State Police Academy Counsel

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Framingham, MA

12d

About The Position

The Massachusetts Department of State Police State Police Academy is seeking an Academy Counsel to serve as a legal advisor and manage legal, policy, and training compliance matters. The role collaborates with Academy executive leadership—including the Academy Major, Commandant, Director of Training, and Physical Training Manager—and the Department’s central Legal Section to ensure Academy training programs align with current statutory frameworks, state certification standards, POST Commission standards, and national accreditation requirements.

The Academy Counsel advises on criminal law and procedure, motor vehicle law, civil liability, and employment law; develops and delivers legal training for Academy staff; responds to external information requests; evaluates legal decisions affecting Academy operations; drafts legal documents; reviews internal cases; and supports litigation strategy and agency compliance.

Applicants must meet the stated experience and licensing or registration requirements. Relevant certificates and degrees may substitute for portions of the required experience. The Commonwealth describes its employee benefits as a comprehensive suite supporting employees, their loved ones, and their future.

Requirements

• At least five years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty, such as a scientific, professional, or technical specialty, subject to the stated substitution provisions.
• At least one year of the required experience must be in a project management, supervisory, or managerial capacity.
• Possess current license and/or registration requirements established for performance of the position.
• A relevant or related certificate may substitute for one year of the required experience.
• A bachelor’s degree in a related field may substitute for two years of the required experience.
• A graduate degree in a related field may substitute for three years of the required experience.
• A doctorate degree in a related field may substitute for four years of the required experience.
• An equivalent combination of the required experience and listed substitutions may qualify.

Responsibilities

• Review Academy training bulletins, in-service training curricula for sworn members, Recruit Training Troop lesson plans, and related materials for legal compliance.
• Evaluate and modify Academy curricula and materials to maintain alignment with applicable laws, state certification, POST Commission standards, and national accreditation requirements.
• Advise Academy leadership on criminal law and procedure, motor vehicle law, civil liability, employment law, and other relevant legal matters, coordinating with the Department’s Legal Section.
• Develop and deliver targeted training modules for Academy staff on evolving criminal law and employment regulations.
• Design, oversee, and deliver legal training curricula and instructional materials, including content on legal updates and expert testimony in criminal trials and other legal forums.
• Direct responses to external information requests, including legal discovery and public records requests.
• Evaluate judicial, quasi-judicial, and administrative decisions, rulings, and legal opinions affecting Academy operations; identify operational vulnerabilities, resolve complex issues, and provide strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Draft court pleadings, administrative documents, and legal memoranda concerning Academy affairs.
• Review internal cases to identify critical issues and areas of concern and assist Senior Counsel in advising Academy management.
• Process, review, and resolve complex discovery demands, state public records requests, and Freedom of Information Act requests for Academy records and information.
• Work with the Department’s central Legal Section and designated outside counsel on legal positions, litigation strategies, and policies.
• Maintain organized legal files and manage workflows to support compliance with statutory laws, contracts, and internal memoranda of understanding.

Benefits

• The Commonwealth describes an outstanding suite of employee benefits that adds to the overall value of the compensation package and supports employees, their loved ones, and their future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed