ASSOCIATE COUNSEL - WEST TENNESSEE STATE PENITENTIARY - 78908

Executive Service

ASSOCIATE COUNSEL - WEST TENNESSEE STATE PENITENTIARY Department of Correction Legal Division Henning, TN Annual Salary: $103,440.00 - $143,220.00 Closing Date: 07/13/2026

Background Check

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who We Are And What We Do

The Tennessee Department of Correction operates and oversees 14 adult prisons across the state, housing some 21,000 offenders. In the community, TDOC supervises 79,000 offenders on probation, parole, or community corrections. The department operates 44 probation/parole offices in 13 districts across the state. The Tennessee Department of Correction operates safe and secure facilities and provides effective community supervision in support of successful reentry.

Job Overview

Under general direction, provides information, data, legal advice, and support for the general counsel and other program areas. Performs work of average difficulty and has considerable knowledge of substantive and procedural law. Provides hands on counsel to all levels of executive staff and assists in protecting an agency's legal interest and maintaining its operations within the scope established by law. This class differs from that of the Senior Associate Counsel, who performs work of greater scope and complexity.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide on-site legal support at TDOC facilities to improve response times, ensure compliance, and reduce risk across operational and personnel matters. This includes advising facility leadership on legal issues, interpreting policies, and ensuring decisions align with state and federal law. The role strengthens proactive risk management and supports consistent application of TDOC standards.
• Address public records requests, employment law issues (ADA, FMLA, FLSA, USERRA), and internal investigations, delivering timely and accurate guidance. Responsibilities include reviewing and responding to sensitive requests, advising on workplace accommodations and leave compliance, and supporting investigations with proper documentation and confidentiality. These actions help maintain transparency and legal integrity within the department.
• Support Step III disciplinary appeals by preparing case files, coordinating evidence, and ensuring adherence to policy and evidentiary standards. The Associate Counsel will work closely with HR and facility leadership to compile accurate records, prepare witnesses, and ensure hearings meet procedural requirements. This function safeguards due process and reduces litigation risk.
• Manage attorney visits, service of process, and litigation document production, while acting as a liaison during federal and state agency visits. Duties include coordinating attorney access to facilities, ensuring proper handling of subpoenas and legal notices, and preparing responsive documentation for audits or inspections. This role ensures compliance with statutory timelines and fosters cooperative relationships with oversight agencies.
• Assist with incident reporting, workers compensation documentation, and coordination with external agencies to maintain statutory compliance and operational integrity. The Associate Counsel will review incidents for DA reporting, oversee evidence collection in workers compensation cases, and maintain audit-ready records. These responsibilities support accurate reporting and reduce exposure to legal challenges.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Active License to practice law in Tennessee is required.
  
  

Preferred Experience

• 3 years of relevant legal experience.
  
  

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.