Assistant Legal Counsel

State of North Carolina

About The Position

The Office of General Counsel for the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts is seeking a qualified attorney to provide oral and written legal advice, information, and training to Judicial Branch officials and employees in the subject areas of civil and special proceedings family law and child welfare law, including but not limited to, Chapter 50 domestic action claims (divorce, equitable distribution, child support, and child custody), civil actions requesting protective orders, adoption, legitimation, name changes, including name changes pursuant to Chapter 101, juvenile proceedings, other general topics in civil law and procedure, and criminal and infraction violations of motor vehicle laws. This position provides training and counsel to state Judicial Branch officials and employees and supports the Agency’s legislative affairs team.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school, an active license to practice law in North Carolina, and two (2) years of professional legal experience.
Knowledge of: case, statutory, regulatory, and common law; General Statutes and their application to the operation of the Judicial Branch; judicial and quasi-judicial procedures; specific subject matter areas identified above under Description of Work; and other general areas of civil and criminal and infraction motor vehicle laws.
Skills in: interpreting and applying complex laws; researching and identifying precedents in case law; utilizing and evaluating electronic legal research and online systems; organizing work; setting priorities; meeting critical deadlines; and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
Ability to: analyze facts, laws, rules, regulations, interpretations, and related written documents and apply them to specific legal issues; produce legal interpretations in a timely and responsive manner for court officials; conduct legal research through the use of the general statutes, case law, and other legal research tools; and interact daily in a professional and tactful manner with court officials, legislators, NCAOC personnel, and members of the general public in discussing controversial issues.

Nice To Haves

Management will review applicants with the minimum required experience but prefers candidates with 4-7 years of professional legal experience.
Management strongly prefers candidates with experience in legislative drafting and analysis, practical courtroom experience in civil family law and juvenile law, experience with advising on and developing policies and procedures, and experience teaching complex legal issues to lawyers and non-lawyers.
Management also strongly prefers candidates with experience in criminal and infraction violations of motor vehicle laws or a willingness to train and develop in this area.

Responsibilities

Locate, analyze, communicate, and apply legal requirements to particular situations to provide counsel to officials and employees throughout the Judicial Branch.
Advise on policy development and procedures in assigned areas of expertise.
Analyze, monitor, draft, and report on pending and enacted legislation in assigned subject matter areas.
Participate in the development, review, and delivery of training in assigned areas of expertise. This includes development of new course materials such as manuals, course aids, and texts, and the delivery of these court materials at statewide conferences, via webinar, and at scheduled trainings throughout the State, which may require occasional overnight travel.
Review and assist in the development and improvement of statewide court system forms, electronic systems, and databases.
Serve as legal counsel to Judicial Branch committees and working groups, including the Child Support Guidelines Review Committee of the Conference of Chief District Court Judges.
Other duties as assigned by the General Counsel.

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