Special Deputy Attorney General, DOJ Legal Civil Litigation (60010221)

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

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The purpose of the Public Safety Section of the Department of Justice is to provide a full range of legal services to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (“DPS”) and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (“DAC”). These services include defending DPS, DAC, and/or its personnel in civil rights actions, employment actions, and other litigation; providing contract, policy, and document review; and responding to requests for legal advice. Cases involving DPS and DAC occur at all levels of the state and federal judicial systems – from administrative proceedings through trials, and associated appeals. The breadth of the legal services provided by, and the legal issues addressed in, this position create the potential for a high volume of litigation handled by the attorney and the Section.

Lead Complex Case Attorney for the Public Safety Section—DPS/DAC and will work on matters for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (DAC). The primary purpose of this Attorney IV position is to provide advanced professional litigation services, advanced legal and factual analysis, and thoughtful, meaningful legal advice to mid-level, senior, and executive managers of DPS and DAC. This position will also serve as advisor to other attorneys in the complex and class action litigation matters in the areas of prisons, law enforcement, and civil rights law and shares responsibility with several other attorney positions for providing all legal support services and such other duties as assigned.
 
DPS and DAC are two of the largest state agencies., DPS houses the following Divisions:  NC State Highway Patrol; NC Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE); State Capitol Police; Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; Emergency Management, including the North Carolina Office of Resiliency and Recovery, and the North Carolina National Guard;, and the Crime Victims Compensation Commission.  DAC houses the following Divisions:  Prisons; Community Corrections; Post Release Supervision & Parole Commission; and Correction Enterprises.
* Represents Client Agency in Litigation 
Conducts, independently or as a member of a litigation team, civil litigation in state administrative and trial courts, federal trial courts, and associated appellate courts in simple to very complex cases. Identifies legal issues, gathers and analyzes information, conducts factual research, analyzes the relevant law, and applies the relevant law to the factual information in the case setting. Develops, plans, and executes a legal strategy to achieve the desired case result. Investigates and drafts accurate factual and legal claims and defenses. Propounds meaningful discovery requests, reviews, analyzes, and responds to discovery requests, and conducts meaningful depositions. Possesses and employs sophisticated knowledge of evidentiary, procedural, and substantive law. Conducts persuasive arguments to judges and juries. Communicates effectively and cogently with client agency and counsel for adverse party to facilitate settlement of disputed claims. Identifies and analyzes compliance options for client agency. Drafts and negotiates consent orders and settlement documents. 

 * Drafts Documents 
Drafts pleadings, motions, orders, discovery requests and responses, and correspondence to comport with applicable law, agency rules and procedures, and the relevant rules of courts. Composes, edits, and coordinates independently the preparation of legal memoranda and other case support administrative correspondence to communicate information to client agency, court personnel, and opposing counsel. Assists client agency in drafting proposed legislation. Analyzes proposed legislation for impact to client agency and existing programs, and recommends amendments to existing legislation to further goals and mission of client agency. 

 * Researches and Investigates 
Performs legal research manually and electronically from various sources, including Lexis-Nexis, Department of Justice and other law libraries, and assorted web-based sites. Independently researches simple to very complex legal issues. Verifies current status of cited legal authority for research, memoranda, and briefs. Independently investigates accuracy of allegations contained in legal documents of adverse party. Collects documents and other information necessary to respond to allegations, and analyzes such collections for accuracy and relevance. Interviews potential witnesses, and obtains statements from defendants, witnesses, and experts to support the trial strategy and plan. Reviews proposed evidence, and analyzes and assimilates the data to support the trial strategy and plan.

 * Advises Client Agency 
Researches all relevant source material and legal precedents, and provides legal advice to the client agency by means of formal and informal written opinions, training assistance, and policy review. In consultation with the Section Supervisor, provides recommendations to the client agency to improve its operational efficiency in order to reduce its exposure to liability.

  * Criminal Appeals and Non-litigation Matters 
Reviews trial transcripts and other documents, researches legal issues identified in the record of appeal and defendant’s appellate brief, and composes state’s appellate brief in response. Conducts oral argument in Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Responds to inquires from citizens, local and state government officials, and members of the General Assembly as assigned. Attends public hearings and legislative committee meetings as assigned.

THE STARTING SALARY FOR A NEW HIRE TO THESE POSITIONS IS LIMITED TO THE RECRUITMENT RANGE OF $92,917 to $115,937 . Position is client funded. Salary offers are based upon the candidate's education and experience related to the position, as well as departmental budget and equity considerations.

Note to Current State Employees:
The salary grade for this position is LG09 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 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 at Employee Benefits.

Telework opportunities are available for this position.

• The ability to analyze, interpret, and apply facts, rules, and appellate decisions.
• The ability to express arguments clearly and logically in oral and written form.
• The ability to work collaboratively on cases.
• The ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders.

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

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