County Attorney

The County Attorney also serves as counsel in areas that directly affect growth, development, and public trust. The position works closely with the Department of Community Development, Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and Subdivision Agent; brings injunction and abatement actions to enforce zoning regulations and violations of county code; assists in the sale, purchase, financing, and lease of public property; and handles matters involving title examinations, closings, and eminent domain proceedings. In a county experiencing continued growth, this work places the attorney at the center of land use and development issues with lasting community impact.

The role also includes litigation oversight and external coordination. The County Attorney manages potential, threatened, and actual litigation, represents the County when appropriate, and coordinates with outside counsel in specialized areas such as bond matters, labor and employment, construction law, and annexation defense. The position serves as liaison with insurance counsel when the County or its officers or employees are sued for covered acts or omissions, prosecutes delinquent tax suits, and conducts property sales for delinquent taxes. In addition, the County Attorney monitors state and federal legislation affecting local governments, advises County leadership on local impacts, and helps shape the County’s response to legal and regulatory change.

The County Attorney is an also an external facing position that responds to inquiries from residents when appropriate, provides training to elected officials, staff, and board and commission members, and supports governance practices involving the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, the State and Local Government Conflicts of Interest Act, or COIA, and the Virginia Public Records Act. The successful candidate will be both a trusted internal advisor and a visible representative of sound, transparent, and legally grounded public service.

The County Attorney’s Office is a small but high-impact department with countywide reach. The County Attorney supervises eight employees, including seven full-time employees and one part-time Administrative Assistant, underscoring both the leadership responsibilities of the role and the office’s direct service model. The current fiscal year department budget is $1.45 million.

The office provides legal counsel across a broad portfolio that includes governance, contracts, procurement, land use, zoning enforcement, litigation management, public records, employment matters, tax enforcement, real estate transactions, and legislative monitoring. The office also serves as legal counsel for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Department of Social Services, adding an additional layer of intergovernmental and subject-matter complexity. The position requires regular attendance at Board meetings and ongoing coordination with County leadership and operating departments.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis at raftelis.com. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply early to ensure their materials are presented to the Board of Supervisors at the earliest opportunity. This will be a confidential recruitment process.

Questions

Please direct questions to Anne Lewis at [email protected]

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or Niayla Hairston at [email protected]

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