Senior Attorney (Attorney V) - 60023726

State of South Carolina•Lexington County, SC

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is seeking a skilled, mission-driven attorney to join its Office of General Counsel (OGC) as the agency’s legal portfolio grows. The OGC advises the State Superintendent, the State Board of Education, and offices throughout the agency on education and administrative law, procurement, employment, ethics, regulatory compliance, contracts, FOIA, and legislative drafting. The position offers an opportunity to provide legal advice on matters affecting South Carolina students, teachers, families, and school districts as part of a collaborative legal team modernizing its operations and systems. Under the general direction of the General Counsel, the Senior Attorney will lead agency process modernization, advise the agency and State Board, independently manage complex legal matters, and oversee the educator certification docket. The attorney will support legislative and policy work, review contracts and procurement documents, advise on FOIA and other compliance matters, represent SCDE in administrative and legal proceedings, and help develop the OGC’s legal operations and staff. The position is located in the Office of General Counsel.

Requirements

Juris doctor degree or equivalent from an accredited law school.
Experience as a practicing attorney.

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with the South Carolina Bar.
Ten or more years of experience as a practicing attorney, with substantive experience in education law, administrative law, government law, regulatory compliance, or a closely related practice area.
Experience advising a state agency or other public entity on education law, employment law, procurement, FOIA, ethics, or legislative matters.
Familiarity with Title 59 of the South Carolina Code, the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act, the Consolidated Procurement Code, ESSA, civil rights requirements, or comparable statutory and regulatory frameworks.
Experience drafting or reviewing legislation, regulations, or formal policy documents.
Experience representing clients in administrative proceedings or before the Administrative Law Court.
Ability to manage a diverse legal portfolio independently, exercise sound judgment on complex issues, and communicate legal analysis clearly to non-legal audiences.
Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
Exceptional facilitation and communication skills, including the ability to bring clarity to complex matters and collaborate across internal offices, leadership, and partners.
Track record of mentoring colleagues, improving legal processes, or contributing to office-wide systems and knowledge management.
Genuine interest in public service and the mission of public education in South Carolina.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate business-process redesign, workflow optimization, and operational modernization across Procurement, Finance, Operations, and related functions; develop and execute a phased roadmap beginning with Procurement.
Provide practical legal advice to SCDE offices, leadership, and the State Board of Education on education law, administrative law, and regulatory matters.
Independently manage a portfolio of legal matters, including administrative proceedings, contract disputes, regulatory interpretation, ethics inquiries, employment issues, and interagency coordination; keep the General Counsel informed about risks and strategy.
Direct the educator certification docket by supervising attorneys and staff, assigning cases, reviewing work, ensuring timely summary suspension orders when student safety is at risk, overseeing consent agreement negotiations, and prosecuting complex cases before hearing officers and the State Board of Education.
Coordinate educator certification matters with SLED, the Attorney General’s Office, LLR, and other agencies.
Draft, review, and analyze proposed legislation, provisos, regulations, and policy documents; advise leadership on pending and enacted legislation, including Title 59 and the General Appropriations Act, and provide legal support during legislative sessions.
Review contracts, memoranda of understanding, interagency agreements, grant terms, and procurement solicitations for compliance with state law, the Consolidated Procurement Code, and agency policy; help streamline processes and reduce cycle times.
Advise staff on FOIA, the Ethics Act, records retention, data privacy, ESSA and federal Title programs, district protests, U.S. Department of Education responses, and other compliance matters.
Serve as the state contact for Methods of Administration and Civil Rights reviews of Career and Technical Education programs; develop internal guidance and training to build institutional knowledge and reduce risk.
Represent SCDE before administrative tribunals, the Administrative Law Court, state and federal courts, and other forums; prepare memoranda, briefs, pleadings, and other documents; coordinate litigation matters with the Attorney General’s Office.
Develop and refine OGC legal operations, including case management and intake systems, templates, procedures, and knowledge-management tools; serve as the OGC point person for agency strategic planning.
Supervise and mentor junior staff and contribute to a professional, collaborative culture of continuous improvement.
Collaborate with Procurement, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, and program offices; serve as a legal point of contact for districts, external counsel, other agencies, and federal partners as assigned.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance for the employee, spouse, and children.
Long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance for the employee, spouse, and children.
15 days of annual (vacation) leave per year.
15 days of sick leave per year.
13 paid holidays.
State Retirement Plan.
Deferred Compensation Programs, including a 401(k).
Professional development opportunities.
Hybrid work schedule with opportunity for remote work.