ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL

West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The West Virginia Office of the Governor seeks an experienced Assistant General Counsel to provide essential legal analysis, research, and day-to-day regulatory support to the Governor’s executive staff and state agencies. The role reports to the General Counsel and emphasizes strong drafting and administrative law fundamentals.

Responsibilities include researching constitutional provisions, drafting legislation, reviewing FOIA requests, contracts and MOUs, and advising on open meetings, ethics,

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from ABA-accredited law school.
• Active member in good standing with the West Virginia State Bar (or eligible for immediate admission).
• 1–3 years of legal practice; preference for exposure to administrative law, government operations, or legislative affairs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; proficiency in legal research tools; ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive legal research and prepare memoranda on state and federal constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and executive orders.
• Assist in reviewing, analyzing, and drafting proposed legislation and tracking bills through the legislative process.
• Review and process FOIA requests, ensuring strict compliance with state transparency laws.
• Draft, review, and evaluate state contracts, MOUs, and other legal instruments for accuracy and compliance with state procurement guidelines.
• Assist in reviewing executive orders, proclamations, and official correspondence issued by the Governor.
• Provide day-to-day legal support regarding open meeting requirements, ethics guidelines, and administrative procedures.

Skills

Legal research

Written communication

Verbal communication

Project management

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Position Overview

The Office of the Governor is seeking a highly skilled, motivated, and collaborative attorney to serve as Assistant General Counsel. This dynamic role reports to the General Counsel, providing essential legal analysis, research, and day-to-day regulatory support to the Governor’s executive staff and state agencies. The ideal candidate possesses strong legal drafting capabilities, a foundational understanding of administrative law, and a deep commitment to public service.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive legal research and prepare detailed memoranda on state and federal constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and executive orders.
• Assist in reviewing, analyzing, and drafting proposed legislation and tracking bills through the legislative process.
• Review and process Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, ensuring strict compliance with state transparency laws.
• Draft, review, and evaluate state contracts, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and other legal instruments for accuracy and compliance with state procurement guidelines.
• Assist in reviewing executive orders, proclamations, and official correspondence issued by the Governor.
• Provide day-to-day legal support to executive staff regarding open meeting requirements, ethics guidelines, and administrative procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited school of law.
• Licensure: Active member in good standing with the West Virginia State Bar (or eligible for immediate admission)
• Experience: Minimum of 1–3 years of legal practice, with preference for exposure to administrative law, government operations, or legislative affairs. Highly qualified recent graduates with relevant clerkship or government externship experience will be considered.
• Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong proficiency in legal research tools; and the ability to manage multiple projects effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Salary

$100,000 to $115,000 (depending on qualifications)