Attorney V - State Office

The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation is seeking an Attorney V to join our team.  We are a high performing, collegial team working in collaboration with all Department programs to provide timely, thorough, balanced, and accurate counsel, information, and representation to model and empower bold decision-making to advance employment, independence, and equality for all South Carolinians with disabilities.  

Under the supervision of the Commissioner, you will serve as the primary attorney for a large state agency having over 1, 300 employees and 24,000 consumers.  The attorney provides legal advice to Department executive and senior management regarding a variety of issues related to the Department’s mission of working in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services.
 
As Attorney V, the successful candidate will:

• Provide legal counsel and guidance to management of the Agency on all legal matters relevant to a large state agency, including personnel law, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, and laws pertaining to real estate and construction, contracts and grants, procurement, worker's compensation, liability and insurance matters, affirmative action, and other laws and regulations.
• Review, research, interpret, and prepare both written and oral opinions on a wide variety of legal issues.
• Draft, review, and approve policies and procedures, regulations, and other legal documents.
• Review contracts, leases, and other legal documents; research legal issues and recommend revisions as necessary.
• Represent or oversee the representation of the Agency in administrative proceedings, and in negotiations with other state agencies.
• Design, establish, and maintain an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the organization's goals and objectives; oversee recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of the legal staff.
• Develop and manage annual budgets for the legal department and performs periodic cost and productivity analyses.
• Provide training to management on various legal issues through seminars and meetings.
• Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest developments in law regulations. 

• Must have a juris doctor degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school
• 8 years of experience as a practicing attorney
• Be a member of the South Carolina Bar in good standing. 
• Must satisfactorily complete a credit check, delinquent tax check, attorney grievance check and sled background check. 
• Understanding of employment law from the public sector perspective
• Substantial experience representing and advising a state government employer on legal issues related to human resources and employment law
• Knowledge of and experience in litigation and civil procedure
• Knowledge of and experience with contracts, state procurement, and federal grants
• Understanding of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and security rules
• Knowledge of state employee ethics laws and rules
• Understanding of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act
• Strong legal writing skills (You must submit a legal writing sample with your application – please do not submit any confidential information)

• Experience as an attorney in a government setting preferred.
• Supervisory experience 

The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
   
  The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:
  
 

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• Paid parental leave
• Flexible work schedules
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs