Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 1, 2001 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. - $~ <br />SUBJECT: Classification Plan Amendment -Legal Specialist <br />DEPARTMENT: Sheriff s and Personnel PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Revised Legal Specialist Class <br />Specification <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass <br />Extension 2909 <br />Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director <br />Extension 2550 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 6$8-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider amending the Orange County Classification and Pay Plan by changing <br />the salary grade of the existing class of Legal Specialist from Salary Grade 69 to Salary Grade <br />70. The hiring range for Salary Grade 69 is $33,052 - $40,173 and the hiring range for Salary <br />Grade 70 is $34,703 _ $42,180. <br />BACKGROUND: In 1998, the Sheriffs Department obtained approval from the Board of <br />County Commissioners to receive certain legal support services from a Legal Specialist located <br />in the Sheriff's Department. In 1998, the Legal Specialist provided legal support for about 40 <br />percent of the time in addition to performing domestic violence duties for about 60 percent of <br />time. Legal support duties consisted of providing legal input, advice and assistance to staff; <br />researching, analyzing and interpreting legal issues; and drafting court orders. Domestic <br />violence duties consisted of providing direct services to victims such as crisis intervention, <br />information and referrals, system support, follow-up, and reviewing and maintaining domestic <br />violence protection orders. <br />The duties and responsibilities of the Legal Specialist position have changed since it was <br />established in 1998 and the Sheriff asked Personnel to complete a current classification and <br />pay study of the position. In the past, the Legal Specialist, along with two Social Workers in the <br />Sheriff s Department spent a large amount of time serving as an advocate for domestic violence <br />victims by intervening in crisis situations; supplying information and referral services; and <br />providing support throughout the court process. Currently, the two Social Workers are primarily <br />responsible for providing direct services to domestic violence victims, while the Legal Specialist <br />is spending less time in this area. The Legal Specialist is spending more time on legal support <br />duties including the functions noted below: <br />