Deputy General Counsel - Executive Office of the Trial Court

Official Title: Deputy General Counsel - Executive Office of the Trial Court

Pay Grade: Executive Management

Salary Range: Entry Level Pay $138,323.12 to Pay Range Maximum $196,002.82

Salary Notes: This position is designated as a Management position. Starting Salary will be based on a review of qualifications and experience.

Departmental Mission Statement: The Trial Court Legal Department has dual reporting responsibilities to the Chief Justice of the Trial Court and the Court Administrator of the Executive Office of the Trial Court. The Legal Department oversees the range of legal matters that arise within the Executive Office of the Trial Court and the Office of Court Management (OCM). The Legal Department works directly with the Office of the Attorney General in its legal representation of the Trial Court, its departments, officers and employees in litigation brought in state and federal courts; and advises the Chief Justice of the Trial Court, the Court Administrator, the Directors of the OCM departments, the Office of the Commissioner of Probation, the Office of the Jury Commissioner, and the Deputy Court Administrators and attorneys for the seven Departmental Administrative Offices of the Trial Court on legal issues and problems.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE: http://www.mass.gov/courts/admin/legal.html

Notes: This position is designated as a management position and is covered by the Trial Court Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.

This posting will remain open until filled; however, the Legal Department will consider candidates on an ongoing basis. Therefore, candidates who applied during the initial 14-day posting period may benefit from early consideration.

Position Summary: 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.

Supervision Received: Work is performed under the direction of the General Counsel, who directs and evaluates the Legal Department staff and all written work produced for professional competence, accuracy, attention to detail, and adherence to Trial Court policies.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The following are the primary duties assigned to the Deputy General Counsel:

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.

Other key duties of the Deputy General Counsel include:

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.

Job Competencies: All applicants must be able, through the interview process, to prove efficiency in the following areas:  

Ethics and Values Communicates and demonstrates the ethical standards and values of the Legal Department and the Trial Court.

Mission Understands, upholds, and communicates the mission of the Legal Department and the Trial Court.

Applied Knowledge Skillfully and thoroughly performs complex legal research; prepares legal memoranda and other documents; reviews and contributes to the development and implementation of court rules and policies; and proposes needed amendments.

Problem Solving Accurately identifies and addresses legal issues arising within the Trial Court Executive Office and the Office of Court Management, initiating corrective action.

Continuous Learning Demonstrates a commitment to continuous self-improvement through professional development.

Commitment to Diversity Promotes diversity through understanding and respect, using and effective communication with persons of varied racial, ethnic, economic, and cultural backgrounds.

Customer Service Consistently demonstrates courtesy and professionalism in interacting with other Trial Court employees and the public.

Collaboration Works with others cooperatively, and promotes teamwork, contributing to a work environment that focuses on shared Trial Court goals.

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for the position Deputy General Counsel of the Legal Department:

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;

Familiarity with Trial Court policies and procedures is preferred.