Environmental Attorney

SC DEPARTMENT of ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment? Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us! We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!

Science I Service I Sustainability

The Office of General Counsel ("OGC") is the legal team for the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.  OGC is a dynamic team of experienced attorneys that provides legal services to the agency.  Our day-to-day work involves cutting edge matters in the environmental law arena.  If you are looking for a challenge and the opportunity to serve, tired of billing hours, and want a work-life balance, OGC may be the place for you!

Under supervision of the General Counsel, the successful candidate will: provide legal advice and support to the agency Director, program management, and staff in the environmental divisions; oversee complex environmental litigation and represent the agency in state and federal court and administrative tribunals;   advise agency staff on state and federal statutory and regulatory matters; review legislation and assist staff in the promulgation of agency regulations; assist in the development of agency policies and procedures; and provide training on legal topics.

JOB FUNCTIONS:

Legal Advice:  Provide oral and written legal advice, counsel, and training to programs and agency management, including but not limited to proper application of and/or revisions to statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures, and other applicable requirements and considerations. Review and provide consultation on legal matters with broad agency impact.

Representation:   Represent the agency and its programs in meetings and negotiations and in responding to inquiries from the public, the regulated community, counsel, and the media in legal matters.

Document preparation: Draft, review, revise, and ensure the accuracy and proper content, form, and grammar of legal documents.  Document review:  Review and work with OGC attorneys and program staff on revisions of documents to ensure legal accuracy and sufficiency and proper content, form, and grammar and consistent agency action; consult on appeals and review and assist on preparation of appellate documents. File maintenance: Maintain files in an organized manner and pursuant to established file protocols.  Organize and maintain documents in paper and electronic filing systems.  

Litigation:   Handle litigation of matters from inception through appeals on behalf of the agency in all state and federal courts and administrative tribunals, including but not limited to preparing all pleadings, motions, briefs, and other litigation and appeal documents, conducting, and responding to discovery requests, taking, and defending depositions, managing exhibits, preparing witnesses, presenting oral arguments, conducting trials, and settling actions.  Maintain knowledge of current court rules and procedures.

Assist General Counsel and Chief Counsels in overseeing legal-related work product of support staff for accuracy, sufficiency and proper content, form, and grammar.   Regularly communicate with assigned support staff on status of litigation and non-litigation matters.

Assist General Counsel in managing the provision of legal services for assigned areas, in coordination with Deputy Directors, Bureau Chiefs and Chief Counsels.  

In-service training:   Provide consultation and training to program areas as needed due to issues of concern, changes in statutes or regulations, or changes to policies or procedures.

Other duties as assigned and/or approved.

State Minimum Requirements: A juris doctor degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and experience as a practicing attorney.

Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Agency Additional Requirements:

To qualify as a candidate for this position, you must:

• Have a Juris doctor degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and at least ten (10) years' experience as an attorney. Experience credit may be given for other relevant legal experience (i.e., judicial clerking, LLM programs)

• Admitted and authorized to practice law in South Carolina.  Additionally, attach to your application a certificate of good standing from each state or the District of Columbia where you are licensed to practice.

• If admitted to practice law in South Carolina for at least one year, you must have completed trial experiences as required by Rule 403 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules.

• Possess strong organizational and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently and in a team environment.

• Possess ability to supervise, manage and provide oversight of assigned attorneys and support staff to ensure prompt and high-quality legal services.

• Possess ability to conduct complex legal research, handle and oversee complex and sensitive legal matters and litigation, express conclusions, and arguments clearly and logically, and communicate effectively.

• Demonstrate strong legal research and writing skills. A resume and legal writing sample must be submitted with your application, as an addition to, and not as a substitute for a completed application.

• Demonstrate ability to use common office software and legal research programs. Please include a description of your working knowledge of office software and legal research programs.

• Be agreeable to occasional work outside normal business hours and occasional overnight travel.

• Possess a valid driver's license to operate a state vehicle or personal vehicle.

Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application may upload an unofficial copy of the transcript as an attachment to the application. Please note that the agency will require an official, certified copy of the transcript or diploma prior to hiring.

• Significant environmental law experience
• Significant administrative law experience
• Significant litigation experience
• Management experience

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees: 

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *  
• State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
• State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

DRIVING RECORD: If this position requires the applicant to possess a valid driver's license to operate a state vehicle or personal vehicle, any applicant being considered in the final stages of selection for the position will be required to provide a certified copy of a 10-year driving record.

SC DES is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employing agency. We are committed to a diverse workforce. SC DHEC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.