Deputy General Counsel

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Natick, MA

1d

About The Position

The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) position will provide oversight and direction to ensure the agency is adhering to applicable laws, regulations and/or policies. The DGC will report to the General Counsel (GC) and, in collaboration with the GC, will provide oversight and supervision to staff within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), including but not limited to attorneys, hearing examiners, and program coordinators, as well as the staff of the Life Sentence Unit. The OGC serves as the legal advisor to the Parole Board providing legal advice and guidance on all matters which affect the agency. The OGC represents the Parole Board in all litigation matters affecting the agency in the state’s trial courts and represents the agency in labor and employment matters. It further develops agency regulations and policies and monitors and drafts parole-related legislation as well as contracts and memoranda of understanding. The OGC responds to discovery requests and public records requests, as well as reviews life sentence decisions, processes and reviews termination petitions, reviews requests for reasonable accommodations and makes any necessary referrals consistent with its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The OGC also thoroughly reviews and processes petitions for executive clemency and sends recommendations from the Advisory Board of Pardons to the Governor’s Office. In order to assist in carrying out the duties of the OGC, the DGC will often confer with members of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Attorney General’s Office, District Attorneys’ Offices, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the courts, the media, incarcerated individuals, and the public. The DGC will not only supervise and provide guidance to OGC and Life Sentence Unit staff but will also carry their own caseload including civil litigation matters. The DGC will also respond to union grievances, subpoenas, and inquiries from other agencies. The DGC will work to resolve any conflicts so as to ensure efficient operations including reviewing and updating policies and procedures. The DGC will be responsible for ensuring that the agency abides by the necessary deadlines set by statute, regulation, and policy with a particular emphasis on life sentence matters. The DGC will also serve as the primary liaison for all attorneys and/or third-party individuals relative to matters pertaining to Life Sentence Hearings. The DGC will perform other related duties, as assigned by the GC. The DGC will be familiar with the theories, principals, and practices of parole including the applicable statutes and the Parole Board’s regulations and policies. Additionally, the DGC will have knowledge of the Commonwealth’s laws, familiarization with the court system, particularly civil litigation, and public records law, knowledge of the CORI laws and their applicability to discovery and public records requests, knowledge of employment law including collective bargaining and labor law. The DGC will have the ability to anticipate difficult personnel situations and resolve conflicts effectively, the ability to maintain harmonious working relationships with others while providing management, guidance, and oversight, the ability to exercise sound judgment, and the ability to communicate effectively and lead multiple project teams simultaneously.

Requirements

• At least six (6) years of full-time or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical).
• Current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position.
• At least two (2) years of experience in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Knowledge of the Commonwealth’s laws.
• Familiarization with the court system, particularly civil litigation, and public records law.
• Knowledge of the CORI laws and their applicability to discovery and public records requests.
• Knowledge of employment law including collective bargaining and labor law.

Nice To Haves

• A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
• A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
• A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight and direction to ensure the agency is adhering to applicable laws, regulations and/or policies.
• Provide oversight and supervision to staff within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), including attorneys, hearing examiners, and program coordinators, as well as the staff of the Life Sentence Unit.
• Serve as legal advisor to the Parole Board, providing legal advice and guidance on all matters affecting the agency.
• Represent the Parole Board in all litigation matters affecting the agency in the state’s trial courts.
• Represent the agency in labor and employment matters.
• Develop agency regulations and policies.
• Monitor and draft parole-related legislation.
• Draft contracts and memoranda of understanding.
• Respond to discovery requests and public records requests.
• Review life sentence decisions.
• Process and review termination petitions.
• Review requests for reasonable accommodations and make necessary referrals consistent with ADA obligations.
• Review and process petitions for executive clemency.
• Send recommendations from the Advisory Board of Pardons to the Governor’s Office.
• Confer with members of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Attorney General’s Office, District Attorneys’ Offices, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the courts, the media, incarcerated individuals, and the public.
• Carry their own caseload including civil litigation matters.
• Respond to union grievances, subpoenas, and inquiries from other agencies.
• Work to resolve conflicts to ensure efficient operations, including reviewing and updating policies and procedures.
• Ensure the agency abides by necessary deadlines set by statute, regulation, and policy, with a particular emphasis on life sentence matters.
• Serve as the primary liaison for all attorneys and/or third-party individuals relative to matters pertaining to Life Sentence Hearings.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the GC.
• Be familiar with the theories, principals, and practices of parole including applicable statutes and the Parole Board’s regulations and policies.
• Anticipate difficult personnel situations and resolve conflicts effectively.
• Maintain harmonious working relationships with others while providing management, guidance, and oversight.
• Exercise sound judgment.
• Communicate effectively and lead multiple project teams simultaneously.

Benefits

• Outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package.
• Work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

What This Job Offers

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