Senior Legal Counsel - Legal Department

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

Working within the Legal Department of the Executive Office of the Trial Court, the Senior Legal Counsel represents the interests of the Trial Court and assists the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel, and the Managing Counsel in advising court officials on pressing legal matters. Senior Legal Counsel addresses an array of complex and unique legal issues and questions that arise from the administration of the Trial Court as a part of the Judicial Branch of Government. The Senior Legal Counsel also develops and implements court policies subject to the approval of the Chief Justice of the Trial Court and the Court Administrator. This Senior Legal Counsel position will be responsible for work in a range of areas, including the drafting, reviewing, amending, and administering of contracts; representing the Trial Court in Worker’s Compensation actions before the Department of Industrial Accidents; and maintaining the Complaint Language Manual, which sets forth the elements of criminal and civil offenses. In addition, this position involves performing legal research; drafting legal memoranda, pleadings, briefs and other legal documents; actively supporting and working with the Attorney General's Office in defending litigation brought against the Trial Court or its officials, judges or employees; investigating tort presentments; and performing related legal and administrative duties. Further responsibilities include reviewing and responding to complaints, questions, and requests for information from the public, attorneys, court officials and government agencies.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited law school
Membership in the Massachusetts Bar and six (6) years of relevant legal experience including at least two (2) years of litigation experience
Advanced skills and abilities in performing legal research and drafting legal memoranda and briefs
Advanced skills and abilities in the application of logical reasoning and rules of statutory construction to detailed statutory analysis
Knowledge of and experience in contract drafting and negotiation and amendment
Knowledge of civil procedure and experience drafting affirmative discovery, discovery responses and dispositive motions
Knowledge of criminal law and practice
Knowledge of the Massachusetts judicial system, Massachusetts General Laws and the operation of state government
Knowledge of, and ability to use, personal computers and related software, including Microsoft Windows, Excel and PowerPoint
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work professionally and cooperatively with judges, court officials, attorneys and the public
Ability to analyze administrative problems and develop feasible solutions
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing
Ability to handle highly confidential material with discretion
Ability to work independently and to establish well-reasoned work priorities
Ability to travel to court locations throughout the Commonwealth as needed

Responsibilities

Researches and prepares legal memoranda on a broad scope of complex and unique issues relating to the Judicial Branch of Government at the direction of the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel and the Managing Counsel.
Works with the assigned Assistant Attorney General on litigation in which the Trial Court, one of its departments or divisions, or one or more of its judges or employees is named as a defendant.
Provides advice on legal issues originating from the Office of Court Management Departments including Human Resources, Fiscal, Security, Facilities, the Court Education Department, the Judicial Information Services Department, and the Office of Workplace Rights and Compliance.
Drafts or reviews and approves contracts, interagency service agreements and memoranda of understanding entered into by the Trial Court’s administrative offices, departments and divisions.
Negotiates and drafts necessary amendments to contracts and coordinates the contract-funding process with the Fiscal Department.
Advises Procurement Manager and other Trial Court personnel in developing the specifications, terms and conditions of Requests for Proposals and, when necessary, reviews RFPs developed by Trial Court departments for compliance with Trial Court contracting procedures and state bidding laws.
Prepares and represents the Trial Court in Worker’s Compensation proceedings before the Department of Industrial Accidents.
Assists in maintaining the Complaint Manual, which includes drafting charging language and formulating offense codes.
Updates changes to charging language based on changes in statutes, case law and regulations.
Provides legal advice to Deputy Court Administrators and other Trial Court personnel concerning compliance with state bidding laws and the contracting process.
Acts as legal staff to Trial Court committees.
Prepares material for meetings, prepares reports and works directly with committee members.
Drafts correspondence in response to complaints, subpoenas, questions, and requests for information from the public, attorneys, judges, court officials and governmental agencies.
Performs related duties as required.