Agency Legal Counsel

State of Montana•Helena, MT

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

Agency Legal Counsel will be responsible, under policy guidance, direction, and supervision of the Chief Legal Counsel, for providing competent legal counsel in all aspects of the operations of the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Board. The Agency Legal Counsel reports to the Chief Legal Counsel, who assigns tasks, sets priorities, and reviews the strategies and recommendations on litigation, legal advice, regulations, and legislation in consultation with the Agency Legal Counsel. The Agency Legal Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice and representation on agency policy and legislation, including strategy, that affect both the short-term and long-term operations and goals of the Department, Commission, and Board, for developing strategy and representing the Department in litigation and administrative hearings, including prosecuting, defending, negotiating, and settling cases, and for providing legal advice on day-to-day legal service needs of the Department. The Agency Legal Counsel is required to exercise and rely on his or her legal experience and judgment in representing the agency in litigation and in analyzing and advising on legal issues and is required to exercise discretion in the conduct of litigation and administrative contested cases. The Agency Legal Counsel may be assigned to serve as either the lead or supporting attorney in major litigation. Highly sensitive, important, costly, and precedent-setting decisions are discussed with the Chief Legal Counsel, Director, other members of the Director’s Office, and affected administrators and regional supervisors, but the Agency Legal Counsel is ultimately responsible for analyzing the legal ramifications of situations and recommending appropriate agency action. The Agency Legal Counsel works independently but is responsible for briefing the Chief Legal Counsel and the Director's Office on the more significant strategies and progress. The duties of the position require a working knowledge of civil procedure, administrative law, natural resource and environmental law, contract law, and real estate law.

Requirements

JD degree from an ABA-accredited law school
Admission to the Montana State Bar
Two (2) years of progressively more responsibility and experience as a practicing attorney
Specific civil trial/hearing experience strongly preferred
Subject matter experience in administrative law, natural resource and environmental law, and real estate law is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Specific civil trial/hearing experience
Subject matter experience in administrative law, natural resource and environmental law, and real estate law

Responsibilities

Providing competent legal counsel in all aspects of the operations of the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Board.
Providing legal advice and representation on agency policy and legislation, including strategy, that affect both the short-term and long-term operations and goals of the Department, Commission, and Board.
Developing strategy and representing the Department in litigation and administrative hearings, including prosecuting, defending, negotiating, and settling cases.
Providing legal advice on day-to-day legal service needs of the Department.
Exercising and relying on legal experience and judgment in representing the agency in litigation and in analyzing and advising on legal issues.
Exercising discretion in the conduct of litigation and administrative contested cases.
Serving as either the lead or supporting attorney in major litigation.
Analyzing the legal ramifications of situations and recommending appropriate agency action.
Briefing the Chief Legal Counsel and the Director's Office on significant strategies and progress.