Principal Attorney - County Council, Council Office

Howard County:

Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties.

NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

The Principal Attorney for the County Council serves as the lead legal advisor within the County Council’s Boards Office. The position handles complex quasi-judicial administrative cases before the Board of Appeals and the Zoning Board—including reviewing case records, advising Board members, researching applicable federal, state, and local statutes, regulations, and Charter provisions, preparing legal summaries, and drafting proposed Decisions and Orders on the Boards’ behalf.

The position reports to the Council Administrator.

$54.96 - $78.77
$114,319 - $163,842

Performs mid-management and advanced level legal work under general supervision from an administrative superior. Criminal work includes supervising and participating in the prosecution of criminal cases and related litigation on behalf of the State of Maryland;
Civil work involves complex legal work at the highest performance level, including the handling of complex civil litigation on behalf of Howard County in Federal and State courts. Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Provide legal counsel for quasi-judicial proceedings:
  • Apply advanced knowledge of Maryland planning, zoning, land-use, and administrative law—including the Open Meetings Act, rules of evidence, and boards’ rules of procedure—during administrative agency appears involving subject matter including conditional uses, variances, change-or-mistake petitions, development plan approvals, notice of violation situations, and administrative appeals heard by the Board of Appeals or the Zoning Board.
  • Attend all Board of Appeals and Zoning Board hearings or meetings as required by Howard County Charter or Code and deliver real-time legal guidance as issues arise.
• Draft and manage board actions:
  • Research, draft, and edit proposed Decisions and Orders; coordinate Office of Law review to ensure form and legal sufficiency, and oversee issuance of final documents.
  • Prepare and issue subpoenas or other legal documents on behalf of the boards as required.
• Oversee appellate record preparation:
  • Supervise the production of certified hearing transcripts, exhibit compilations, and related documentation for judicial review; collaborate with the Office of Law on litigation defending board decisions.
• Provide written legal opinions and options:
  • Deliver timely memoranda, briefing papers, and other written analyses advising the boards on case-specific questions and procedural matters.
• Coordinate interagency relationships:
  • Serve as primary liaison between the boards and the…