County Attorney

Guilford County, NC - County Attorney

Guilford County is seeking a highly skilled, strategic, and collaborative County Attorney to lead the County’s legal function during a pivotal time of organizational and community transformation and growth. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a seasoned public sector attorney and proven leader to bring clarity and vision to one of North Carolina’s largest and most dynamic counties. The next County Attorney will serve as a trusted advisor to the Board of Commissioners, County Manager, and department leadership.

They will help guide the County through significant growth by advising on key policies, risk management, and strategy decisions to support Guilford’s long‑term needs and governance goals.

The County Attorney serves as chief legal counsel to the Board of Commissioners and Department Director for the County Attorney’s Office, which provides comprehensive legal support to all County departments and entities. This includes managing all civil matters involving the County—such as contracts, property transactions, public records, local ordinances, employment, and litigation and ensuring the County’s operations comply with applicable laws and regulations.

The County Attorney oversees a highly skilled legal team that includes Deputy and Assistant County Attorneys who specialize in areas such as child welfare, social services, employment, land use, and general government law. The position also provides direct supervision and leadership to the Deputy County Attorneys and administrative staff, guiding case management, courtroom preparation, and professional development across the department.

Reporting directly to the Board of Commissioners and working in close partnership with the County Manager, the County Attorney plays an essential role in strategic decision-making and cross‑departmental collaboration. The Attorney will be a core member of the County’s executive team, regularly participating in agenda reviews, department head meetings, and Commissioner sessions to provide proactive counsel and ensure the County’s legal strategy aligns with its operational goals.

The new County Attorney will inherit an evolving department committed to excellence.

• Build strong relationships and trust with the Board of Commissioners, County Manager, County Clerk, and judiciary by establishing open communication, providing timely and transparent legal counsel, and demonstrating steady, ethical leadership.
• Support the Department of Social Services (DSS) by partnering with the DSS Director and County Manager to address systemic challenges and continue to reduce caseload backlogs.
• Cultivate a strong and cohesive County Attorney’s Office team that partners with the departments they serve.
• Integrate and strengthen the County’s Risk Management function under the Attorney’s Office, ensuring strategic alignment between risk mitigation, legal oversight, and organizational decision‑making.
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the County Manager and leadership team, proactively identifying potential legal or policy issues, guiding intergovernmental agreements and regional partnerships, and providing clear, solutions‑oriented advice that supports the County’s community goals.

The successful Guilford County Attorney will be a highly experienced and trusted legal advisor with the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and professional judgment. They will provide clear, strategic, and solutions‑oriented counsel to the Board of Commissioners, County Manager, department heads, and external stakeholders, translating complex legal, policy, and operational issues into actionable guidance.

This individual will have deep knowledge of civil law, judicial procedure, rules of evidence, and County government operations. They will have particular expertise in child welfare and social services law or the ability to rapidly build expertise in these areas. They will understand how to implement public policy effectively while balancing the goals of the Board, County leadership, and community.

A strong leader, the next County Attorney will be skilled at building, developing,…