Investigator

The Adult Representation Services (ARS) department is seeking an Investigator to be part of a legal team that provides representation to clients in a variety of civil proceedings such as representation of parents in child protection cases, tenants in evictions proceedings, non-custodial parents in child support contempt proceedings, respondents or persons subject to guardianship, and individuals facing civil commitment.

ARS provides high-quality, equitable representation to clients experiencing poverty in certain civil matters where appointment of counsel is necessary to protect a fundamental right or to further the county’s mission of reducing disparities and promoting the stability of residents. Our holistic legal team includes attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and social service experts.

Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a$500 referral bonus. For more information visit theemployee referral program page.

Location and hours:
This position is onsite and will be performed at the Health Services Building at 525 Portland Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415, and at various locations throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. New Employee Orientation (NEO) for all new benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis. Details about NEO will be provided upon hire.

About the position type:
This is a full-time, benefit earning position.
This position is internally classified as an Investigator.
Click here to view the job classification specification.

In this position, you will:

• Gather, preserve, and analyze facts and evidence for attorneys in civil legal matters, including housing, child protection, family contempt, guardianship and civil commitment.
• Review complaints and petitions, evaluate their credibility, establish investigative priorities, and plan and conduct investigations.
• Plan and conduct interviews of witnesses and others to obtain information and evidence relating to civil court matters.
• Collect, protect, and preserve physical evidence to ensure the admissibility of evidence in court proceedings.
• Prepare investigative reports for attorneys in preparation for litigation.

Need to have:

• One of the following:
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in criminal justice, law enforcement, business/public administration, sociology, psychology, or a closely related field and one year or more of investigation, law enforcement, or military investigator experience.
  • Associate's degree in one of the above fields and three or more years of investigation, law enforcement, or military investigator experience.
  • Five or more years of investigation, law enforcement, or military investigator experience.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Hennepin County driver's permit.

Nice to have:

• Knowledge of:
  • The criminal justice system or civil litigation and investigative techniques.
  • The rules of evidence in court procedures.
• Experience:
  • Working with diverse communities.
  • Working in civil or criminal public defense.
  • Conducting interviews with witnesses in a professional and investigative manner.
• Ability to:
  • Compile and analyze facts and evidence and make sound recommendations.
  • Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive reports.
  • Communicate clearly and analyze investigative results.
  • Work independently and in cooperation with defense attorneys.
  • Plan and organize investigations.

About the department:
The Adult Representative Services department is part of the Law, Safety and Justice line of business in county administration. The division make-up of employees includes a director, principal attorneys, senior attorneys, attorneys, paralegals, legal services specialists, case management assistants, Information Technology, as well as office and administrative support staff. Our vision is to ensure equal access to justice and achieve equitable outcomes for our clients. More information about ARS can be found on our website:http://www.hennepin.us/ARS

About Hennepin County:
Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align with our mission to serve residents through transformative services thateliminatedisparities, eliminate inequities, and create opportunity for all and our vision of a community where all people are healthy, all people are valued, and all people thrive.

Our employees receive a combination of competitive benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow.Learn more at The Bridge (log in as Guest).

Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and theeliminationof disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.

Your future. Made here. Find us at upcomingcareer fairs!

This posting may be used to fill future full-time permanent and limited duration vacancies.

Watch this video for application best practices and tips.

Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience. Final candidates may be required to complete a criminal background check.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Marita Nguyen
marita.nguyen@hennepin.us