Attorney II

OUR MISSION AND VALUES
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs is the state’s consumer protection agency. Established in 1974, SCDCA is charged with protecting consumers from inequities in the marketplace through advocacy, mediation, enforcement, and education. With an unrivaled complaint processing portal, an award-winning communications staff, and dedicated staff overseeing more than 120 statutes SCDCA administers and enforces, SCDCA offers invaluable services to every citizen in SC. We’re looking for a motivated attorney with great negotiation, research, problem solving, and communication skills who will be dependable, energetic, and a self-starter to join our agency in providing excellent legal assistance for the agency and staff, customer service for staff, consumers, and businesses, and assist our Legal Division in enforcement of various laws under SCDCA’s jurisdiction.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF YOUR ROLE 
SCDCA’s Legal Division performs the agency’s licensing, administration, and enforcement duties related to the majority of the laws under the agency’s jurisdiction. The individual in this role is responsible for assisting the Legal Division’s enforcement team in resolving escalated complaints relating to regulated entities, identifying violations of statutes under SCDCA’s jurisdiction, and working with businesses to gain compliance with state and federal laws.

DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES

• Under limited supervision, serve as a staff attorney for the agency.
• Work jointly with other state and federal agencies to enforce consumer protection laws under the agency’s jurisdiction including debt collection, unfair trade practices, advertising, preneed funeral contracts, physical fitness centers, and other SCDCA regulatory programs.
• Assist agency staff in resolving escalated complaints.
• Represent the agency in administrative hearings and court proceedings by filing actions for remedies including cease-and-desist, equitable relief, monetary relief, and civil penalties.
• Conduct complex legal research and draft legal memoranda for use in making administrative interpretations, rules and regulations, and informal agency opinions.
• Review proposed regulations and make amendments and recommendations. Testify before the General Assembly as required. Draft legislative bills, resolutions, and amendments.
• Perform other legal services as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
A juris doctor degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and experience as a practicing attorney.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Must be a member of the South Carolina Bar and have completed Rule 403 trial experience requirements.

• Ability to communicate effectively and express conclusions clearly, logically, and concisely.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws and judicial decisions.
• Ability to perform legal research involving complex legal problems. 
• Well organized and able to work independently. 
• Experience in litigation in administrative and state courts.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships. 
• Professional demeanor and attitude including dress, timeliness, and dependability.