Corporation Counsel

Corporation Counsel
Department: Office of the Corporation Counsel
Reports to: County Board/County Administrator
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Revised: 2/2026
Summary
The Langlade County Corporation Counsel serves as the primary legal advisor for the county’s government, providing counsel to the Board of Supervisors, committees, and elected officials on a wide range of municipal matters. This role involves representing the county in diverse civil and regulatory proceedings—such as land use, real estate transactions, and personnel grievances—while also fulfilling state-mandated duties that protect the public interest. These mandates include handling involuntary commitments, paternity and child support cases, and ensuring compliance with Wisconsin’s Open Meetings and Public Records laws. Acting as an officer of the court, the Corporation Counsel further supports the Langlade County Circuit Court by managing legal petitions for guardianships and protective placements, ensuring all county operations remain consistent with state statutes and professional standards. As the head of the Office of Corporation Counsel this role supervises office staff, submits annual report of activities to oversight committee, and prepares a department budget.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily and in a timely manner. The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required or assigned.
• As directed by the County Board, identifies addresses and interprets the substantive and procedural regulations, laws and ordinances affecting an action of the Board, a committee or other county official. Requests formal or informal attorney general opinions, at the discretion of the Board or its designee.
• Provides legal advice, in the form of a written legal opinion or by other appropriate means, to the County Board, its committees, and county officials.
• Serves as parliamentarian to the County Board. Interprets and advises the County Board regarding matters of parliamentary procedure, including Robert’s Rules of Order.
• As directed, serves as spokesperson and liaison for the Board, or a sub-unit thereof, in the reporting of county legal activities to the media and/or general public.
• Attends meetings of the County Board. As necessary and upon timely request, attends committee meetings.
• Serves as ex-officio (non-voting) of the Health Insurance Trustees Committee and Compensation Matrix Committee.
• Provides legal assistance to department heads as needed.
• Researches statutes, ordinances, administrative rules, case law, treatises, and other applicable documents.
• Identifies factual and legal issues; interviews potential witnesses; conducts discovery via depositions, interrogatories, requests for admissions, or subpoenas. Drafts legal pleadings, such as: summons and complaints, answers, motions, briefs and petitions.
• Advocates and represents the interests of Langlade County in cases and controversies appearing before a legal tribunal. When appropriate, seeks post-judgment relief and/or appellate review.
• Reviews and drafts legal documents including but not limited to: contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, leases, offers to purchase real estate, deeds, resolutions, ordinances, and legal opinions.
• As directed by the County Board or its designee, negotiates settlement of cases and controversies prior to litigation including but not limited to: claims against the county, contract and land ownership disputes.
• As directed by the County Board or Personnel Committee and/or County Administrator, provides assistance in labor contract and grievance arbitration hearings; workers compensation and unemployment compensation hearings; employee discharge hearings; and other administrative hearings before the State and Federal agencies.
• Performs any other legal duties as may be assigned by the County Board, the Executive Committee or the County Administrator.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
• Juris Doctor degree conferred from an accredited school of law.
• One to three years practicing law with related experience in municipal law; or a commitment to practice as government lawyer with equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• “Certificate of Admission to the Bar”, admitted to practice law in the State of Wisconsin.
• Admitted to practice before the federal district courts in Wisconsin.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of laws, regulations and legal procedures applicable to the activities of county government.
• Knowledge of the rules of civil procedure, and rules of evidence.
• Ability to maintain license to practice through compliance with continuing education and other licensure requirements.
• Ability to discharge the duties of the Office of Corporation Counsel in a professional and responsible manner, consistent with the behavior of similar professionals within the community, and in conformance with the rules of professional responsibility.
• Ability to tactfully render objective advice within the political arena of competing interests and pressures.
• Ability to manage an office and professional staff.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze a problem quickly and render advice within a limited time-frame.
• Ability to understand, develop and apply legal theories; and to communicate opinions to decision-makers.
• Ability to represent the County’s interests and respond accordingly to unique and diverse legal actions.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with associates, peers, officials, and the general public.
• Thorough knowledge of local government administration.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the County Board, State, elected officials, department heads, contracted service providers, attorneys and the general public, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to develop, recommend and implement plans and programs; objectively evaluate progress with meeting goals and timetables.
• Ability to analyze County organizational structure and apply management principles in order to maintain efficient and effective services to the general public.
• Ability to assign, supervise and review the work of others.
• Ability to provide guidance to County personnel.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents, including Worker’s Compensation, insurance and other reports, union grievances, contracts, job applications, resumes, personnel records, performance evaluations, Federal, State and County laws, policy and procedure manuals, Court and arbitration decisions, etc.
• Ability to prepare a variety of documents, including evaluations, policy and procedure manuals, resolutions and ordinances, etc.
• Ability to negotiate contracts, record and deliver information, explain procedures and follow instructions.
Technological Skills
Ability to operate a computer using word processing, legal research and other related software; ability to use other standard office equipment.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk and sit. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Normal office working environment with little or no discomfort from temperature, dust, noise, wetness or the like. Walk-in and call-in distractions occur. Lifting may be required but should not exceed 50 pounds
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Acknowledgement
Langlade County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

https://www.co.langlade.wi.us/government/employment/corporation-counsel/

Deadline Note: Applications will be reviewed as received and deadline may be extended.