Deputy Corporation Counsel
Closing Date: 9/4/2025 or upon the receipt of the first 50 application submissions
Deputy Corporation Counsel
Office of Corporation Counsel
Annual Salary: $140,545.60 – $210,828.80
Are you looking for a rewarding and challenging opportunity to make a difference in the community? The Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel is now hiring for a Deputy Corporation Counsel to join a team of dedicated professionals serving the people of Milwaukee County.
The Office of the Corporation Counsel (OCC) serves as the chief legal counsel to all Milwaukee County departments, offices, boards, commissions, and elected officials concerning a wide range of civil legal issues that impact the County and the public.
Job Summary: Under Wis, Stat. § 59.42(2)(a), “Deputy corporation counsels shall have, according to their rank and seniority, the powers and duties of the corporation counsel in his or her absence or disability.” Accordingly, this Deputy Corporation Counsel shall serve as a senior attorney in management with supervisory authority over specific Assistant Corporation Counsels and practice areas as assigned and designated by Chief Corporation Counsel. This position will be the point person for supporting county departments and elected officials by providing legal advice on issues including but limited to public records, open meetings, ethics, contracting, procurement, real estate transactions and development, municipal law. Additionally, this person would provide general litigation support, draft legal opinions, and staff committee and/or board meetings.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage the litigation team, including but not limited to training, evaluation, and support of staff engaged in litigation and similar contested matters. Strategically and efficiently deploy the team’s resources. Provides regular constructive feedback and regular coaching/mentoring sessions. Work to advance the office’s strategic plan.
- Carry a caseload of various litigation matters and regularly appear in court for those matters as necessary. Develop relationships with Judges, other government agencies, and community stakeholders involved in County litigation. This person is the primary point of contact with internal and external stakeholders for high level litigation matters
- Provide legal support to the investigatory efforts of the Community Reintegration Center, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, the Personnel Review Board, the Department of Human Resources and other departments, as needed.
- Provide oral and written legal advice to county departments and elected officials as requested including at the County Board and its’ subcommittee meetings. Also, support the County Executive’s policy team by explaining outlook and potential impact of pending or potential litigation matters.
- Monitor litigation assigned to outside counsel, review their work, billing, ask appropriate questions and provide feedback
- Having sufficient expertise in municipal law to provide oral and written legal advice to county departments and elected officials as requested. Must have excellent grasp of Wis. Stat. § 59, Public Records and Open Meetings, Contracting, Procurement, legal authorities and limitation of county departments.
Minimum Requirements:
- Must be a current resident of the State of Wisconsin.
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and a member in good standing of the State Bar of Wisconsin.
- Licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin
- At least fifteen (15) years of experience practicing law
- Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Word and Excel and the ability to use related software.
Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Self-starter with willingness and ability to take ownership of assigned work both individually and on teams.
- Ability to build strong working relationships internally and externally, to collaborate, and to foster cooperation and identify alignments among clients and stakeholders.
- Mindset to carry out assigned work with a high degree of professionalism, civility, and ethics.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to prepare and present on legal topics to internal and external groups. ,
- Knowledge of federal and Wisconsin state civil procedure and Wisconsin State Statutes.
- Ability to regularly conduct legal research using a variety of relevant sources including Westlaw.
- Provide practical and accurate advice concerning a variety of sometimes novel and complex legal questions.
NOTE: This original application is open to permanent residents of the state of Wisconsin at the time of application. In accordance with Section 11, Rule 3 of the Civil Service Rules a non-competitive examination will be held for this position. The non-competitive examination will consist of criteria deemed appropriate by the Director of Human Resources.
APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF FILING APPLICATION