County Attorney’s Office Department Spotlight
July 2024
What services are offered by the department?
Per the County Charter, the County Attorney’s Office shall be responsible for the representation of County government, the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, Constitutional Officers and all other departments, divisions, regulatory boards and advisory boards of County government in all legal matters relating to their official responsibilities. The County Attorney’s Office shall prosecute and defend all civil actions for and on behalf of County government and shall review all ordinances, resolutions, contracts, bonds and other written instruments.
What projects is the department currently working on?
The County Attorney’s Office provides legal support to the various clients we represent, so our workflow is directly related to the numerous issues being handled by County departments, Constitutional Officers and various boards and committees we directly support, such as the Local Planning Agency. Included among the issues we are currently supporting are: numerous contracts and other legal documents related to the ongoing negotiations with the Rays; support for the Supervisor of Elections and County Canvassing Board for the upcoming elections; drafting revisions to various County codes; providing legal support for ongoing issues related to beach nourishment; and handling over 140 cases in active litigation on behalf of various clients.
What do you enjoy about working in the department?
- Amanda Coffey (Managing Assistant County Attorney): Since our office works with all County departments and Appointing Authorities, we have the professional gratification that comes with being specialists in our assigned areas of law while also being able to explore the multiple diverse areas of law inherent in working for a large County responsible for a broad range of critical public functions.
- Don Crowell (Chief Assistant County Attorney): I have always said that the variety of legal work has managed to keep the practice of law for the benefit of the County very interesting, as well as creating new opportunities to learn new legal principles, approaches, and substantive processes.
- Joe Morrissey (Senior Assistant County Attorney): Pinellas County, and in particular, the Pinellas County Attorney’s Office, is a great place to work. We are well supported with all the necessary tools. Our work is valued. Our clients are smart, dedicated, and focused on providing for the public good. Our disagreements are respectful, but everyone is striving to serve the citizens of Pinellas County.
- Christy Pemberton (Managing Assistant County Attorney): A career as a local government attorney is tremendously rewarding; to work for a local government where you live and know that the work you do every day helps your community in a real and tangible way. What other law firm can you work at for 27 years and still encounter new issues and novel questions on a regular basis? Working with and for people you respect and enjoy being around and having a good work-life balance is a bonus.
- Mary Schwartz (Office Specialist 2): We have the best management in our office. They are very supportive of everyone and give us lots of opportunities to advance. We have a great team, and people are like family, not just co-workers. If something needs to get done, everyone pitches in to help. They encourage positivity and teamwork. I really enjoy coming to work every day.
- Keiah Townsend (Assistant County Attorney 1): The County Attorney’s Office cultivates an environment full of talented and intelligent individuals. Everyone learns from each other and is always willing to lend a supporting hand. It’s that sense of community and commitment to excellence that helps make Pinellas County a trailblazer when new challenges arise!
What do you want people to know about the department that most people don’t know?
The County Attorney’s Office is a full-service law office and handles nearly every area of the law in some manner, with the possible exceptions being criminal and family law, and if it were a law firm, it would be the largest in Clearwater (except for the State Attorney and Public Defender). Nowhere else does legal staff get the opportunity to encounter such varied and novel issues on a regular basis.
7/24/24