Deputy General Counsel

State of Montana • Helena, MT

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Step into a legal leadership role that directly supports fair, lawful, and efficient outcomes for Montana's workers, businesses, and communities. The DLI Office of Legal Services is seeking a Deputy General Counsel to lead the agency's litigation team and help ensure legal services are delivered with consistency, integrity, and strategic focus. This role offers the opportunity to guide experienced legal professionals, strengthen systems and processes, and contribute to meaningful public service in a professional, growth-oriented environment. Within the Office of Legal Services, the Deputy General Counsel provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management for the agency's litigation team. Reporting to the General Counsel, this position oversees attorneys and paralegals handling a diverse portfolio of administrative and civil litigation, including occupational licensing disciplinary actions, wage and hour enforcement, workers' compensation, independent contractor misclassification, subpoena enforcement, and unemployment insurance matters. The role ensures timely, consistent, and effective case handling while supporting division goals related to legal quality, operational excellence, and responsive service. This position also partners with agency leadership to align litigation strategy, workload management, and continuous improvement efforts.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in Montana, or demonstrated ability to obtain licensure.
• Demonstrated experience litigating administrative or civil matters in a setting where legal analysis, written advocacy, and case management are central responsibilities.
• Experience leading teams or supervising attorneys, legal support staff, or other professionals in an environment that values accountability, development, and collaboration.
• Experience interpreting and applying laws, rules, policies, or procedures and advising others on complex legal or regulatory matters.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting legal issues clearly to leadership, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to use Microsoft Outlook, Word, and other office software, and to learn case management or electronic records systems used in legal practice.

Nice To Haves

• A degree in a relevant field may supplement professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above.
• Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop staff by coaching, mentoring, and evaluating attorneys and paralegals to support high performance, accountability, and professional growth.
• Direct litigation strategy by overseeing all stages of administrative and civil litigation to ensure sound legal analysis, consistent positions, and timely resolution of cases.
• Manage caseloads and workflow by assigning and balancing work in a manner that promotes fairness, efficiency, service quality, and staff development.
• Advise on complex matters by providing guidance on high-impact cases, including legal strategy, settlement evaluation, and review of significant filings.
• Coordinate with stakeholders by partnering with the General Counsel, agency divisions, and external entities to support aligned legal approaches and effective outcomes.
• Improve processes and systems by reviewing litigation practices and identifying practical changes that strengthen communication, timeliness, and operational effectiveness.
• Monitor performance and trends by tracking workload, case activity, and outcomes and providing clear, strategic updates to agency leadership.
• Model public service values by demonstrating integrity, accountability, professionalism, and sound judgment in representing the agency's legal interests.

Benefits

• Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
• 38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
• Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
• Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP.
• Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan.
• Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary.
• A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness!
• Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
• State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.
• This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1, 2026.
• This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)

What This Job Offers

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