SENIOR ATTORNEY (WT: ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL) - 76005232

Requisition No: 885737 

Agency: Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle

Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY (WT: ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL) - 76005232

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 76005232 

Salary:  $72,000.00 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 10/31/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (OED)

OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

FHP LEGAL COUNSEL

*Selected Exempt Service (SES) Opportunity*

*Open Competitive Advertisement*

To be considered for this position, applicant responses to qualifying questions must be clearly stated within the employment history. Software systems, actual work experience, and years of employment must be clearly defined, or the application may not be considered for the position. 

Contact Person: Bonnie Buchanan, (850) 617-3101, BonnieBuchanan@flhsmv.gov

The Organization

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education, and enforcement. With a workforce of approximately 4,500 employees throughout the state, the Department is leading the way to A Safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles, and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Our Benefits include

• Paid Parental Leave
• Annual and Sick Leave Package
• Nine Paid Holidays
• State Health and Life Insurance
• Educational Benefits
• Contributory Retirement Plan

To learn more about FLHSMV and why it’s a great place to work, visit our website at: flhsmv.gov/careers. 

If you're seeking employment with a meaningful mission, opportunities for skill growth and career advancement, competitive medical and life insurance, retirement benefits, ample vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, and educational assistance, consider building your career at FLHSMV!

Duties and Responsibilities

This position serves as a Troop Legal Advisor to a Troop within the Florida Highway Patrol and Assistant General Counsel to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This position provides legal advice and training to FHP members. An ideal candidate will possess criminal litigation experience as a prosecutor, be comfortable in a courtroom setting, and be able to think on their feet. A Troop Legal Advisor (TLA) is required to handle a variety of matters, including prosecution of traffic infraction hearings, civil asset forfeitures, monitor claims litigation, and other administrative hearings as needed. An ideal candidate will have an outgoing personality, should possess excellent interpersonal skills, and will be able to easily relate to other people (especially law enforcement officers). This position includes a training aspect, thus, the ability to communicate effectively with non-lawyers is very important. The ability to self-motivate is important. The ideal candidate will communicate regularly with members of the Office of the General Counsel by video conference and frequent meetings. Overnight travel is required. The candidate will be required to integrate and develop solid working relationships with law enforcement personnel at all levels of the agency, local state attorneys, sheriffs and other local police agencies. This will necessitate conducting ride-alongs, attending sworn personnel training, and some travel within the state. An ideal candidate will also be familiar with and be able to review warrants for probable cause, facilitate the legal aspects of court ordered evidence destruction, and answer questions on a wide range of legal topics. This position touches numerous areas of the law and is rewarding for a person who enjoys working on different matters each day.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with the following:

• At least two (2) years of experience as an Assistant State Attorney or Public Defender.
• Supervisory experience of other attorneys.
• Experience creating and delivering legal training.
• Prior law enforcement experience.

Job Related Requirements

• The position you are applying is subject to a Level 2 background check, along with Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) clearance, to include a fingerprint-based check of the criminal records of the FBI, as a condition of employment pursuant to Chapter 110.1127, 435 and 943, Florida Statutes.  Please note that, since this position requires CJIS clearance, the Department will have access to all an applicant’s criminal and juvenile delinquency records, even those that have been sealed or expunged. 
• This position requires the incumbent to have and maintain a valid driver’s license in good standing. This means there can be no cancellations, suspensions, or revocations for a minimum of three years prior to employment and for the duration of employment. There can be no more than three chargeable crashes or any violation of Chapter 316, Florida Statutes, during any consecutive three-year period prior to and throughout employment.
• Selected candidate must be an active member of The Florida Bar in good standing.
• Day and overnight travel are required.

General Information

• The state of Florida hires only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. All selected applicants are required to provide identification and either proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of authorization to work in the U.S. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) does not participate in employment sponsorship for work visa status (e.g., H-1B) or for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT, STEM OPT).

• Applicants being considered for employment will be required to submit to a fingerprint-based background investigation, which will include a check of the criminal history records of the FBI.  Fingerprints and associated information/biometrics will be retained in the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system and fingerprints may continue to be compared against fingerprints submitted to or retained by NGI.

• In accordance with Section 110.1128, Florida Statutes, male applicants who were required to register with the Selective Service System must provide proof of registration or documentation verifying exemption status during the hiring process.

• The elements of the selection process may include a skill assessment and/or oral interview.
• FLHSMV employees are paid once a month on the last workday of each month.  All state employees are required to participate in the direct deposit program pursuant to s. 110.113 Florida Statutes.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.