Attorney

State of Oklahoma • Oklahoma City, OK

11d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Legal Unit within the Administration Division in Oklahoma City, OK. Positions in this job family conduct legal research and provide legal representation and advice to clients in government-related areas of expertise (e.g., oil and gas, public utility, and transportation, regulatory compliance, rulemaking, employment/labor, ethics, health and human services, or other areas of law as may be applicable). This position may have responsibility for the managerial oversight of an assigned section or area of the legal department. Managerial oversight includes the monitoring, facilitation, and coordination of an activity or task to ensure the task or activity is accurate and completed by deadline(s). This position may also assist staff in drafting and reviewing legal documents relevant to their assignment, section, or area of the agency.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
• License to practice law in State of Oklahoma
• Active membership of the Oklahoma Bar Association
• Minimum nine (9) years of legal experience
• Minimum of two years of experience in a supervisory position
• Must abide by the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of applicable state and federal statutes
• Knowledge of Constitutional law and the Oklahoma Constitution
• Knowledge of applicable regulations
• Knowledge of agency policies and procedures
• Knowledge of principles of administrative law
• Knowledge of trial and hearing procedures
• Knowledge of rules of evidence
• Knowledge of methods and techniques for conducting legal research and writing
• Knowledge of supervisory practices and principles
• Skills in critical thinking
• Skills in conducting legal research
• Skills in written and oral communication
• Skills in attention to detail
• Skills in sound judgment and decision making
• Ability to present statements of fact and law
• Ability to clearly and logically articulate position in written and oral form
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and apply various laws, rules, regulations, agency policies, and procedures
• Ability to direct and/or perform independent and difficult research, analyzing, appraising, and applying legal principles and precedents to difficult legal or factual problems
• Ability to conduct legal research on Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, Fastcase, the Oklahoma State Court Network, and printed or internet-based legal resources
• Ability to meet timelines while following state and federal statutes
• Ability to represent the agency in a professional manner
• Ability to train lower-level employees
• Ability to provide leadership in the absences of the agency General Counsel
• Ability to work with minimal oversight
• Ability to problem-solve in a team environment
• Incumbent may be required to function or comply with: Oklahoma Statutes, in particular Title 68: Revenue and Taxation, and the Oklahoma Administrative Code, Title 710: Oklahoma Tax Commission.
• Incumbent must be willing to submit to a drug screen, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation (commissioned positions only), and a thorough background investigation.

Responsibilities

• Handling of administrative matters/litigation related to regulation of Self-Defense Act permitting.
• Prepares responses and legal correspondence in response to requests from the public and other governmental agencies.
• Performs legal research and prepares memorandums in the assistance of agency personnel.
• Reviews and responds to requests for expungement of criminal history records, including appearing in court in such matters.
• Provides training to agency personnel including law enforcement on legal matters (e.g., legal updates, law enforcement topics/cases).
• Participates or assist in the resolution of employee complaints, disciplinary actions, and appeals through the State's administrative process, other regulatory bodies, or court appeals when required. This may include, but not limited to, complaints or allegations by employees regarding, discrimination, wage and hour disputes, and unemployment.
• Conducts or assists in the enforcement of agency rules, including action taken against licensees when in violation of agency rules.
• Advises agency directors, managers, and other relevant staff on internal employee complaints, administrative, and operational rules, laws, and procedures to include but not limited to agency policy, federal and state personnel laws, and other regulatory mandates required for the agency to conduct business.
• Prepares or presents letters, memoranda of law, briefs, contracts, pleadings, motions, orders, consent, and other relevant or related documents and pleadings. This may include preparing or presenting appeals to district, civil, supreme, or other court proceedings in writing or orally, to Boards and Commissions and their members, and other court proceedings as directed.
• Prepares and presents the agency’s case in administrative hearings and trial litigation, pre-trial or pre-hearing conferences, and arguing the agency motion/position before the court, commission, hearing officer, or Administrative Law Judge.
• Conducts discovery; examines and cross-examines witness, negotiates in support of the agency.
• Reviews, edits, and approves litigation filings when appropriate. This may be for lower-level attorneys, or litigation that is significant or complex.
• Mentors or oversees lower-level staff and projects within an assigned area in an effective and professional manner, reviews and provides guidance of cases including cases involving litigation; may recommend or provide training, guidance, motivation, and support of staff.
• Acts as a supervisor to Attorney I, II, III, IV and legal support secretary or administrative support.
• Exercises discretion in determining which cases and legal issues warrant additional review by the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel.

Benefits

• State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager