The St. Louis County Attorney is an elected official with specific obligations which are set forth in Minnesota statutes. These include the prosecution of felonies, appearing in cases in which the County is a party, and giving opinions to the St. Louis County Board and County officers. In addition, the County Attorney"s office administers the County insurance plans which cover general liability, workers compensation, and health insurance.

The staff of 59, led by County Attorney Alan Mitchell, is divided into four divisions: Criminal, Civil, Social Services, and Victim/ Witness Services. Offices are located in the Duluth, Virginia, and Hibbing Courthouses and the Government Services Center in Duluth.

The major responsibility of criminal Division prosecutors is the decision whether or not to charge persons with crimes based on the investigations of law enforcement agencies. The attorneys draft criminal complaints and prepare cases for hearings and possibly trials. Prosecution of crimes includes interviewing and preparing witnesses, and may involve presentation of the case to a Grand Jury. Prosecutors are available 24 hours a day to provide legal advice to law enforcement agencies and to draft search warrants and criminal complaints. Prosecutors also provide training to law enforcement agencies, assistance to local criminal justice programs, and participate in community education and awareness programs.

Attorneys in the Social Service Division provide legal advice to the County Social Service Department on income maintenance, child protection and delinquency, child support and collections, welfare fraud, and administrative issues such as labor relations. Attorneys assigned to juvenile matters draft petitions which may seek custody of a child, placement out of the home, counseling or treatment for the child and parents, or prosecution of the child for a crime. This division also represents the Child Support and Collections Division of the Social Services Department at court hearings and is responsible for the investigation of welfare fraud and paternity matters, and appearance at commitment hearings at the State hospitals.

The Civil Division of the County Attorney's Office provides legal advice and support to all other County departments. Civil counsel duties have increased significantly in recent years as County government has been subjected to greater regulation and more mandates. Civil Division attorneys' duties include giving legal advice, developing policies with department staff, drafting documents, and representing departments in court matters. Attorneys appear in State District Court, Workers Compensation Court, Tax Court, the Court of Appeals, the Minnesota Supreme Court and Federal Court. Court matters may vary from collection of bad checks for the Auditors office, to personal injury cases involving a death from a car accident on a County road.

Other types of litigation include property damage, workers compensation, tax appeals, contract disputes, labor disputes, and human rights complaints. The Civil Division also has the responsibility for reviewing all County contracts and managing all negligence and workers compensation claims.

The fourth division of the office is the Victim/Witness Assistance Program which helps the County comply with victim rights laws. Services include emergency medical and financial assistance, counseling and advocacy services, court-related assistance, claims assistance, and public education and training. The staff assists the Criminal and Social Services Divisions in trial preparation by locating and assisting witnesses, obtaining records, organizing files, preparing exhibits, and communicating with law enforcement agencies.

In addition to providing general administrative services to each division, clerical staff work with attorneys in the Civil Division to process workers compensation claims by providing medical review and analyses of claims, processing benefit payments, and generating statistical and financial reports required by the State.