POSITION TITLE: Child Support Attorney
DEPARTMENT: Child Support
PAY BASIS: Salaried; $68,403 - $75,415/Yr.
STATUS: Full time
HOURS PER WEEK: 40
WORK HOURS: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Current Winnebago County employees interested in applying for this position will need to complete the Winnebago County Application for Departmental Transfer/Position Change form. Other parties interested in applying for this position will need to complete the Winnebago County Application for Employment.
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY:
Represents the interests of the State of Wisconsin and Winnebago County in judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings to establish and enforce child support orders in accordance with State and Federal Laws as well as policy and procedures, as directed by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. Provides direction to the Assistant Child Support Attorney, and ensures consistency in legal strategy and interpretation for the agency.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Appears in circuit court and before court commissioners in establishment and revision hearings, motions, contempt hearings, paternity establishment hearings, and warrant proceedings. Prepares cases for hearing and effectively presents cases with logical and thorough presentation of evidence, making adequate court record for appeal.
2. Resolves difficult child support matters involving custodial and non-custodial parents. Provides information to custodial and non-custodial parents on procedures concerning establishment and enforcement of child support orders.
3. Organizes, distributes, and delegates work to subordinates fairly and impartially. Provides clear and appropriate direction to employees. Provides training and coaching to subordinates. Ensures that staff has the resources and flexibility to perform, improve, and learn in their jobs. Keeps open communication with subordinates, listen to them, and provides professional guidance. Positively motivates, mentors, and leads employees. Provides appropriate and timely performance evaluations for all subordinates.
ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
1. Enforces judgments and orders of the court relating to payment of child support, including the drafting of necessary pleadings. Takes necessary legal action to recover delinquent child support from the responsible party.
2. Ensures that a high level of cooperation and coordination of efforts is maintained between the agency, court personnel, commissioners, judges and judicial personnel.
3. Maintains current knowledge of the law by continual review and research of evolving case law and changes in state and federal statutes and regulations related to child support matters and legal principles related to establishment of paternity and the establishment, enforcement, and revision of child support provisions in divorce, paternity, foster care, and interstate cases.
4. Applies and explains federal and Wisconsin child support law and regulations in complex situations and explains technical information to individuals from a wide variety of educational and cultural backgrounds both verbally and in writing.
5. Provides legal counsel and direction to case specialists in the performance of their duties.
6. Performs other related duties as may be assigned.
WORK RELATIONSHIPS:
1. Reports to the Director of Child Support, while maintaining independent legal judgment.
2. Supervises the Assistant Child Support Attorney.
3. Maintains credibility and effective working relationships with the courts and the agency, local elected and appointed officials, state program officials, and other Child Support related professionals.
4. Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, AND CERTIFICATION
1. Law degree required.
2. Must have and maintain a valid license in good standing to practice law in the State of Wisconsin.
3. A minimum of two years’ experience working in the area of family law or child support.
4. Ability to obtain and maintain access to Federal Tax Information (FTI).
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
1. Ability to work in a team environment, accepting delegated tasks but also providing delegation to other staff when appropriate.
2. Ability to litigate cases with short notice, draft legal documents, organize and set work priorities, and to maintain effective working relations with various professionals and other people with minimal supervision
3. Ability to effectively communicate with varied and diverse staff and clientele.
4. Ability to ensure strict confidentiality of information per department guidelines and state administrative code.
5. Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and use appropriate discretion.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Ability to move freely in the community, including maintaining a valid Wisconsin Driver’s License and access to a vehicle.
2. Ability to perform most work from a sedentary position.
3. Ability to function in situations encountered in a normal office setting.
