What are the responsibilities and job description for the Attorney Advisor position at DC Department of Human Resources?
Job Summary
This position is located in the Office of Government Ethics, Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA), an independent organization responsible for investigation and enforcement of the District's ethics laws and regulations with regard to District government employees, programs and operations. BEGA is responsible for administering the Code of Conduct applicable to all District government employees; receiving, investigating and adjudicating violations of the Code of Conduct; training District employees on ethics standards; issuing rules and regulations governing District employees and public officials; administering the financial disclosure and lobbyist registration systems; and providing formal and informal ethics advice.
This position serves as Attorney Advisor and is responsible for providing expert legal advice to the Ethics Board, the General Counsel, and the Director; providing ethics advice to District government personnel, investigating any alleged Code of Conduct violations; and supporting other agency programs.
Major Duties And Responsibilities
Provides expert legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of the Ethics Board. Provides statements of reasons, drafts letters, memoranda, and recommendations.
Conducts extensive review of various legal documents. Drafts formal and informal advisory opinions and guidance on ethics-related matters. Evaluates current District laws and regulations relating to government ethics, and when requested, examines best practices, and recommends legislative changes to the General Counsel, the Director and Ethics Board.
Investigates allegations of ethical misconduct by District government employees.
Reviews complaints and determines whether there is reason to believe that a violation of the Code of Conduct occurred. Makes recommendations with respect to preparing investigative plans; to obtaining and securing sources of proof; determining witness credibility; and suggesting possible sanctions. Prepares memoranda of facts and law, recommending formal proceedings before the Board. Shares in the prosecution of violations of the Code of Conduct before the Ethics Board.
Prepares all pre- and post-hearing submissions, such as notices of violations, motions, oppositions, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law; and satisfies all agency discovery obligations. Litigates matters to completion through the presentation of evidence in open and adversarial evidentiary Board hearings.
Coordinates with investigators on communications with stakeholders and opposin counsels about pending matters. Where there is a refusal to comply with a subpoena, Board order, or a failure to pay penalties, assists the General Counsel with enforcement in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Reviews records of suits for or against the Ethics Board in which the decision was unfavorable to the Board to determine whether to recommend an appeal to a higher court. If appeal is recommended and the recommendation is approved, assists the General Counsel with preparing the Board’s case before the appellate court.
Prepares reports of number and disposition of complaints, number and type of formal and informal requests for advice, and other legal matters, as directed. Provides training on compliance with ethics laws and regulations to agency ethics officials and District government employees through workshops and seminars.
Manages and provides legal advice and support on agency programs related to lobbying and/or financial disclosure.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications And Education
Graduated with a Juris Doctor from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time of appointment, plus two (2) years of experience in the legal field, at least one of the two years is associated with providing ethics advice or conducting administrative investigations.
Licenses and Certifications
Must be an active member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar or have the ability to waive in and be admitted within 360 days of appointment.
Working Conditions/Environment
The work is performed in a normal office setting.
Other Significant Facts
Tour of Duty: Monday – Friday; 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Pay Plan, Series, Grade: LA-0905-13
Promotional Potential: No known promotion potential
Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is not in a collective bargaining unit.
Position Designation: The position has been deemed security-sensitive. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of your tenure.
Routine duties that justify the position’s security sensitive designation includes, reviews, verifies and reconciles reports, records, ledgers and other documents against vouchers, receipts, databases, and other source documents to determine adequacy of systems, operations, and internal controls.
The District of Columbia government maintains a drug free work environment policy. All District employees are subject to post-accident/incident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing.
EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.
This position is located in the Office of Government Ethics, Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA), an independent organization responsible for investigation and enforcement of the District's ethics laws and regulations with regard to District government employees, programs and operations. BEGA is responsible for administering the Code of Conduct applicable to all District government employees; receiving, investigating and adjudicating violations of the Code of Conduct; training District employees on ethics standards; issuing rules and regulations governing District employees and public officials; administering the financial disclosure and lobbyist registration systems; and providing formal and informal ethics advice.
This position serves as Attorney Advisor and is responsible for providing expert legal advice to the Ethics Board, the General Counsel, and the Director; providing ethics advice to District government personnel, investigating any alleged Code of Conduct violations; and supporting other agency programs.
Major Duties And Responsibilities
Provides expert legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of the Ethics Board. Provides statements of reasons, drafts letters, memoranda, and recommendations.
Conducts extensive review of various legal documents. Drafts formal and informal advisory opinions and guidance on ethics-related matters. Evaluates current District laws and regulations relating to government ethics, and when requested, examines best practices, and recommends legislative changes to the General Counsel, the Director and Ethics Board.
Investigates allegations of ethical misconduct by District government employees.
Reviews complaints and determines whether there is reason to believe that a violation of the Code of Conduct occurred. Makes recommendations with respect to preparing investigative plans; to obtaining and securing sources of proof; determining witness credibility; and suggesting possible sanctions. Prepares memoranda of facts and law, recommending formal proceedings before the Board. Shares in the prosecution of violations of the Code of Conduct before the Ethics Board.
Prepares all pre- and post-hearing submissions, such as notices of violations, motions, oppositions, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law; and satisfies all agency discovery obligations. Litigates matters to completion through the presentation of evidence in open and adversarial evidentiary Board hearings.
Coordinates with investigators on communications with stakeholders and opposin counsels about pending matters. Where there is a refusal to comply with a subpoena, Board order, or a failure to pay penalties, assists the General Counsel with enforcement in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Reviews records of suits for or against the Ethics Board in which the decision was unfavorable to the Board to determine whether to recommend an appeal to a higher court. If appeal is recommended and the recommendation is approved, assists the General Counsel with preparing the Board’s case before the appellate court.
Prepares reports of number and disposition of complaints, number and type of formal and informal requests for advice, and other legal matters, as directed. Provides training on compliance with ethics laws and regulations to agency ethics officials and District government employees through workshops and seminars.
Manages and provides legal advice and support on agency programs related to lobbying and/or financial disclosure.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications And Education
Graduated with a Juris Doctor from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time of appointment, plus two (2) years of experience in the legal field, at least one of the two years is associated with providing ethics advice or conducting administrative investigations.
Licenses and Certifications
Must be an active member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar or have the ability to waive in and be admitted within 360 days of appointment.
Working Conditions/Environment
The work is performed in a normal office setting.
Other Significant Facts
Tour of Duty: Monday – Friday; 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Pay Plan, Series, Grade: LA-0905-13
Promotional Potential: No known promotion potential
Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is not in a collective bargaining unit.
Position Designation: The position has been deemed security-sensitive. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of your tenure.
Routine duties that justify the position’s security sensitive designation includes, reviews, verifies and reconciles reports, records, ledgers and other documents against vouchers, receipts, databases, and other source documents to determine adequacy of systems, operations, and internal controls.
The District of Columbia government maintains a drug free work environment policy. All District employees are subject to post-accident/incident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing.
EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.