Associate General Counsel

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Office of General Counsel is the in-house law department for EEA. Its attorneys advise the Governor’s Office, the EEA Secretary, agency Commissioners and other leaders, and staff on legal, regulatory, and policy matters. EEA seeks applicants for two Associate General Counsel positions. Under the direction of the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel provides legal support for EEA’s policy, program, and regulatory work advancing climate preparedness and a clean, sustainable, and just environmental and energy future. The role involves advising on and overseeing litigation, public records and open meeting requirements, procurement and contracts, grants, budget matters, facilities, ethics, and other legal issues. The Associate General Counsel coordinates with outside counsel and the Office of the Attorney General, may represent agency personnel as witnesses, and serves as EEA’s Records Access Officer. The position also handles legal research, policy and regulatory review, property conveyance documents, and matters involving Massachusetts Environmental Police. Additional work may include drafting legal documents, reviewing conservation restrictions, attending meetings, and responding to inquiries from the public and municipalities.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent degree, such as a non-U.S. Bachelor of Law degree and a U.S. LLM.
Admission to the Massachusetts Bar, or commitment to admission within one year of the start date.
Minimum entrance requirements: four years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty, with required current licensure and/or registration; or an equivalent combination of experience and substitutions.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated experience in litigation.
Ability to manage multiple diverse tasks in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Ability to quickly learn and retain knowledge about EEA agencies’ diverse missions and governing laws.

Nice To Haves

One to three years of legal experience or two to five years of legal experience, preferably in or related to energy, environmental, or climate law; administrative law; real estate and land-use law; law enforcement; contracts; litigation; or government/public law.
Experience with energy, environmental, or climate law; administrative law; real estate and land-use law; law enforcement; contracts; litigation; or government/public law.

Responsibilities

Provide legal research and advice to EEA staff, including the Secretary and Undersecretaries, and assist the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsels with review and analysis of policies, legislation, programs, regulations, regulatory proceedings, litigation, and energy-, environment-, and climate-related initiatives.
Oversee and coordinate litigation affecting EEA and its agencies, including settlements, litigation strategy, and coordination with outside counsel and the Office of the Attorney General.
Represent EEA agency personnel as witnesses in agency proceedings, depositions, and trial testimony.
Advise EEA staff and agency counsel and personnel on Public Records Act requests; help ensure compliance and public access and transparency; serve as Records Access Officer for EEA.
Advise on compliance with the Open Meeting Law, state ethics laws, and other legal requirements.
Advise EEA and its agencies on procurement and contract issues, grants, budget-related issues, facilities, expendable trusts, document management, and other legal matters.
Provide advice and coordinate responses to Office of the State Auditor and Inspector General inquiries.
Manage and monitor cases, assignments, and projects to support timely resolution and Secretariat goals.
Draft and review deeds for real property conveyances, including conservation restrictions, easements, and fee simple conveyances, and review proposals concerning disposition or changes in use of Article 97 land.
Advise Massachusetts Environmental Police on statutory interpretation, compliance, operations, and other matters.
Draft and review administrative, court, and other legal documents, such as memoranda, contracts, pleadings, regulations, and comments.
Review conservation restrictions; represent the Office of General Counsel at meetings; and respond to inquiries and correspondence from the public and municipalities.
Assist with other key legal functions as needed.