Veterans Legal Counsel

The Legal Counsel position will work within the Montgomery County Veterans Service Commission advocating for Veterans rights and assistance. The position will support management on matters concerning labor law and related contract issues. Employees are expected to perform essential duties to performance standards. As needed, reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified employees with disabilities that are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in so far as the accommodation does not create an undue hardship on the Montgomery County Veterans Service Commission.

Performs job responsibilities in accordance with the Commissions policy, procedures and contracts as applicable, and in compliance with ORC 5901, and other applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations.
Provides Veteran services in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Ensures work and services comply with established quality and service standards. Manages contracts entered into by the office
Ability to apply analytical skills in addressing complex legal issues. Ability and willingness to proactively communicate with clients, staff, and community agencies
Utilizes excellent judgment, client counseling, multi-tasking, and decision-making skills
Advises and collaborates with management to strategize and respond to labor and employee issues
Negotiates bargaining unit contract on behalf of management and administers negotiated labor contract.
Provides interpretive guidance to management on contract issues and labor disputes
Assists in the development and review of policies and procedures, communications, intranet sites, and training materials
Serves as a subject matter expert and strategic advisor on all aspects of labor law

Provides assistance to Veterans who are facing housing problems. Protecting their right to receive assistance in enforcing their rights to safe, sanitary public and subsidized housing. Assistance may include, however not all-inclusive:
Wrongful evictions
Illegal lockout
Utility shut offs
Landlord-tenant disputes
Public housing or Section 8 disputes
Requests for repairs
Security deposit disputes
Foreclosures
Housing discrimination

Provides advice and assistance to Veterans with consumer issues to, however not all-inclusive:
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Debt Collection and debtors rights
Pre-purchase counseling for homeowners
Garnishments and repossessions
Student loan discharge and collection issues
Credit reporting problems
Auto purchase and loan problems
Pay day loans and other lending issues
Tax disputes with the IRS

Prepares Durable Powers of Attorney Advance Directives, Last Will and Testaments and associated documents along with other administrative documents as needed.
Responds to and appropriately addresses difficult client complaints.
Maintains confidentiality of confidential and sensitive information.
Maintains the highest level of integrity and professionalism in all aspects of job performance.
Keeps abreast of current trends and practices in the field. Attends and participates in required trainings on topics relevant to the job.
Works assigned schedule, exhibits regular and punctual attendance and works outside of normal schedule as required.
Periodically present education workshops that show Veterans how to legally resolve consumer financial issues.
Serves as the Veterans Treatment Court Liaison.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES
Performs other duties as assigned.

SCOPE OF SUPERVISION
Veterans Treatment Court Mentorship Coordinator.

EQUIPMENT OPERATED
Computer, telephone, copier, fax, and other general office equipment. Office vehicle and personal vehicle.

CONTACTS WITH OTHERS
Veteran clients and family members, elected officials or their representative, Common Pleas Court personnel, coworkers, commission members, social service agency representatives, Veterans Administration, general public, and other internal and external job contacts.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND DATA
Federal, State, County and local databases; elected official business, Veterans Information Management System, Veteran Service Commission business, and other confidential or sensitive information. Workload data tracking by category and monthly services report.

RECORDS
Veteran files for legal assistance. Applicable laws or regulations require that employees assigned to some jobs attain a specific level of education, experience, or training, and license or certification. For other jobs, a combination of various levels and types of education, experience, training, and license or certification may qualify a person to perform essential duties of this position. Qualifications specified for this position are:

Education, Experience and Training
Graduation from an accredited law school and passage of the Ohio Bar Examination.
Each employee assigned to this job shall be an honorably discharged Veteran, or if a qualified honorably discharged Veteran is not available, the spouse, surviving spouse, child or parent of an honorably discharged Veteran. Must submit an honorable DD-214 at time of application submission.
Employees are provided the opportunity to participate in training and education programs. Some training programs may be mandatory and others are optional. These opportunities may include on-the-job training, self-study, seminar, in house programs and in-service programs.

Licenses or Certifications
Admitted and licensed by the Ohio Bar Association to practice law; Notary Public in the State of Ohio; State Motor Vehicle Operators License.

Additional Qualifications
Upon conditional hire into this position, and as a condition of continued employment, each employee is required to submit to and pass a drug test, criminal background check, and be insurable under the Commissions driving insurance provider guidelines.
Ability to document personal identity and employment eligibility within three days of original appointment as a condition of employment in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act (I-9) requirements.