Attorney IV / 61061634

Full Job Description

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful contributions to your community? Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of South Carolina's children, families, and vulnerable adults? If so, the SC Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you!

Job Duties:

The Attorney IV communicates, develops, train and maintains protocols for county attorneys, paralegals and administrative staff.

Assesses compliance with applicable law and policy by legal staff for purposes of quality assurance and improvement.

Engages in general legal operations management, including in the focus area of TPRs, and ensures the Legal Case Management System (LCMS) is correctly utilized.

Serves as legal systems auditor to ensure uniform practice state-wide.

Appears in court as needed and directed and represents the agency and its interest in Court to support TPRs statewide and county legal offices as assigned.

• Serves in a lead role statewide in centrally managing timely TPR initiation, handling or supervising the conduct of TPR trials, ensuring timeliness in TPR filing and conclusion, and getting files to legally free status for youth, and providing data and analysis to the General Counsel on same.

• Appears in Court as needed to support the needs of legal offices state-wide as assigned.

• Serves as the LCMS administrator state-wide, including approving and overseeing system changes and educating staff on same. Prepared to serve as primary contact for LCMS transition to new or alternative program if needed.

• Assists with tracking attorney and paralegal recruiting and retention plans and activities; May be tasked to address specific issues with legal practice across the state; Conducts continuous quality assurance reviews and develops processes to work toward quality legal representation state-wide as needed and as directed.

• Reviews legislation, statutory and case law updates to remain current on applicable law, regulations, procedure and policy, and disseminate information to ensue that county legal offices remain current.

• Works with Regional attorneys to serve as a point of contact for the training of county legal staff. Assist with training of human service staff as assigned; provide technical assistance to assist county legal offices in meeting goals as established by the managing attorney for county operations.

Prepared to temporarily fulfill the duties of a Managing Attorney as needed and/or directed.

Prepared and able to serve as acting regional or county managing attorney during periods of leave or vacancy as directed.

Technically competent to serve as acting managing attorney for county operations as directed.

• Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duty or services as directed.

Requirements

Agency Requirements:
A Juris Doctor Degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and seven (7) years experience as a practicing attorney or five (5) years experience as a DSS attorney.

Pleas Note: A writing sample must be submitted with your application.

Necessary Special Requirement: Must be a member of the SC BAR.

Experience as a DSS Attorney preferred.

Qualifications

Thorough knowledge of the laws of SC & Federal statutes and regulations governing the various program areas. Thorough knowledge of policies, standards & procedures of the Office of General Counsel. Thorough knowledge of general case, statutory & common law & of judicial & quasi-judicial procedures & rules of procedure, including ethics considerations. The ability to interpret statues, regulations and judicial decisions; and to analyze factual circumstances within the framework of controlling statues, regulations and judicial decisions. The ability to express orally and in writing, factual and legal conclusions & arguments clearly and cogently

Additional Information

This application for employment with the SC Department of Social Services must be completed in its entirety. A resume may be included; but shall not be substituted in lieu of the completion of this application in part or in whole. "See Resume" is not acceptable information for the completion of any part of the requirements of this application. If such is submitted, this employment application will be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded as eligible for consideration to hiring managers.

Must possess a valid driver's license. The employee must be able to communicate effectively (written and orally) and write legibly. May be required to work after hours and/or some overnight travel and must be able to lift approximately 15-20 lbs.

If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

Division: Office of General Counsel / Newberry County