Attorney III

State of North Carolina • Raleigh, NC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is part of the Air, Water & Natural Resources Section within the Environmental Division of the Department of Justice. This position has primary responsibility for an advanced level of legal work, independently representing and advising the clients in the implementation of the State’s air and water quality programs, including programs delegated and approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Clean Air Act and the federal Clean Water Act, and in the implementation, administration and enforcement of State and Federal fisheries management laws. This position may also advise and represent the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources in its implementation of the Coal Ash Management Act. This position may be called upon to perform work in other sections within the Environmental Division.

Requirements

• Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar
• Three years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.

Responsibilities

• Independently represent the clients in all levels of civil litigation before State and federal courts, and before the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings; may also appear before other boards, agencies or commissions on behalf of the client agencies in regulatory matters that may result in litigation.
• The nature of the representation is varied, and may include enforcement proceedings, defending permitting decisions and other final decisions of the client agencies, challenging and supporting federal regulations that impact the clients’ regulatory programs, seeking injunctive and declaratory relief and representing the clients when such relief is requested against them.
• This attorney will be expected to work directly with client representatives to gather all information necessary to understand the factual and legal issues in each case, and to review documents and interview individuals involved to effectively represent the client.
• The attorney is expected to objectively evaluate each case assigned. Litigation strategies are developed by this attorney.
• The attorney is expected to make all key litigation decisions in consultation with the client, and to recognize when any concerns should be discussed with the Section Supervisor and Division Head.
• The attorney must prepare and respond to discovery, conduct and defend depositions of fact and expert witnesses, prepare witnesses for testifying at depositions and before various tribunals, organize evidence, conduct legal and factual research, prepare and file legal documents (pleadings, motions, briefs, posttrial motions, etc.), prepare records on appeal, argue motions, appeals, engage in formal and informal mediation, and try cases.
• The subject matter involved in representation is complex. The attorney must develop and maintain an understanding of the clients’ programs, State and federal statutory, regulatory, and case law, as well as an understanding of matters pertaining to legal representation such as civil procedure, e-discovery, legal research databases, legal ethics, and rules of courts.
• The attorney must also provide clear direction to other attorney members of litigation teams, to paralegals and program assistants, and utilize their services as appropriate.
• The attorney is expected to maintain good working relationships with all employees.
• The attorney in this position responds to inquiries from the clients, the general public and public officials involving legal interpretation and application of statutes, rules and regulations to specific factual situations and as related to general policies and procedures, by conducting legal research and rendering opinions based on this research.
• The attorney must have the capability to research and respond to complex issues.
• The attorney in this position will be expected to represent the State in criminal cases on appeal from superior courts.
• These cases will involve complex issues of North Carolina criminal law as well as State and federal constitutional law, and may involve cases of first impression.
• Some travel, including some occasional overnight stays are required

Benefits

• employer paid health insurance
• twelve paid holidays
• generous vacation and sick leave accrual
• dental
• vision
• other insurance options
• retirement benefits

What This Job Offers

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