Chief of Legal Services

State of careers Rhode Island•Junior, WV

1d•$118,458 - $137,547

About The Position

The Chief of Legal Services serves as the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission’s chief legal officer and the Cannabis Office’s chief legal compliance and enforcement officer. The position directs legal services, provides daily legal guidance and strategic advice to the Administrator, Chief Regulatory Officer, and staff, and helps formulate agency policies. The role plans and coordinates legal activities with agency functions and represents the Director as required. The Chief manages administrative compliance and enforcement proceedings, including pre-hearing conferences, discovery, hearings, and related matters; defends the Administrator, Cannabis Office, and staff in litigation and administrative actions before state and federal courts; and advises on administrative penalties such as fines, license suspensions, and revocations. The position develops legal strategies, policies, and procedures to address compliance deficiencies, drafts and reviews enforcement documents, and works with agency staff to improve enforcement processes and agency operations. The role also reviews legal correspondence and materials, manages Access to Public Records Act requests, and researches legal issues to prepare memoranda, briefs, and opinions concerning agency operations and enforcement strategies. The position supervises legal staff and is responsible for legal advice, proposed statutory amendments, rules and regulations, guidance materials, and related legal work. The position requires a J.D. or equivalent law degree and membership in good standing with the Rhode Island Bar. Applicants must maintain Rhode Island Bar membership as a condition of employment. Considerable employment in a responsible administrative and supervisory capacity within a legal services program is specified in the class definition, or a substantially equivalent combination of education and experience.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent law degree; the class definition specifies graduation from an accredited law school.
Membership in good standing with the Rhode Island Bar, which must be maintained as a condition of employment.
Considerable employment in a responsible administrative and supervisory capacity within a legal services program involving interpretation and application of laws, rules, regulations, policies, and decisions, or a substantially equivalent combination of education and experience.
Thorough knowledge of the provisions of Rhode Island General Laws administered by the department or agency.
Ability to interpret applicable laws and prepare legal opinions for use in administering agency functions.
Ability to prepare or direct the preparation of briefs, rulings, and other legal documents.
Ability to draft rules and regulations having the force and effect of law while remaining consistent with the purpose and provisions of the law.
Ability to exercise independent judgment in unusual cases involving legal matters.
Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and direct the work of staff, including attorneys handling legal matters.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of cannabis establishment licensing and operational requirements.
Basic understanding of cannabis seed-to-sale tracking requirements.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Cannabis Office’s chief legal compliance and enforcement officer.
Provide daily legal guidance and strategic advice to the Administrator, Chief Regulatory Officer, and Cannabis Office staff.
Develop agendas and lead internal legal meetings, including discussions about inspections, compliance, and enforcement.
Manage administrative compliance and enforcement proceedings, including pre-hearing conferences, discovery, and hearings.
Defend the Administrator, Cannabis Office, and staff in litigation and administrative actions before state and federal courts.
Develop legal strategies, policies, and procedures to address compliance deficiencies and enforcement issues identified by auditors and inspectors.
Advise on administrative penalties, including fines, license suspensions, and revocations.
Draft and review enforcement documents, including Deficiency Notices, Corrective Action Notices, Consent Agreements, and Orders to Show Cause.
Identify gaps in enforcement processes and collaborate with staff on solutions, guidance documents, notices, and legal correspondence.
Participate in meetings with leadership and licensees regarding investigations and enforcement actions.
Review and respond to correspondence, inquiries, and documents requiring legal oversight.
Manage Access to Public Records Act requests, including review, processing, and responses.
Research legal issues and prepare memoranda, briefs, and legal opinions concerning agency operations and enforcement strategies.
Collaborate with Cannabis Office and Commission staff to develop and improve agency functions and processes.
Direct and supervise legal services staff, including attorneys, and review work for proficiency and conformance with applicable law, rules, and regulations.
Participate in the formulation of agency policy and draft policy statements.
Prepare or direct the preparation of legal opinions, briefs, rulings, legal documents, proposed statutory amendments, rules and regulations, legal guides, and manuals of precedents.
Plan and program divisional activities and coordinate legal services with overall agency functions.
Supervise and conduct administrative adjudication proceedings and hearings, and pursue subsequent judicial enforcement actions as necessary.
Represent the Director as required.