Deputy Chief Legal Counsel

State of Montana•Helena, MT

63d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity within the Directors Office / Office of Legal Affairs. This position is the Deputy Chief Legal Counsel in the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), Department of Public Health and Human Services. The position assists and supports management and supervision of the operations and staff of the Office of Legal Affairs as directed by the Chief Legal Counsel by assisting in management of office workload, budget, and continuing operations in general. Facilitates provision of OLA legal counsel to Department Divisions with tasks such as developing protocols to enable effective interaction and coordination amongst legal staff and program staff; representing the department in litigation; identifying legal developments and trends that may affect strategies and practices of divisions, etc. The position oversees contracting standards, processes, risk and litigation for the department, and manages department litigation assignments as directed by the Chief Legal Counsel. The position directly supervises staff attorneys Why Join DPHHS Our mission at DPHHS is serving Montanans in their communities to improve health, safety, well-being, and empower independence. By joining our department, you will have the opportunity to perform meaningful work in public service to our state and its residents. The State of Montana's comprehensive benefits package includes healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, work/life balance, and eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In addition, DPHHS is the largest state agency with a wide range of advancement opportunities whether you are joining the workforce or have several years of experience.

Requirements

General knowledge of federal and Montana laws pertaining to administration and delivery of public health and human services
Thorough knowledge of Montana and federal constitutional law
Thorough knowledge of legal research methods, including use of Lexis, Westlaw, and the Internet
Thorough knowledge of civil and administrative procedures, both state and federal
Ability to analyze difficult legal issues, conduct appropriate research, and recommend or implement effective solutions
Knowledge of public sector personnel management and supervision
Working knowledge of: Montana and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; Montana and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure; Montana and Federal Rules of Evidence; Uniform District Court Rules; and Rules of Professional Conduct.
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
Five to ten years of practical experience in progressively more difficult legal work with two to five years of related managerial experience, preferably in the public sector.
Must be admitted to practice law in Montana and federal district courts.

Responsibilities

Assists and supports management and supervision of the operations and staff of the Office of Legal Affairs as directed by the Chief Legal Counsel by assisting in management of office workload, budget, and continuing operations in general.
Facilitates provision of OLA legal counsel to Department Divisions with tasks such as developing protocols to enable effective interaction and coordination amongst legal staff and program staff
Representing the department in litigation
Identifying legal developments and trends that may affect strategies and practices of divisions, etc.
Oversees contracting standards, processes, risk and litigation for the department, and manages department litigation assignments as directed by the Chief Legal Counsel.
Directly supervises staff attorneys

Benefits

healthcare coverage
retirement plans
paid vacation
sick leave
holidays
work/life balance
eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume