Rockingham County seeks an experienced legal leader to serve as its County Attorney, the chief civil legal officer for the organization. The County Attorney provides legal advice to the Board of Supervisors, the County Administrator, department heads, and County boards, commissions, and agencies, while also serving as parliamentarian to the Board. This role combines strategic counsel, technical legal expertise, and day-to-day operational leadership in support of a large and growing local government.
The position carries substantial responsibility across core areas of county government. The County Attorney prepares ordinances, deeds, contracts, agreements, leases, franchises, releases, and related legal instruments on behalf of the County, and ensures the codification and publication of adopted ordinances. The role supports compliance with County legal policies and reviews contractual documents while also guiding procurement, personnel, and administrative matters.
The County Attorney also serves as counsel in areas that directly affect growth, development, and public trust. The position works closely with the Department of Community Development, Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and Subdivision Agent; brings injunction and abatement actions to enforce zoning regulations and violations of county code; assists in the sale, purchase, financing, and lease of public property; and handles matters involving title examinations, closings, and eminent domain proceedings. In a county experiencing continued growth, this work places the attorney at the center of land use and development issues with lasting community impact.
The role also includes litigation oversight and external coordination. The County Attorney manages potential, threatened, and actual litigation, represents the County when appropriate, and coordinates with outside counsel in specialized areas such as bond matters, labor and employment, construction law, and annexation defense. The position serves as liaison with insurance counsel when the County or its officers or employees are sued for covered acts or omissions, prosecutes delinquent tax suits, and conducts property sales for delinquent taxes. In addition, the County Attorney monitors state and federal legislation affecting local governments, advises County leadership on local impacts, and helps shape the County’s response to legal and regulatory change.