General Counsel & Constitutional Policing Advisor

Leon County Sheriff's Office•Tallahassee, FL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This executive management position is part of the Sheriff's Office Executive Command Staff and reports directly to the Sheriff. The incumbent serves as general counsel and legal and constitutional policing advisor to the Leon County Sheriff's Office and the Sheriff in the Sheriff’s official capacity. The role provides agency-wide legal advice, guidance, and support to command staff, supervisors, and personnel concerning their official duties and agency business. It directs, administers, develops, reviews, coordinates, executes, files, and tracks the Office’s legal functions, including discipline and employee proceedings, contracts and procurement, public records, civil litigation, outside counsel, risk management, and legal support for internal investigations and policy development. The position advises the Sheriff and command staff on emerging legal issues, operational practices, and risk mitigation, and supports lawful, effective, and accountable policies and practices consistent with applicable law and the Sheriff's directives. The incumbent is expected to exercise sound legal judgment, protect confidential and privileged information, uphold professional and ethical standards, and promote the agency’s mission and core values. The General Counsel supervises the agency paralegal and provides leadership through strategic planning, team building, delegation, innovation, performance management, training, and policy enforcement. Duties include representing the Sheriff at meetings and proceedings; handling employment and disciplinary matters; advising on detention, public records, contracts, civil forfeitures, warrants, subpoenas, and court orders; managing claims and litigation; supporting critical-incident response and use-of-force review; and conducting legal training. The position also participates in collective bargaining negotiations, coordinates with Risk Management and outside counsel, monitors legal developments, and prepares legal impact analyses and bulletins. The role requires a Juris Doctorate, at least six years of experience in government law and/or litigation, and good standing with The Florida Bar. Work is primarily performed in a secure office environment, with travel to meetings and functions as needed. The incumbent must be available for a 24-hour operation and during emergencies or disasters, and must be able to lift, push, carry, or pull at least 25 pounds independently.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate.
At least 6 years of experience in local, state, and/or federal government law and/or litigation.
Must be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar.
Extensive and diverse work experience in administrative, civil, criminal, and employment law, contracts, and policy development.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving history.
Must be available during emergencies or natural disasters and for a 24-hour operation.
Must be able to lift, push, carry, or pull a minimum of 25 pounds independently.
Must be able to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and work closely with others as a team member.
Must be able to prepare and present clear, accurate, concise, and objective written and oral reports.
Must meet periodic in-service training requirements and requirements to maintain the position's certification or license.
Must be able to report to work during emergencies declared by local, state, or federal officials or agencies.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in a law-enforcement, corrections, or public-administration agency is preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise the agency paralegal and provide leadership, staff training, performance management, policy enforcement, and strategic planning support.
Serve as legal counsel to the Sheriff and Sheriff's Office and advise executive staff, command staff, supervisors, and personnel on agency business and official duties.
Represent the Sheriff at executive, judicial, Citizens Advisory Council, and other meetings or events, and provide oral testimony in trials, hearings, grand juries, and other proceedings.
Prepare termination letters, disciplinary notices, responses, correspondence, procedural notifications, and related documents.
Coordinate and facilitate predetermination conferences, Career Service boards, employee grievances, and related notices, responses, correspondence, meetings, and conferences.
Assist the Office of Inspector General with developing, writing, implementing, and reviewing agency written directives and internal-investigation support, ensuring legal compliance and evaluating civil-liability concerns.
Develop, recommend, and manage the annual budget for the position's designated area.
Draft, review, interpret, negotiate, and manage contracts and disputes in coordination with the Purchasing and Contracts Section; review Requests for Proposal before advertisement for legal compliance.
Advise Detention on inmate grievances and the Inmate Welfare and Medical Advisory Committees.
Provide legal assistance on public-records requests and interpret applicable laws, case law, and agency directives.
Receive and process notices of intent to sue, assess claim validity, open claims with the liability carrier, provide records, and assist the carrier as required.
Receive and process lawsuit summonses; coordinate with liability carriers and appointed outside counsel; attend depositions, mediations, and other proceedings; and negotiate and authorize mediation settlements as directed by the Sheriff.
Handle litigation for matters not covered by the liability carrier as counsel of record or hire and direct outside counsel as appropriate.
Receive, review, and respond to court orders and subpoenas, and advise personnel on interpreting and complying with them.
Review civil forfeitures for statutory and case-law compliance and coordinate with outside counsel when needed.
Review arrest and search warrant affidavits for legal sufficiency.
Draft, amend, review, track, and update inter-agency agreements, including MOUs, MOAs, and task force agreements, to reduce risk and ensure compliance.
Evaluate agency insurance needs with Risk Management; analyze insurance programs and coverage; advise on loss prevention and risk reduction; and review property, casualty, and liability claims with Risk Management.
Liaise with workers' compensation claims counsel and coverage administrators, and assist Member Relations on employment-law matters, including workers' compensation, FMLA, FLSA, ADA, hiring, background investigations, employment eligibility, and wage garnishments.
Conduct use-of-force and legal-sufficiency reviews, respond to critical incidents, and provide in-person legal assistance at incident scenes to executive staff, command staff, and operational commanders.
Review Risk Protection Order requests; advise the Sheriff, file approved orders with the court, and represent the Sheriff in related proceedings.
Conduct training on legal topics, including use of force, search and seizure, civil liability, labor and employment law, sexual harassment, ethics, and written directives; review proposed training lesson plans as a subject matter expert.
Monitor statutes, regulations, appellate decisions, Attorney General opinions, and legal bulletins; prepare legal impact analyses and agency legal bulletins; and provide training as needed.
Participate in the Florida Sheriff's Association Legal Committee and consult with its legal counsel on legal requirements, law-enforcement issues, risk management, employment law, and agency practices.
Participate as the legal representative and a member of the collective bargaining negotiation team.
Engage with Executive Staff to align legal work with the Sheriff's vision, mission, and goals, and recommend policies and practices to minimize legal exposure and agency risk.
Maintain required certifications or licenses and complete periodic in-service training; report to work during declared emergencies or disasters; and perform other duties as assigned.