SENIOR ATTORNEY - 60071384

Requisition No: 849882 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY - 60071384

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 60071384 

Salary:  $70,000 - $80,000 

Posting Closing Date: 04/15/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Senior Attorney

Office of General Counsel

Department of Children and Families

230 N. Woodland Ave. Suite 310, DeLand, FL 32720

Open Competitive

Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

What you will do:

• This position acts as the Assistant Regional Legal Counsel which implements the delivery of professional legal services to the region pursuant to the policies, procedures and standards established within the Department.  The incumbent in this position reports directly to the Regional Legal Counsel and is responsible for implementing and directing legal representation within the geographical boundaries of the Northeast Region, in the 7th Circuit.
• Assists in planning, management, implementations, and operation of the legal services performed in the circuit(s) and region.
• Advises the Regional Director as well as region staff about legal and policy decisions which affect the day to day activities of the region.  This responsibility includes attending meetings, as well as providing counsel and advice to staff concerning the legal ramifications of potential litigation, legislation, policy decisions, court decisions, and Department legal opinions of statewide importance.
• Implements the legal opinions and policies established and issued by the Department’s General Counsel. 
• Responsible for assisting in the supervision and management of outside contract attorneys who represent the Department in circuit legal matters. 
• Demonstrates leadership within the broadest regional legal community, maintaining sound and productive relationships with the judiciary, the Florida Bar, private and public law firms, and other legal stakeholders.
• Serves as legal counsel in circuit operations involving regional policy as a member of the circuit leadership and management team, participating in planning, organizing, and directing the implementation of legal functions in the region. 
• Represents the Regional Director and the Department in legal matters. 
• Has an advisory interrelationship with the Statewide Director and regional managing attorneys for Child Legal Services with respect to family safety law and policy, working with them in close communication and coordination, particularly with respect to litigation and appellate matters pertaining to multiple practice areas, and all matters of statewide importance. Participates in Child Legal Services trainings.  Provides advice and counsel to circuit committees and sub-committees. Attends Alliance and related meetings as requested.
• Provides PERC, public records and Sexual Harassment Training, as well as other circuit trainings at the direction of the Regional Legal Counsel and the Regional Director or at the request of the General Counsel.
• Supervises or provides oversight and administrative assistance for all litigation functions relating to representing the circuit(s) in state and federal courts.
• Assists in the day to day administration and supervision of the circuit(s) legal services offices.  Supervises circuit legal staff that may include, but not be limited to, paralegal specialists, secretarial and administrative staff, and support staff, as well as legal interns and junior level Assistant Regional Counsels. Coordinates legal services provided by attorneys contracting within the circuit and Region.
• Conducts varied trial litigation and pretrial discovery in both federal and state courts.  Represents the Department in general civil appellate cases (other than appellate cases within the jurisdiction of Child Legal Services) in federal and state courts on matters that arise in the Region.
• Prepares written legal opinions involving federal and state statute interpretations, administrative rules, and court decisions consistent with agency policy and direction from the Office of the General Counsel. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Member of the Florida Bar

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

SELECTIVE SERVICE:  Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

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.