Litigation Manager

State of Montana•Helena, MT

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Step into a leadership role that blends high level legal strategy with meaningful public service. As the Litigation Manager for the Department of Labor & Industry, you will lead a dedicated litigation team that helps ensure fair, timely, and lawful decisions that affect Montana workers, employers, and licensed professionals. This position offers the opportunity to shape legal outcomes, mentor talented attorneys, and contribute to a collaborative, growth oriented legal environment that supports the Department’s mission. MISSION STATEMENT: Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity. DLI CORE VALUES: Responsiveness Respect Integrity Excellence Cohesiveness It's about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open, team-based, supportive, and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLI here. Position Overview: The Legal Services unit provides advice and representation to the Department of Labor & Industry on collections and bankruptcy, workers’ compensation, wage and hour, independent contractors, licensing matters, and other regulatory and enforcement issues. The Litigation Manager serves as a supervising attorney who directs litigation strategy, manages a team of attorneys and staff, and ensures that client agencies receive timely, practical, and legally sound guidance. This role supports the division’s goals by promoting consistent, defensible legal positions and by helping the Department deliver fair, safe, and efficient services to Montana’s workforce and business community. The position collaborates closely with other members of the Litigation Management Team to allocate work, manage risk, and continuously improve how legal services are delivered.

Requirements

Legal analysis and judgment: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to identify, research, and analyze complex legal issues and exercise sound judgment in recommending clear, defensible courses of action.
Litigation and case strategy: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to develop and execute litigation strategies, manage complex or sensitive cases, and effectively represent an organization in administrative and judicial proceedings.
Leadership and team management: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to supervise attorneys and staff, set expectations, delegate work, provide feedback, and support professional development in a high stakes legal environment.
Regulatory and administrative law: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply state and federal statutes, regulations, case law, constitutional provisions, and administrative procedures relevant to labor, employment, and professional licensing.
Stakeholder communication: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and professionally in writing and verbally with courts, legal colleagues, internal clients, board members, legislators, and members of the public.
Client focused problem solving: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to balance legal requirements with practical program needs, helping clients achieve fair, lawful outcomes while maintaining consistent enforcement.
Collaboration and influence: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to work effectively across units and with leadership teams, build consensus, and navigate sensitive or controversial issues with tact and professionalism.
Organizational and workload management: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple cases and projects, and meet strict deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in public settings by delivering clear, engaging, and informative presentations tailored to diverse audiences, including staff, leadership, and external stakeholders. Skilled in developing professional presentation materials that convey complex information in an accessible and visually compelling manner, ensuring audience understanding and engagement.
Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school and active admission to the State Bar of Montana, with eligibility for admission to appropriate federal courts.
Demonstrated experience leading or supervising legal teams or projects in environments providing legal advice, managing complex cases, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations are core responsibilities.
Extensive experience interpreting and applying administrative law, including rulemaking, contested cases, and judicial review, particularly as it relates to state agency programs.
Strong background working with statutory frameworks governing unemployment insurance, the Uninsured Employers Fund, workers’ compensation, wage and hour requirements, independent contractor programs, collections and bankruptcy, or closely related regulatory areas.
Experience communicating complex legal concepts to non-lawyer audiences, including program managers, board members, and stakeholders, and supporting informed decision making.

Responsibilities

Lead litigation team: Provide day to day leadership, direction, and support to assigned Litigation Team attorneys and staff to ensure high quality legal work, professional growth, and accountability.
Assign and manage cases: Oversee intake and assignment of client requests and cases involving collections and bankruptcy, the Uninsured Employers Fund, workers’ compensation, wage and hour, independent contractors, licensing, and other Department matters to ensure timely and effective handling.
Provide legal representation: Represent the Department of Labor & Industry in administrative proceedings, district court, and other forums as needed, including preparing pleadings, motions, briefs, and oral advocacy.
Advise agency clients: Exercise sound legal judgment in advising Department programs so services are delivered fairly and safely, without imposing unnecessary or unreasonable burdens on Montana professionals and employers.
Ensure legal quality and consistency: Review and guide complex or sensitive cases, ensuring that legal positions are well researched, aligned with statutes and regulations, and consistent with Department priorities.
Coordinate with leadership: Collaborate with the Litigation Management Team and program leadership to plan workloads, set priorities, and address emerging legal issues affecting Department operations.
Foster stakeholder relationships: Build and maintain effective working relationships with courts, board members, legislators, Department staff, and members of the public to support trust in the Department’s legal processes.
Promote continuous improvement: Identify trends, legal risks, and process improvements in litigation and advisory work, and recommend changes that enhance efficiency, quality, and customer service.

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%25 - 9.07%25 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)