Deputy General Counsel - Executive Office of the Trial Court

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

3d • $138,323 - $196,003

About The Position

Working within the Trial Court Legal Department, Deputy General Counsel is designated to perform legal research and provide legal memoranda to the Chief Justice of the Trial Court as directed. The Deputy General Counsel also plays a significant role assisting the General Counsel in the direction and supervision of the Legal Department's Administrative Attorneys in performing their duties including litigation management and support, procurement of services, contracts, Worker's Compensation claims, lease management, and inter-agency service agreements. The Deputy General Counsel also assists the General Counsel in managing the administrative responsibilities of the Legal Department to the Office of Court Management. The Deputy General Counsel advises court administrative officials on legal issues presented by case law, legislation, standing orders, pending cases and administrative directives. The Deputy General Counsel also assists the General Counsel in the proposal, development, and implementation of Trial Court legal policies as approved by the Chief Justice of the Trial Court.

Requirements

• Graduation from a nationally accredited law school;
• Membership in the Massachusetts Bar and federal District of Massachusetts Bar;
• Seven (7) or more years of relevant legal experience;
• Experience in the supervision, training and management of experienced attorneys;
• Thorough knowledge of sophisticated legal research techniques and methods, including competence in computer-assisted legal research, such as the skilled use of Westlaw and other online legal research services;
• Advanced skills and abilities in the rigorous research and authoritative drafting of legal memoranda and briefs;
• Advanced skills and abilities in the application of logical reasoning to detailed statutory analysis;
• Knowledge of and experience with criminal practice and substantive criminal law;
• Outstanding writing ability and forensic skill;
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in oral and written form;
• Ability to properly rank competing work priorities and to work efficiently to fulfill those priorities in a timely manner;
• Knowledge of Massachusetts civil and criminal procedure, the Massachusetts General Laws governing the administration of the Trial Court, and the constitutional role of the Judiciary;
• Demonstrated trial and appellate experience;
• Ability to analyze administrative problems and to develop feasible solutions;
• Ability to handle sensitive matters on a confidential basis;

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Trial Court policies and procedures is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a legal adviser and research attorney for the Chief Justice of the Trial Court and the Court Administrator, and drafts legal memoranda and pleadings as requested;
• Assists the General Counsel in directing, supervising, and providing direction to the eight attorneys assigned to the Trial Court Legal Department, who include the Managing Counsel and the Labor Counsel;
• Assists the General Counsel is overseeing activities performed by the Legal Department staff including: actively collaborating with and supporting Assistant Attorneys General in the Trial and Constitutional and Administrative Law Departments of the Office of the Attorney General in the defense of civil actions against the Trial Court and its personnel; drafting and reviewing legal memoranda and pleadings; drafting and administering requests for proposals for the procurement of services; drafting, analyzing and reviewing contracts; and managing and defending Worker’s Compensation claims by Trial Court employees.
• Providing oral and written legal advice to the Directors of the Office of Court Management (e.g., Fiscal, Workplace Rights and Compliance, Information Technology, Research and Planning, Human Resources, Facilities Management, and Security) and the Deputy Court Administrators of the seven Trial Court Departments (Superior Court, District Court, Boston Municipal Court, Probate and Family Court, Housing Court, Juvenile Court and Land Court) on a broad array of legal issues arising from the administration of the Trial Court. In addition, the Deputy General Counsel provides legal advice to local managers in specific court divisions such as Clerks of Court, Registers of Probate and Chief Court Officers;
• Represents the Trial Court under the General Counsel’s Special Assistant Attorney General designation in motion and appellate practice as required by conflicts and approved by the Office of the Attorney General;
• Works collaboratively with the legal staffs of the Office of the Commissioner of Probation and the Office of the Jury Commissioner;
• Directs drafting of correspondence in response to complaints, questions and requests for information from the public, attorneys, judges, court officials and other government agencies;
• Represents the Legal Department and acts as professional staff to Trial Court committees, task forces and working groups as assigned by the General Counsel; and
• Assists in the development and implementation of Trial Court policies and procedures, including legal review of amendments to the Trial Court Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree