Clay County creates pay grade for unlicensed deputy state's attorney and approves new hire pending bar results

The Clay County Board of Commissioners voted to add an "unlicensed deputy state's attorney" classification to the county pay scale and to place incoming hire Cameron Morgan in that grade until he completes bar licensing.

County staff explained Morgan recently graduated law school, will take the February bar exam and can operate under a dean’s certificate while awaiting bar results. Staff recommended a pay-grade below the regular deputy state's attorney slot for the period before a bar license is issued.

"I would advocate to pay him higher than what I would expect an intern to get paid," said Michael (county legal staff), describing the candidate as a recent law-school graduate who would perform attorney work under supervision. The county noted the licensed deputy state's attorney grade on the pay scale is $39.46 per hour (about $82,000 annually). Commissioners discussed placing an unlicensed position on the pay scale at grade 20, which county staff estimated would equate to roughly $26.58 per hour (about $55,000 annually), above typical unpaid internship levels.

One commissioner proposed creating a permanent pay-grade for unlicensed deputy state's attorneys so future hires in similar status would have a clear placement on the pay scale instead of returning to the commission for ad hoc approvals. Commissioners adopted a motion to create the pay-grade and placed the new hire at grade 20; the motion passed by voice vote.

Ending: County staff will place the new hire on payroll under the new grade; the employee will be reclassified to the licensed deputy state's attorney grade automatically if and when the bar license is received.