Demo

Legal Counsel II

State of Missouri
Columbia, MO Full Time
POSTED ON 4/21/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/29/2026
Job Location: Missouri Circuit Courts

The salary reflected represents the base pay for this position and does not include any differential for time-of-service pay for state tenure.

Why You'll Love This Position

A position with the Missouri Judiciary provides you the opportunity to work with a variety of exceptional, hardworking people and to gain a valuable and rewarding career. It takes many types of talent to advance the mission of the Missouri Judiciary and to keep operations running smoothly. Our positions offer competitive benefit programs, growth opportunities and the ability to work with people in your community.

We are recruiting to fill a Legal Counsel II position to perform complex and varied professional work in providing legal research and representation for a juvenile office. The attorney and the Juvenile Office, via the Chief Juvenile Officer or designee(s), have an attorney-client relationship and the Attorney for the Juvenile Officer acts as legal counsel to, and a representative of, the Juvenile Office. The attorney for the Juvenile Officer will perform various functions including: (1) advisor – providing the Juvenile Office with an informed understanding of its legal rights and obligations and explaining the implications of the same, (2) advocate – zealously asserting the Juvenile Officer’s position under the rules of the adversary system, (3) negotiator – seeking a result advantageous to the Juvenile Officer consistent with the requirements of honest dealings with others, and (4) evaluator – examining the Juvenile Officer’s legal affairs and reporting about them to the Juvenile Office .

  • Litigates cases at the trial and appellate level on behalf of the juvenile officer.
  • Provides legal consultation to the juvenile officer and juvenile office staff.
  • Researches and analyzes applicable court rules, statutes, and case law.
  • Screens referrals to the juvenile office for legal sufficiency.
  • Prepares and/or approves initial or responsive pleadings and file same in a timely manner.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited law school. Current license to practice law in the State of Missouri and membership in good standing with the Missouri Bar Association.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Possess knowledge of general law, state and federal statutes and local ordinance, court rules, and case law.
  • Possess the ability to analyze and organize facts and present cases in clear and concise manner.
  • Possess competence and familiarity with electronic filing and juvenile record keeping and database management.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in analytical skills, writing skills, oral communication skills, and effective inter-personal relationship skills.
  • Ability to conduct training on legal aspects of court procedure.

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck.

Please send inquiries regarding this position or questions regarding employment with the Missouri Judiciary to: kayla.turley@courts.mo.gov

Salary.com Estimation for Legal Counsel II in Columbia, MO
$117,570 to $157,591
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