The County Attorney's Office was established under the Palm Beach County Charter as an independent office which is responsible directly to the Board of County Commissioners. The County Attorney and the assistant attorneys function as the general counsel to the Board and to staff. Their function is similar to a general counsel's office of a major corporation.
The Office handles a diverse mixture of legal matters on behalf of the County. In addition to providing legal advice and counsel to the County Commission and county staff, the County Attorney functions as the legal advisor to certain Constitutional Officers, regulatory boards, and advisory boards of County government.
The Environmental Control Office, a division of the County Attorney's Office, investigates environmental and health code violations referred by the County Health Unit. This office advises the Health Unit in all legal matters and serves as its representative before the Palm Beach County Environmental Control Hearing Board and the Circuit Court. The County Attorney's Office is not legal counsel to the general public and may not advise individual citizens.
Function
The County Attorney's Office provides legal services and primary representation to the Board of County Commissioners and all County Departments/Divisions, and Boards/Commissions there under. Legal services include the drafting and reviewing of ordinances, resolutions, and legislation; prosecuting and defending civil actions at all levels of State and Federal courts; coordinating legal services in areas requiring unique specialization; providing legal counsel and advice on a regular basis on all matters concerning the operation of the County, represents some agencies in the criminal division of county court; and answering and investigating citizen and other outside inquiries. In addition, the County Attorney's staff monitors the appointment and fees awarded to, conflict counsel for indigent defendants in criminal court.
Goals and Objectives
- To provide and coordinate all legal services for the Board of County Commissioners, County Administration and all County government, including the provision of such services to any new departments, divisions or programs, including the assistance and initiating of these new entities.
- To provide legal services to assist the county's efforts in effectively fulfilling mandates imposed by law and the Board of County Commissioners.
- To provide legal services for the planning, implementation and maintenance of a broad range of health, safety, welfare, transportation, utilities, environmental and development activities, facilities and regulations for the benefit of Palm Beach County.
Obtaining Outside Counsel
From time to time the office needs the assistance of outside counsel in specialized areas. Generally, outside counsel is obtained through a Request for Proposal (RFP). A RFP is advertised through the local papers and the County Attorney maintains a list of attorneys who are interesting receiving RFP notifications. If an attorney wishes to be placed on the RFP list they need only to notify the County Attorney's Office.
Address: 301 N. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561-355-2225
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