Assistant Executive Secretary & Counsel

Title: Assistant Executive Secretary & Counsel

State Role Title: Assistant Executive Secretary & Counsel

Hiring Range: Commensurate with Experience

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Supreme Court

Location: Supreme Court

Agency Website: WWW.Vacourts.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) of the Supreme Court of Virginia is seeking applicants for a full-time attorney, licensed in Virginia to work in the Richmond office and serve as Assistant Executive Secretary & Counsel to work with the Executive Secretary and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the administrative office supporting the judicial branch of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

This position offers a competitive benefits package, which includes vacation and sick leave, 12 paid holidays, health insurance, retirement, life insurance, deferred compensation and short- and long-term disability.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Chief Justice, the Executive Secretary and OES Directors on a variety of legal and administrative tasks, including:
• Reviewing and providing advice on a wide range of legal issues affecting the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Virginia Judicial System. This includes working with the nine (9) departments of the Office of the Executive Secretary, reviewing contracts, MOUs and proposed policies, and working with the Office of the Attorney General as necessary.
• Oversee the implementation of the Supreme Court’s Judicial Disqualification Policy, including the designation of active judges and the designation and recall of retired judges throughout the state. Supervise staff who maintain the list of retired judges subject to recall and who assist the Chief Justice in arranging designations and drafting appropriate orders for the recall or designation of judges, including judges for multi-jurisdiction grand juries and three-judge panels, and coordinating the assignment of Medical Malpractice Review Panels.
• Oversee the Administrative Hearing Officer list and related activity administered by the Supreme Court, including working with the Educational Services Department on scheduling and planning for the annual training conference and responding to related issues as they arise.
• Supervise and work with OES staff attorneys who support and advise the Judicial Performance Evaluation Program, the Access to Justice Commission and the Judicial Ethics Advisory Commission.
• Supervise staff who maintain and administer the list of attorneys qualified to act as administrative hearing officers in agency proceedings arising under the Administrative Process Act.
• Provide information and training related to the Rules of Conduct for Judicial System Employees, OES Human Resource Policies and OES IT Policies.
• Work with the Judicial Branch ADA Coordinator to provide information and training on the ADA.
• Attend judicial conferences and provide administrative assistance and continuing educational services as needed. Work with the Educational Services Department of OES and others to provide training to new judges and annual training programs for special justices and hearing officers.
• Serve as liaison with certain agencies of state government as requested by the Executive Secretary and serve as the Executive Secretary’s designee on Committees and Boards as requested/needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in the Virginia State Bar
• Significant legal experience, including experience with and knowledge of Virginia’s judicial system.
• Demonstrated management experience.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills as well as competence with online legal research.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite, including use of Word and Excel.

Additional Considerations

The position is located in Richmond, Virginia. Occasional travel may be required. Background and experience in employee relations and employment law is a plus.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Contact Information

Name: Daisy Duitsman

Phone: No Calls

Email: Humanresources@Vacourts.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.