Assistant County Attorney - Greenville County

Job Summary

ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY

Greenville County Attorney’s Office

About the Office

The Greenville County Attorney’s Office provides legal counsel to Greenville County government, its Council, and its departments. We are a small, close-knit team of attorneys and legal support staff who take our work seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. We value trust, autonomy, and genuine camaraderie, and we invest in the people who work here.

We give our people real independence and expect them to use good judgment. If you are looking for a place where curiosity is rewarded, where everyone pitches in regardless of job title, and where you will be treated as a professional, this may be the right fit.

About the Role

The Assistant County Attorney is a mid-level attorney position in the Greenville County Attorney’s Office, reporting to the County Attorney. This is a generalist role in a generalist office. The work is varied, the clients are diverse, and no two weeks look exactly alike.

We are looking for an attorney who can pick up a matter, work through it independently, and produce good results. At the same time, there is room to grow. The right person will take on broader responsibilities as they learn the office’s work and clients.

Every attorney in this office staffs at least one County Council committee. The specific assignment will depend on the candidate’s background and the office’s needs at the time.

What You’ll Do

Legal Advice and Counsel

• Provide legal advice and representation to Greenville County departments, boards, committees, and elected and appointed officials on a wide variety of matters

• Draft legal opinions, memoranda of law, ordinances, resolutions, and correspondence as assigned

• Assist County departments with compliance under state and federal law, including the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act

• Handle FOIA requests and advise on compliance

• Staff County Council committee meetings as assigned, providing legal advice and parliamentary guidance as needed

Transactional and Contracts Work

• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal instruments on behalf of County departments

• Advise on real property matters including easements, licenses, rights of way, deeds, and other real estate transactions as assigned

Land Use and Code Matters

• Advise on zoning, land development, subdivision, and code compliance matters as assigned

• Work with Planning and Zoning Department staff, Land Development Division staff, and Code Compliance staff on legal issues arising in their operations

• Prosecute County ordinance violations in magistrate’s court as assigned

Litigation Support

• Draft pleadings, motions, and other legal filings in connection with matters involving Greenville County

• Appear in court on behalf of Greenville County as assigned, including in magistrate’s court and circuit court

• Assist with litigation matters handled in-house

Employee and Administrative Matters

• Provide legal advice in connection with employee grievance proceedings and other personnel matters as assigned

• Assist the County Attorney and Deputy County Attorney as legal issues arise across the office’s varied practice areas

General

• Contribute to whatever the office needs. We are a small team and everyone chips in

What We’re Looking For

The most important things

We are candid about this: cultural fit matters more to us than any particular credential or prior experience. We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys being part of a small team, who is naturally curious, who cares about producing good work, and who understands that in a small office, everyone picks up whatever needs to be done. We trust our people to manage their time and responsibilities like professionals, and we expect that trust to go both ways.

We also handle sensitive legal and governmental matters, and discretion is not optional. Candidates must understand that confidentiality extends beyond formal attorney-client privilege communications.

We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for someone who works hard, learns quickly, admits mistakes without drama, and improves. Someone who is proud of their work but not precious about it.

Working Style

This position requires the ability to work with genuine autonomy. You will be expected to take ownership of your matters, exercise sound judgment independently, and produce results without close supervision on every step. You will also need to recognize when a matter warrants escalation and communicate when it does.

This is also a position that will grow with the right person. We expect the candidate to take on more over time, and we will invest in that development. Curiosity and a genuine willingness to learn new areas of law are key attributes we are seeking.

Legal Skills and Experience

• Solid legal skills and comfort working across multiple subject matter areas

• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, well-organized legal documents

• Experience with contracts and transactional work is a real plus

• Familiarity with local government law, land use, FOIA, or code enforcement is helpful but not required. We will train the right person

• Litigation experience and courtroom familiarity are preferred; independent litigation capability is valued but not required at hire

Qualifications

Active membership in the South Carolina Bar is required. Candidates who are not currently admitted to the South Carolina Bar will not be considered.

Completion of the South Carolina Rule 403 trial observation requirement is also required prior to hire.

We are looking for people with 5 to 10 years of practice. We are open to a range of backgrounds, government, private practice, or a combination, as long as the candidate brings genuine legal ability, sound judgment, and the right disposition for this office.

A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school is required.