LAW DEPARTMENT Business Plan September 2015

Transcription

1 LAW DEPARTMENT 2016 Business Plan September 2015

2 Our Mission The mission of the Law Department is to deliver high-quality legal services at a reasonable cost to Gwinnett County and its citizens, elected officials, managers, staff, authorities, and related organizations.

3 Our Values Excellence Ethics Service Accountability Efficiency

4 Staffing Levels 2016 Budgeted Positions: attorneys 6 support staff Vacant Positions: 1 support staff

5 Our Organization Law DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR WILLIAM J LINKOUS III Division 1 - DOT/DWR ATTORNEY, SUPERVISING MIKE LUDWICZAK Division 2 - P&D/ADMIN. ATTORNEY, SUPERVISING MICHAEL STEPHENS Division 3 - RISK ATTORNEY, SUPERVISING DUANE PRITCHETT Administration Section LEGAL MGR JULIE B MIMS Administration Section LEGAL MGR TERRI ADAMS Division 1 ATTORNEY II DOUGLAS S MORELLI Division 2 ATTORNEY II THERESA A COX Division 3 ATTORNEY II TUWANDA RUSH WILLIAMS Administration Section LEGAL ASC II MERCEDES S THOMAS Administration Section LEGAL ASC I KELLY V ELLISON Division 1 ATTORNEY II (SPLOST) FORREST S FIELDS Jr Division 2 ATTORNEY II JENNIFER B SAVAGE Division 3 ATTORNEY II (SPLOST) MURRAY WEED Administration Section LEGAL ASC II VACANT Administration Section LEGAL ASC II BARBARA J OLIVER

6 LAW DEPARTMENT Organizational Performance

7 Critical Path Matters Reviewed Critical Path Matters Reviewed (Projected)

8 Assignments Reviewed Assignments Reviewed (Projected)

9 Contracts Reviewed Contracts Reviewed (Projected)

10 Litigation Matters Received Litigation Matters Received (Projected)

11 All Matters Received All matters Received (Projected)

12 Percentage Contracts Reviewed Within 10 Days Contracts Reviewed Within 10 Days (Projected)

13 Strategic Planning Sessions Attended With Departments Strategic Planning Sessions Attended (Projected)

14 Volunteer Hours Achieved Volunteer Hours Achieved (Projected)

15 Proactive Legal Advice Value of In-House Law Department In-depth knowledge of the goals of the organization Frequent interaction with key personnel Availability for special projects that benefit the County

16 Avg. Hourly Rate Comparison O.C. vs. Law Dept. Attorneys $ $ $ $ $ $80.00 $82.41 $60.00 $40.00 $20.00 $ Outside Counsel Avg. Hourly Rate 2014 Staff Attorney Avg. Hourly Rate

17 Annual Compensation Comparison O.C. vs. Law Dept. Attorneys $350, $300, $314, $250, $200, $171, $150, $100, $50, $ Outside Counsel ($151.31/hr; 2080/yr) 2014 In-House Attorney (82.41/hr; 2080/yr)

18 2016 Budget Request 2016 Budget Request $2,165, Adopted Budget $2,173,320

19 Ongoing Objectives Ensure that a full range of high-quality legal services continues to be provided Process the workload in a manner responsive to the needs of our clients Proactively assist Departments in strategic planning Remain current in legal skills, knowledge, training, and technology

20 2015 Business Challenges Urgency of Assignment Requests Legal issues continue to demand timesensitive responsiveness Complexity of Legal Issues Legal issues continue to increase in complexity and intensity

21 2015 Objectives Become fully staffed Acquire additional space in department Develop policy and procedure manual Create unified filing system Develop proficiencies and abilities in multiple disciplines by cross training attorneys Provide internship/externship volunteer opportunities

22 2015 Major Legal Issues Recodification Economic development efforts and revitalization Joint city/county SPLOST projects Revision of Purchasing Ordinance

23 2016 Objectives Implement unified filing system Improve litigation document control Develop policies and procedures manual Complete build-out of additional departmental space Maintain cross-training initiative Encourage content-specific training Continue to offer internship opportunities for law school students

24 2016 Major Legal Issues Economic redevelopment efforts and revitalization Revision of Sign Ordinance Revise Adult Entertainment Ordinance and handle any resulting litigation 2016 Election

25 LAW DEPARTMENT Questions?