SENIOR ATTORNEY - 60000098

Requisition No: 864330 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY - 60000098

Position Number: 60000098 

Salary:  $70,000 - $80,000 

Posting Closing Date: 11/30/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Senior Attorney

Office of General Counsel

Department of Children and Families

9393 N. Florida Avenue, Suite 900, Tampa, FL 33612

Open Competitive

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

What you will do:

• Under the direction of the Chief Regional Legal Counsel, this position provides professional legal services and representation to Department staff and leadership primarily within the geographical boundaries of the Department’s Suncoast Region (Judicial Circuits 6, 12, 13 & 20).
• Advises region leadership and staff about legal and policy decisions affecting the day-to-day activities of the region and advises and assists in the formulation of certain policies and procedures.
• Conducts varied pre-trial discovery, trial litigation, and appellate litigation in federal and state courts as assigned.
• Represents the Department in union grievances, Public Employees Relations Commission hearings and Administrative Hearings as assigned.
• Serves as a liaison to retained outside counsel as assigned.
• Provides legal trainings at the direction of the General Counsel.
• Prepares written legal opinions involving federal and state statute interpretations, administrative rules, and court decisions consistent with agency policy and direction from the General Counsel.
• Assists in the day-to-day administration and supervision of the region legal office staff including paralegal specialists, secretarial and administrative staff, as well as legal interns.
• 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.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.