CHILD SUPPORT ATTORNEY
Kenosha County is seeking a motivated Child Support Attorney to join our team. The Child Support Attorney, reporting to the Lead Child Support Attorney, acts as the legal counsel for Kenosha County Child Support Services (CSS) in the Division of Workforce Development. The Child Support Attorney will represent the County and the interests of the State of Wisconsin in all legal actions in which child support establishment, paternity establishment, child support enforcement, or modification of an existing support order are at issue, as well as any related matters. Child Support Attorneys communicate with parents and caretakers, provide resources and referrals, analyze data, conduct legal research, prepare legal pleadings, and utilize various state and federal computer systems, databases, and reports in the course of their daily activities.
2026 Hiring Range: $84,278 - $100,330 annually
Position Summary and Job Duties
- Represent the State of Wisconsin in enforcement, order establishment, paternity establishment, and modification of judgment cases filed by Kenosha County CSS before the court; make other appearances as required to represent the interest of the State or County
- Perform legal research related to child support motions, briefs, and negotiated settlements
- Participate in and successfully complete continuing legal education courses (CLEs) and remain in good standing with the State Bar of Wisconsin
- Prepare, review, and approve the drafting of legal documents and correspondence to be submitted to the Family Court Commissioner or Circuit Court
- Review, interpret, implement, and keep current on Federal and State child support law, administrative rules, regulations, and procedures
- Review and approve pleadings submitted by private counsel or individuals
- Negotiate out of court settlements
- Make decisions in consultation with the management and legal team regarding appeals
- Review and determine the course of action on complex cases
- Review statutory changes and appellate decisions
- Interpret law for agency staff
- Establish paternity, current support, and/or health insurance by means of drafting and filing court actions through the circuit court
- Review existing orders for modification of current support based on timelines, income and substantial changes in circumstances
- Approve and file actions with the court through the wiKIDS/CCAP efiling interface
- Maintain communication with clients, co-workers, courts, other departments and partner agencies
- Communicate with non-custodial parents who are unemployed or underemployed and refer them to employment and training programs to increase their ability to pay their child support
- Recommend cases for possible criminal non-support prosecution
- Process incoming and outgoing intergovernmental cases, as needed
- Supervise employees
- Perform other work as required or assigned
Success Factors
Knowledge of:
- State and federal law as it applies to family matters including intergovernmental policies
- Kenosha County Circuit Court rules of law and court procedures
- Legal terminology, legal documents, and legal writing proficiency
- Family law and state/county policy as it pertains to child support, substitute care, guardianship, paternity, bankruptcy, and probate law, as they intersect with child support
- Kids Information Data System (KIDS), WiKIDS, Child Support Online Services (CSOS), Control-D, CARES/Cares Worker Web (CWW) and Circuit Court Access (CCAP) or ability to obtain required knowledge within six months of employment
- Wisconsin Statute 767
Skill in:
- Internal and external customer service
- Typing, writing, organization, and analysis
- Investigative interviewing, research, and communication
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Negotiating settlements
- Time management, multi-tasking, and prioritization
- Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams; CCAP efiling; and Adobe Acrobat Professional
- Supervising staff
- Attention to detail
Ability to:
- Analyze, appraise, and organize facts and evidence, and present such materials effectively both orally and in writing
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, partner agencies, and the general public
- Understand the court process and local judiciary structure
- Review and prepare files for court appearances
- Quickly prioritize and shift between management and court duties
- Work with printing machines and photocopiers
- Work with both electronic and paper files
- Display persistence, ingenuity, and adaptability
- Read and interpret child support financial data screens
- Work with people of various socioeconomic backgrounds and remain professional and courteous at all times
- Adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines as well as computer security guidelines
- Work respectfully in a diverse and inclusive environment
Job Requirements, Education, Training and Experience
Required Education, Experience, and Licenses
- Must have graduated from an accredited law school
- 1-3 years’ experience practicing law
- Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin
- Must be admitted to practice before the Wisconsin Supreme Court as well as the Federal Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin
- Ability to obtain a Notary Public within 6 months and maintain thereafter
Preferred Education and Experience
- 1-3 years’ experience in paternity, child support enforcement, or family law
Other Job Requirements
- Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record
- Regular attendance and punctuality are required
- Pass a criminal background check/fingerprinting requirement
Benefits
- Health, dental and vision insurance effective first of month following 30 days of employment, with the ability to reduce premium contribution through participation in a wellness program
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Time Off
- Voluntary Paid Time Off
- Twelve Paid Holidays
- Retirement Plan: Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System which includes county-paid life insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The position involves light physical demands, such as exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and up to 10 pounds of force frequently.
Selection Process
- Application Review - Qualifying
- Oral Interview – Qualifying
- Background Check - Qualifying
- Drug Screen - Qualifying
If you require accommodations at any point in the selection process because of a disability, please notify Human Resources in advance for arrangements.
Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, August 7th, 2026, at 12:00 noon.
To learn more about the Kenosha County Division of Workforce Development Child Support Services, please visit: https://www.kenoshacountywi.gov/264/Workforce-Development (https://www.kenoshacountywi.gov/264/Workforce-Development)
Kenosha County is a Wisconsin Retirement System participating employer. Your participation is required, which includes an employee contribution.
The pay grade for this position is E11 (Min. $84,278 – Max. $100,330 annually).
We are located in Kenosha County, an expanding community along the shores of Lake Michigan and less than an hour away from Milwaukee and Chicago. To see why Kenosha County is a great place to live, work, and play, please visit: https://www.visitkenosha.com/ (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.visitkenosha.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7CZasmine.Lewis%40kenoshacountywi.gov%7Cc3454bf93ac84046d5db08de52de234e%7C398ef54a8fda4dbc9488d353f54c7af3%7C0%7C0%7C639039311220759752%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=uo53QJoR2mDvUqhOiqNI%2F%2BzmN2bXfw3lhkHjx1YEqKM%3D&reserved=0) or https://lifebalancedkenosha.com/ (https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252flifebalancedkenosha.com%252f%26c%3DE%2C1%2C-3ENZ7Y8jFtFQtC4K160P2T0LWoiqhnkRd2W_B31RpaPiq7YFJFYNiVrsf5VqpNZP4zD8v4bfeOvG4DZD3FuL7vqSS6dvMy23pUAKR53LRuh868UfGoBcJMu%26typo%3D1&data=05%7C02%7CZasmine.Lewis%40kenoshacountywi.gov%7Cc3454bf93ac84046d5db08de52de234e%7C398ef54a8fda4dbc9488d353f54c7af3%7C0%7C0%7C639039311220784780%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Op%2FWeFBT%2Fl7nIaf8NEnwCtVPqqDOOpwKorTVaDQ6Yng%3D&reserved=0).
Thank you for your interest in employment with Kenosha County!
Required
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Lic to practice law in WI
Preferred
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
