Assistant Legal Counsel

State of North Carolina•Ncjc Wake, NC

6d•$44 - $75•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of General Counsel for the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts is seeking a qualified attorney to provide oral and written legal advice, information, and training to Judicial Branch officials and employees in one or more of the subject areas of criminal law, including but not limited to, pretrial release (including bail and bond forfeitures), pretrial proceedings, sentencing and probation, sex offender registration and relief from collateral consequences of conviction, expunctions, firearms laws, motor vehicle law, and other general topics in criminal law and procedure, incapacity to proceed, and involuntary commitment. This position provides training and counsel to state Judicial Branch officials and employees and supports the Agency’s legislative affairs team.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school
An active license to practice law in North Carolina
Two (2) years of professional legal experience
Knowledge of: case, statutory, regulatory, and common law; General Statutes and their application to the operation of the Judicial Branch; judicial and quasi-judicial procedures; specific subject matter areas identified above under Description of Work; and other general areas of criminal law.
Skills in: interpreting and applying complex laws; researching and identifying precedents in case law; utilizing and evaluating electronic legal research and online systems; organizing work; setting priorities; meeting critical deadlines; and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
Ability to: analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and related written documents and apply them to specific legal issues; produce legal interpretations in a timely and responsive manner for court officials; conduct legal research through the use of the general statutes, case law, and other legal research tools; and interact daily in a professional and tactful manner with court officials, legislators, NCAOC personnel, and members of the general public in discussing controversial issues.

Nice To Haves

4-7 years of professional legal experience
Experience in legislative drafting and analysis
Practical courtroom experience in criminal law
Experience with advising on and developing policies and procedures
Experience teaching complex legal issues to lawyers and non-lawyers

Responsibilities

Locate, analyze, communicate, and apply legal requirements to particular situations to provide counsel to officials and employees throughout the Judicial Branch.
Advise on policy development and procedures in assigned areas of expertise.
Analyze, monitor, draft, and report on pending and enacted legislation in assigned subject matter areas.
Participate in the development, review, and delivery of training in assigned areas of expertise. This includes development of new course materials such as manuals, course aids, and texts, and the delivery of these court materials at statewide conferences, via webinar, and at scheduled trainings throughout the State, which may require occasional overnight travel.
Review and assist in the development and improvement of the Judicial Branch's statewide court system forms, electronic systems and databases.
Review and assist in the development of statewide court system forms.
Serve as legal counsel to Judicial Branch committees and working groups.
Other duties as assigned by the General Counsel.