Assistant Attorney General/Public Health & Child Welfare (60010217)

*This is a repost. Previous candidates do not need to reapply. *

The primary purpose of the Attorney General's Office of the North Carolina Department of Justice is to provide legal services to State Government, its officials and employees. The primary purpose of the Public Health and Child Welfare Section is to provide legal services to the following:
1. The Division of Public Health, the CACFP and WIC programs of the Division of Child and Family Well-Being, and the Child Welfare and Child Support Services programs of the Division of Social Services, of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
2. All health-related occupational licensing boards that do not utilize private counsel.
3. The Commission for Public Health.

The primary purpose of this position to provide a full range of legal services to the Division of Public Health of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Litigation Critical to the Protection of the Public Health.

• This position handles litigation in a myriad of public health programs, including enforcement of laws and rules governing sewage treatment and disposal systems (On-Site Wastewater Section); laws and rules governing restaurants and other food-handling establishments (Environmental Health Section); laws and rules protecting women's and children's health (Women and Children's Health Section); communicable disease controls including control measures for HIV, hepatitis, and other communicable diseases (Communicable Disease Control and HIV/STD Prevention Services, Epidemiology Section); tattooing laws and rules (Environmental Health Section); public swimming pool construction and operation laws and rules(Environmental Health Section); the State Laboratory of Public Health; Vital Records and the State's Chief Medical Examiner. Litigation includes actions in torts, negligence and medical malpractice.
• This position represents DHHS in OSHA actions and other agencies as needed.
• These cases generally begin in the Office of Administrative Hearings and proceed to State appellate courts; however, some cases are initiated in the State Superior courts or Federal courts. Duties include analysis of legal issues and defenses, performing legal research, developing case strategy, preparing pleadings, legal memoranda and briefs, conducting discovery, engaging in pre- and post-trial motions practice, conducting settlement negotiations, identifying, preparing and examining witnesses, including expert witnesses, preparing evidence, conducting courtroom litigation, perfecting appeals, preparing appellate briefs and presenting oral arguments.

Counsels on Public Health Legal Issues.

• This position advises the State Health Director, and all public health sections within the Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Human Services.
• This position also communicates with local health departments, county attorneys, district attorneys on legal issues involving public health matters. Much of this time is spent assisting state agencies and counties in pursuing enforcement of public health laws, including guidance on litigation or in taking preventive measures through skillful negotiations and counseling to avoid potential litigation. This includes advising the State Health Director and client state agencies on the legality of potential enforcement actions and negotiating liability settlements involving the client agencies.
• This position also advises on basic legal issues involving public health, responds to citizen calls, provides training on legal issues for public health staff, responds to requests for advisory letters and performs other routine legal assistance.
• This position assists the agency in reviewing draft administrative rules and/or statutes.

Represents State in Criminal Appeals.

• This position serves as attorney for the State when convicted criminals appeal from judgments entered pursuant to trials or engage in other post-conviction practices, including motions for appropriate relief, stays of sentences and writs of supersedes.
• The duties involve analysis of legal issues, legal research, preparation, as appropriate, of pleadings, memoranda of law, appellate briefs and presentation of oral arguments in the appellate courts.
• This attorney performs other work as assigned by the Attorney General or his designee.

Note to Current State Employees:
The salary grade for this position is LG08. State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as, or lower than, their current position. Please detail ALL work history including non-state service experience. If selected for this position, a new salary will be recalculated taking into consideration the quantity of relevant education and experience, funding availability, and internal equity. Based upon these factors, a pay increase MAY or MAY NOT result.

THE STARTING SALARY FOR A NEW HIRE TO THIS POSITION IS LIMITED TO THE RECRUITMENT RANGE OF $87,849 to $103,184. Salary offers for the selected candidate are based on the candidate's education and experience related to the position, as well as our agency budget and equity.

The State of North Carolina offers employer-paid health insurance plus twelve paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information atEmployee Benefits.

Salary

• $87,849 - $153,736/year

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

Ability to conduct complex civil or criminal litigation in trial and appellate courts.
Ability to interpret and apply laws, constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and court decisions.
Ability to analyze facts, evidence, and legal instruments.
Ability to express conclusions and arguments clearly and logically in oral and written form.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar and three years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.

Management preferences: Experience in representing government clients in on-site wastewater, food and lodging, public records requests, OSHA, and medical examiner matters preferred. Experience in litigation preferred – trials, depositions, discovery, expert witnesses.

How to Apply

The NC Department of Justice accomplishes our goals through our DOJ Organizational Values of Public Service, Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Diversity, and Innovation. We encourage all qualified candidates who are committed to these values and want to make a difference in the lives of our citizens to apply for this opportunity.

Please be sure to complete the application in full.

Note the following: If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date.

Resumes and cover letters: To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application form. This information is used to determine if you meet the requirements of the position, and if you are selected, it is used to determine a salary offer.

Using the terms "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will not be accepted and your application will be rejected as incomplete. Cover letters are highly encouraged but not required.

Transcripts: Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. A copy of your transcripts indicating the degree received can be uploaded with your application.

If a transcript has been requested, your application will be considered incomplete if you do not provide one. Using a photograph of your diploma is not acceptable.

Credit for foreign degrees will only be given if verification of degree certification is attached to your application. Transcripts for foreign degrees have to be evaluated by an organization like World Education Services to determine US equivalency.

Any licenses or certificates must be included in the appropriate section of the application form.

Veterans Preference: Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 or discharge orders.

Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if you are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If you are a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, you must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

Application status: To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take an average of 6 – 8 weeks. All applicants will be notified by email once a position is filled.

NeoGov Help Line: If you are having technical issues submitting your application, please call the NeoGov Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting, other than your application status, please contact the NC DOJ Human Resources office.

The NC Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The NC Department of Justice uses Merit-Based Recruitment to select from among the most qualified applicants to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
NC Department of Justice
Human Resources Office
114 W. Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
919-716-6490

Benefits

NOTE: For temporary, contract or other supplemental staffing appointments: There are no paid leave, retirement or other benefits associated with these appointment types.

For permanent and time-limited appointments:
Eligible employees have benefits that include employee health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, NC Flex (a variety of high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis), and paid vacation, sick, and community service leave, to name a few. Paid parental leave is available for eligible employees. Some benefits require 30 + hours work/week for participation.