Assistant Attorney General - St. Croix

100KCrossing; Christiansted (United States Virgin Islands); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Government of the Virgin Islands seeks a licensed attorney to provide professional legal work across numerous areas. The role requires appearing before courts on behalf of the Government, drafting opinions and instruments, and advising departments.

Work follows established rules with independent judgment and potential after-hours duties. Qualifications include graduation from an accredited law school (LL.B or J.D.) and admission to practice before the highest court.

Qualifications

• Professional knowledge of the principles and practices of law.
• Ability to apply law to facts and provide clear legal conclusions.
• Strong research and writing skills for opinions, pleadings, and briefs.

Responsibilities

• Represents the Government of the Virgin Islands in civil and criminal proceedings.
• Prosecutes offenses in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
• Represents the Government in appeals before the Virgin Islands Supreme Court and federal courts.
• Conducts legal research and interviews witnesses and law enforcement.
• Provides legal advice to executive departments, boards, agencies, and officers.
• Drafts pleadings, briefs, motions, orders and related court documents.
• Reviews and drafts legal opinions, regulations, contracts and other instruments.
• Prepares correspondence and attends legal conferences.
• Performs related work as required.

Skills

Legal Knowledge

Legal Research

Court Representation

Oral and Written Communication

Judgment and Decision Making

Interpersonal Skills

Education

LL.B or J.D. degree

Job description

Description DEFINITION

Under the general direction of the Attorney General, this position requires legal professional work related to numerous legal areas. Work in this class is performed in accordance with established rules, policies and procedures; however, an employee is expected to exercise initiative and judgment in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the position. An employee is expected to appear before the courts on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands in criminal and civil cases; to render written opinions on legal questions related to the various government departments and agencies; and to prepare legal documents and instruments in which the Government of the Virgin Islands has an interest. All work is subject to review by the Attorney General while in draft form, upon his or her request.

Duties and Responsibilities

DUTIES (NOT ALL INCLUSIVE)

• Appears for and represents the executive branch of the Government of the Virgin Islands in all civil and criminal proceedings in which the Government has an interest.
• Prosecutes all offenses against the law of the Virgin Islands in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.
• Represents the Government of the Virgin Islands in all appeals before the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands and federal appeals courts.
• Performs legal research regarding representation before the courts on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands.
• Interviews witnesses, victims and law enforcement officers to ascertain facts of each case and correlates findings to prepare cases before the courts.
• Provides legal advice to all executive departments, boards, commissions, agencies, instrumentalities and officers of the Government of the Virgin Islands.
• Drafts pleadings, briefs, motions, orders and other court-related documents required for prosecuting cases.
• Researches and drafts legal opinions related to the government departments and their operations.
• Drafts regulations, contracts and other legal instruments in which the Government of the Virgin Islands has an interest.
• Reviews legal instruments prepared by other government attorneys and advises as to legal sufficiency.
• Prepares correspondence related to innumerable legal areas.
• Attends conferences related to innumerable legal areas.
• Performs other related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited law school, having earned an LL.B or J.D. degree, and admission to practice before the highest court of any state or territory.

Position Factors

FACTOR 1 - KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

Professional knowledge of the principles and practices of law. Thorough knowledge of the application of legal research, including electronic research tools. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up with minimum direction. Ability to identify legal issues. Ability to apply applicable law to facts and draw logical conclusions. Ability to interact, establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Ability to exercise good judgment, make sound decisions, and present ideas and information clearly and concisely, orally and in writing. Ability to interpret and apply legal principles and precedents to difficult legal problems. Ability to prepare, present, and conduct hearings, trials, and appeals. Ability to maintain confidentiality and objectivity. Ability to write reports, motions, briefs and other legal documents.

FACTOR 2 - SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

Works under the general supervision of the Attorney General. The employee uses independent sound judgment in carrying out the work, sets priorities, objectives, and deadlines to be met. Work is reviewed through consultation with the supervisor.

FACTOR 3 – GUIDELINES

Guidelines include VI code, local and federal laws, Model Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys, departmental policy and procedures, and directives.

FACTOR 4 – COMPLEXITY

Employee is responsible for making critical decisions relative to case assignments. Decisions are made daily and may have critical effects on clients. Complexity may vary depending on case and problems presented.

FACTOR 5 - SCOPE AND EFFECT

The purpose of the work is to provide sound technical and professional legal advice and representation to the Government.

FACTOR 6 - PERSONAL CONTACTS

Contacts are with clients, local and federal officials, law enforcement agencies, other professionals, and the general public.

FACTOR 7 - PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

To gather information in order to provide legal advice and prepare cases to represent the Government and its instrumentalities, boards, commissions, agencies and departments at various meetings and in court.

FACTOR 8 - PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is mostly sedentary. It may be mentally and emotionally stressful, and requires after-hours work.

FACTOR 9 - WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an office or courtroom setting, but some field work is required. May also require inter-island or mainland travel.