees, impact fees, franchise fees, property taxes, special assessments, public disclosure issues, laws against discrimination, preparation of ordinances, resolution development and interpretation, housing, subdivision and land use law, comprehensive planning, zoning regulations and property rights, eminent domain, economic development activities, public utilities, code enforcement, building codes, real estate law annexations, contract law, environmental law, franchise law, county leases, purchasing and procurement, personnel matters including collective bargaining, union negotiations, arbitration, employee grievances, including advice on the creation of policies and procedures, litigation and trial activity, tort law and proactive methods to avoid litigation.
• To prosecute and defend on behalf of the county all complaints, suits, and controversies in which the county is a party except where the county’s defense is provided either by contract or law by a third party.
• To furnish the county commission, the planning commission, the county manager, and the head of any department, his opinion on any question of law relating to any matter concerning their respective power and duties.
• To advise the county commission and planning commission as to their compliance or noncompliance with the provisions of state statutes.
• To attend all meetings of the county commission and planning commission, unless excused, either in person or by his duly designated representative, to supply those legal services as may be needed during the meeting.
• To provide counsel and legal services for county boards, task forces, and committees duly authorized by the county commission.
• To assist the county in preparation, drafting, revisions of codes, ordinances, resolutions, amendments, leases, policy and procedural manuals, and other documents at the request of the county commission and county manager.
• To prepare documents necessary for land purchases and sales, including development of proper legal descriptions for such real estate transactions.
• To submit, as part of the annual budget process, anticipated expenditures and revenues.
• Quarterly reports to the county commission summarizing legal services activities.
• All required documentation to the external auditor as part of the annual audit.
• To coordinate and supervise specialized legal services provided by outside counsel
• To keep the county commission, planning commission, and county manager informed of legislation or judicial opinions that have a potential impact on the county.
• To meet with the county manager and designee on an as-needed basis to provide for the operational necessity of the county.
• Assist in preparation, drafting, revisions of contracts, amendments to the contracts, and other legal documents at the request of the commission and county manager.
• County commission, planning commission, and county manager periodically on sunshine law and public records law, home rule, legislative and quasi-judicial bodies; and all other areas of county law, legislative and judicial opinions that could potentially impact the county.
• Any other duties as assigned, or as directed by the county commission.