Staff Attorney

Position: Staff Attorney
Department: Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Legal Affairs, Adjudications & Hearings unit
Schedule: Monday - Friday, Full time
Job Class: CA27 (Public Service Coordinator I)

Salary: $64,376.00 - 91,000.00 annually

Closing Date: April 17, 2025

Join Our Team at the Department of the Secretary of State

At the Department of the Secretary of State, we are a team dedicated to providing efficient and exceptional service to our community. We prioritize work-life balance and offer great benefits to support our team in achieving professional success while maintaining personal well-being. Join a team that fosters a culture of teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement, offering opportunities for growth and making a meaningful impact on the lives of our citizens.

Are you ready to make a difference?
We are looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals who thrive in a dynamic, growth-focused environment. If you are passionate about making a difference, driving success, and being part of a positive team culture, we want you on our team.

About the Position:

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney to serve as the Chair and presiding officer in all Maine Motor Vehicle Franchise Board matters, providing legal advice and services while overseeing administrative hearings and policy implementation. This role includes making preliminary rulings, conducting license suspension hearings, and participating in Board deliberations, including casting tie-breaking votes. You will research and interpret laws, provide legal opinions, and work with senior management to enforce Motor Vehicle Franchise Law. Additional responsibilities include recruiting Board members and ensuring compliance with regulatory procedures and occasionally conducting license suspension hearings on behalf of the Bureau. Ideal candidates will have strong organizational skills, the ability to work independently, and expertise in civil litigation or administrative judicial proceedings. A deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, sound analytical judgment, and the ability to conduct hearings with fairness and professionalism are essential. Strong communication and negotiation skills are also crucial. 

To support professional growth, the Bureau covers bar fees and continuing legal education (CLE) expenses, ensuring you remain current with legal developments.

What We’re Looking For:

• Team Collaboration: Ability to work effectively within a team, contributing to shared goals and helping others succeed.
• Communication Skills: Clear and effective communication with colleagues, management, and stakeholders to ensure alignment and clarity.
• Adaptability: Willingness and ability to adapt to changing priorities, processes, and technologies.
• Problem-Solving: Strong critical thinking skills to identify issues and propose innovative solutions.
• Attention to Detail: A focus on accuracy and thoroughness in completing tasks and managing responsibilities.
• Professionalism: Maintain a positive and respectful work environment through thoughtful, courteous interactions.
• Working Independently: Proven ability to work effectively and productively with minimal supervision, taking initiative and ownership of tasks.

Key Competencies We Value:

• Emotional Intelligence: Ability to understand and connect with others, showing empathy while maintaining professionalism and accountability.
• Conflict Resolution & Feedback: Skill in managing difficult situations and accepting constructive feedback with tact and respect.
• Time Management: Strong organizational and multitasking abilities to balance various responsibilities effectively.
• Commitment to Excellence: Dedication to achieving high standards in service delivery and personal work performance.
• Continuous Improvement: A mindset focused on improving processes, learning new skills, and supporting team development.

In this role, you will:

• Make preliminary rulings on discovery and other questions.
• Participate fully in Board deliberations and vote on merits of complaints before the Board to break tie votes.
• Regularly review rules, regulations and rulemaking procedures with senior management and Board members to implement Motor Vehicle Franchise Law.
• Research applicable laws and provide legal opinions to the Board or to the agency.
• Recruit board members as needed
• Schedule and hold administrative license suspension hearings for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and render hearing decisions orally and in writing.

   

Preferences will be given to candidates who have:

• Strong Organizational Skills – Ability to efficiently manage daily board operations with minimal support.
• Legal Expertise – Experience in civil litigation or formal administrative judicial proceedings, including legal counseling.
• Regulatory Knowledge – Familiarity with state and federal laws, including the Administrative Procedures Act, Maine Rules of Evidence, and Maine Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Analytical Skills – Ability to assess facts, testimony, and legal issues to make sound decisions.
• Fair and Impartial Judgement – Conduct hearings with professionalism and neutrality.
• Effective Communication & Negotiation – Handle high-pressure situations, engage with diverse individuals, and facilitate settlements.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Law Degree from an accredited law school. 
  
• Admitted to practice law in Maine and currently registered with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.
  

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Please note that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions, and successful candidates will be required to complete an I-9 form upon hire.

Why Join Our Team?

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you’ll be part of a workforce that embodies our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—providing essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and well-being with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit: Take time for yourself with 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage: The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Dental Insurance: The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.62 annual value).
• Retirement Plan: The State contributes the equivalent of 18.09% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Matthew Dudley at Matthew.S.Dudley@Maine.Gov

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application.  In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period.  Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such. 

If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE or contact our office at 207-441-4512.  Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Secretary of State Office of Human Resources, 29 State House Station, Augusta, ME  04330 or faxed to 207-624-9313.  Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included.  Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.  

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job, and then there’s purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in different ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note that reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.