Pre-Hearing Attorney

State of Montana•Bozeman, MT

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Legal Services within the Department of Labor & Industry provides legal support to occupational licensing boards and programs statewide. This position focuses on reviewing complaints, unlicensed practice matters, and non routine licensing applications to assess legal and factual sufficiency. The Pre Hearing Attorney prepares recommendations and presents matters to boards and programs to support informed, consistent decision making. This role advances the Division’s mission by promoting public protection, regulatory consistency, and efficient case progression.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
Admission to the State Bar of Montana, or eligibility for admission within a reasonable period after hire.
Demonstrated ability to perform legal analysis, writing, and regulatory review involving statutes, rules, and professional standards.
Experience interpreting and applying laws, regulations, or policies in areas such as administrative law, licensing, compliance, investigations, or public sector practice.
Experience managing detailed information, maintaining confidentiality, and exercising sound judgment in sensitive matters.
Proficiency with standard office software and the ability to learn case management or electronic records systems.
A degree in law is required for this role; however, equivalent combinations of relevant legal experience and demonstrated competencies will be considered where consistent with position requirements.

Nice To Haves

Legal analysis and interpretation: Apply statutes, administrative rules, and professional standards to varied regulatory scenarios.
Clear legal writing: Produce concise, well‑reasoned written work that supports agency decisions and communicates complex issues effectively.
Professional judgment and risk assessment: Evaluate evidence, identify procedural or legal risks, and determine appropriate escalation.
Investigative review and issue identification: Distinguish between allegations, evidence, and legal thresholds while maintaining objectivity.
Problem solving and case progression: Advance matters efficiently while balancing thoroughness with practical decision‑making.
Organization and workload management: Manage high‑volume caseloads, track deadlines, and maintain accurate, reliable records.
Communication and collaboration: Work effectively with attorneys, investigators, staff, and board members, presenting information clearly and professionally.
Adaptability and learning agility: Quickly develop working knowledge of diverse professions, regulatory frameworks, and program requirements.

Responsibilities

Review licensing complaints: Evaluate allegations involving unprofessional conduct, statutory or rule violations, and scope of practice concerns for boards and programs.
Assess unlicensed practice: Analyze allegations of unlicensed activity, apply legal standards, and recommend appropriate next steps within regulatory authority.
Evaluate complex applications: Review non routine licensing applications involving legal or factual issues such as prior discipline, criminal history, or incomplete information.
Analyze legal sufficiency: Examine investigative materials, statutes, rules, and records to identify key facts, evidentiary gaps, and threshold legal issues.
Prepare written recommendations: Draft clear, objective memoranda, summaries, and decision support documents for internal and board use.
Present to boards and programs: Communicate complaint analyses, application issues, and recommendations in a neutral, decision ready manner.
Coordinate case development: Work with investigators and program staff to obtain necessary information and move matters forward efficiently.
Promote consistency and improvement: Support standardized review practices, accurate documentation, and data informed process improvements across programs.

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 covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)