SENIOR ATTORNEY

State of Florida•Dundee, FL

5d•$75,128 - $92,400•Onsite

About The Position

This open competitive advertisement is for a SES (Selected Exempt Service) position located in Tallahassee, FL. Candidates may be considered for assignment to FDC offices in other cities. Under the direction of Secretary Ricky D. Dixon, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is the 3rd largest state prison system in the country with a budget of 2.9 billion, approximately 90,000 inmates incarcerated and another 149,000 offenders on active community supervision. The FDC has 142 facilities and more than 20,000 staff members statewide, making it the State's largest agency. This position is not a telework position and is required to report to the FDC office in the area it serves. The successful candidate will also be expected to render legal opinions concerning the application of state and federal statues and administrative rules. The successful candidate will handle telephone and written requests from agency staff for legal assistance, and will conduct legal research and issue legal opinions, as needed. The successful candidate in this position also represents the department and its officials in litigation matters before administrative tribunals and before state and federal courts, as requested. The successful candidate will be responsible for all matters related to such representation, including, but not limited to, reviewing evidence, researching law, drafting pleadings and memoranda, conducting, and responding to discovery, preparing and interviewing witnesses, providing legal representation at the hearing or trial, writing briefs, and representing the agency at appellate oral arguments. The Office of the General Counsel has units that specialize in the following areas of law: litigation; contracts and procurement; environmental; employment/personnel/labor relations; inmate sentence structure; inmate grievances; civil rights; torts; health care; ethics; probation; administrative law; and public records. The General Counsel's office also represents the agency in garnishment proceedings, advises department staff and provides legal representation regarding subpoenas, litigates public records requests, and responds to requests generated by the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel. The position will be given responsibilities in one or more of these areas at any given time, depending upon the needs of the office. This position will report to the Chief Legal Counsel of the Institutions and Health Services Section of the Office of the General Counsel, but applicants may be considered for vacancies in any section of the office. Expected to perform other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

Must be a member of the Florida Bar in good standing.
Knowledge of legal terminology.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of jurisprudence.
Knowledge of Florida laws and legal procedure.
Knowledge of civil law and rules of procedure.
Knowledge of court proceedings.
Knowledge of Chapter 941-949 Florida Statutes.
Skill in writing and research.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to research, summarize and provide advice on disparate legal issues as needs dictate.
Ability to clearly explain the facts of a case and the legal issues involved.
Strong work ethic; willingness to learn, positive attitude, and ability to work in a collaborative work environment.
Ability to provide legal counsel

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of health care law, constitutional law, civil litigation, administrative law, Florida's legislative process, criminal sentencing, and/or open government law.

Responsibilities

Representing the Department of Corrections before federal and state courts and administrative bodies.
Reviewing agency policies.
Preparing legal pleadings in civil and administrative actions.
Reviewing written materials for legal sufficiency.
Serving as legal advisor to department administrators.
Reviewing, analyzing, and drafting proposed legislation.
Rendering legal opinions concerning the application of state and federal statues and administrative rules.
Handling telephone and written requests from agency staff for legal assistance
Conducting legal research and issue legal opinions, as needed.
Representing the department and its officials in litigation matters before administrative tribunals and before state and federal courts, as requested.
Reviewing evidence, researching law, drafting pleadings and memoranda, conducting, and responding to discovery, preparing and interviewing witnesses, providing legal representation at the hearing or trial, writing briefs, and representing the agency at appellate oral arguments.
Responsibilities in one or more of these areas at any given time, depending upon the needs of the office.
Performing other tasks as assigned.

Benefits

Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
Comprehensive health insurance and life insurance with accidental death and dismemberment benefits.
Supplemental Dental, Vision, Life, Disability and Hospitalization insurance.
Tuition-Free college courses.
Retirement Plans with the Florida Retirement System:
Pension Plan (Traditional Retirement Pension Plan)
Investment Plan (401(K)-Type Retirement Plan)
Deferred Retirement Option Program (Drop)
Deferred Compensation
Recently Retired? Beginning July 1, 2024, there is no longer a reemployment limitation; beginning with the 7th calendar month from the member's distribution date, there are no restrictions on working for an FRS employer. You will not be required to repay any prior distributions, and you may continue receiving distributions from the Investment Plan or Pension Plan without interruption.