What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Legal Counsel position at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks?
The Chief Counsel reports to the Deputy Director and serves as General Counsel for the agency and as supervisor of a Legal Unit consisting of 6 other attorneys and 2 paralegal staff. The incumbent is responsible for the provision of legal services to agency management, program staff, the Fish & Wildlife Commission, and the Parks & Outdoor Recreation Board. Those legal services take the form of the provision of general legal advice and direct representation of the agency, Commission and/or Board in federal, state, and administrative litigation forums. Areas of subject matter expertise for the legal services provided include administrative law, human resources / labor relations law, natural resources / environmental law, contract / real property law, water law, and general governmental operations (i.e., open meeting, public records, etc.). The incumbent also provides support and oversees the provision of support to the agency's legislative affairs activities and represents the agency in multiple and varied intergovernmental (affairs settings (i.e., state, local, federal, and tribal).
Special Information:
Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary. Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association).
A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation.
Minimum Qualifications:
- JD degree from an ABA-accredited law school
- Seven years of practical civil legal experience with progressively more complex and difficult legal work and prior experience in supervising legal support staff and/or junior attorneys
- Admitted to practice law in Montana or be eligible for immediate admission to Montana
- Preferred: 3-5 years of subject matter expertise in at least one of the legal services provided by the unit, including administrative law, human resources/labor relations law, natural resources / environmental law, contract / real property law, water law, and general governmental operations (i.e., open meeting, public records, etc.).
The ideal candidate will have civil trial/hearing (state and/or federal court) and administrative hearing experience, with specific experience in more than one of the following subject areas: administrative law, human resources/labor relations law, natural resource / environmental law, contract/real property law, water law, general governmental operations (i.e., open meeting, public records, etc.) and legislative affairs.
The ideal candidate will also be able to analyze difficult and complex legal problems and organize a course of action; apply sound legal and practical judgment to complex and sensitive factual and public policy situations; organize and provide general supervision to a diverse and specialized team of professionals; deal appropriately with confidential and sensitive material; competently represent the department before judicial, legislative, and administrative bodies; and establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with elected officials, co-workers, other public agency officials and members of the public.