SENIOR ATTORNEY

OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

**Open-Competitive Opportunity**

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Office of General Counsel (OGC) works closely with the department’s Command Staff, regional Special Agents in Charge, and Program Directors to provide legal assistance and advice that is responsive to the specialized needs of the department, region, or division.

The OGC serves the entire agency in many different capacities which include: general state agency issues, such as human resource legal issues and public records requests; FDLE-specific matters, such as advising agents regarding ongoing criminal investigations and criminal intelligence gathering, Firearms Purchase Program concerns, DNA and Crime Laboratories legal questions, and Sexual Predator / Sexual Offender Registration questions. The OGC also handles Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) professional licensure prosecutions, agency contracts, purchasing issues and administrative rulemaking. OGC members provide training on a variety of criminal law and procedure topics for FDLE’s Special Agents.

The Department is seeking to fill a Senior position within the Office of General Counsel in one of the following areas: Tallahassee, Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Myers, Florida. Preference will be given to applicants reporting to the Tallahassee, Orlando or Pensacola, Florida office locations.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific duties include:

The position will be based in one of FDLE’s Regional Operation Centers or in Headquarters (Tallahassee, Florida) and is the legal advisor for the Offender Registry Service Bureau. FDLE’s Offender Registry Bureau supports the sexual offender/predator and career offender registries through public assistance, administrative operations, technical systems, registration resources, and investigative enforcement.

The attorney in this position is responsible for advising the Offender Registry Bureau on topics relating to Sexual Offender and Predator registration requirements. Representing the agency in circuit court regarding litigation on sexual offender registration requirements, as well as any corresponding appeals.

This attorney will also assist and advise the Florida Missing Children’s Day Foundation and the Florida Missing and Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse Advisory board. Additionally, this position will provide specialized training for Department personnel on offender registry topics.

The attorney must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, and PowerPoint. The attorney must be an effective communicator, be able to work well as a team, and have a practical understanding of Florida criminal law. Must have the ability to effectively work under stressful deadlines or circumstances.

To be considered as a potential candidate, you must meet the minimum qualifications(s) listed below. Degrees must be from an accredited college or university as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

SPECIAL NOTES:

All applicants must submit a completed State of Florida Employment Application via the People First System, specifically identifying required experience and current salary. In addition, applicants must email a legal writing sample to the attention of Tracie Crawford, Florida  Department  of  Law  Enforcement,  Office  of  General  Counsel,  email address: TracieCrawford@fdle.state.fl.us. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. A member of the Florida Bar for two or more years.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. At least two (2) years of experience as a law enforcement agency legal advisor, prosecutor, or similar criminal justice system work.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Ability to successfully complete a background investigation to determine suitability for the position;
• Significant experience in criminal law and related matters;
• Ability to create and present training materials; and
• Effective oral and written advocacy skills (courtroom & administrative hearings and trials).

Note: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the State of Florida Employment Application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

BASE SALARY:

• $89,000.00 – 95,000.00

HOW YOU WILL GROW:

FDLE recognizes the importance of growth and success while fostering a supportive work environment. We encourage our members to seek opportunities for professional growth through training, team building, and mentoring. Our four Fundamental Values of Service, Integrity, Respect and Quality will guide you as you embark on a lifelong career at FDLE.

OUR SALARY & BENEFITS:

Starting salary will be the minimum of the class pay range, unless otherwise dictated by FDLE’s pay policy. FDLE is a State of Florida Employer and offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• State of Florida Tuition Waiver Program;
• Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave;
• HMO and PPO health insurance options with premiums starting as low as $50 per month;
• $25,000 in automatic life insurance coverage;
• Multiple supplemental insurance options including: dental, vision, disability and more;
• Paid maternity leave and parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child;
• Pension and investment retirement plan options; and
• Tax deferred medical and child care reimbursement accounts.

ABOUT OUR AGENCY:

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) employs more than 2,000 members statewide – either at headquarters in Tallahassee or in one of seven regional operations centers (ROCs). Our mission is to promote public safety and strengthen domestic security. Click

here for additional information about FDLE.

HIRING PROCESS:

You will be evaluated for this job based on your previous knowledge and experience. Additional reviews may be performed to screen for preferred qualifications, experience, and education. Your qualifications will be based on knowledge, skills, and abilities and other elements relevant to this position supported by the information in your application. Qualifying questions will only be credited if verifiable by the information provided on your application including specifically required software/computer skills. You may be contacted to participate in a selection process which may consist of written exercises, work samples, skills tests, interviews, drug screen and fingerprinting. You may be notified by email to participate in a selection process. Failure to reply within a designated timeframe may exclude you from further consideration. Future vacancies may be filled from this position advertisement.

BACKGROUND:

FDLE requires an extensive background process of all recommended applicants. The elements of a background include: financial credit check, criminal history of applicant and applicant’s immediate family or roommates, personal references, employment and education verifications (which includes official transcript(s)), drug screen and fingerprinting. This information will be utilized to make the final hiring decision.