Assistant General Counsel

WV Parkways Authority; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The Governor's Office is seeking an attentive Assistant General Counsel to provide legal analysis, research, and day-to-day regulatory support to the Governor’s executive staff and state agencies. This position reports to the General Counsel and emphasizes strong drafting capabilities and foundational administrative law knowledge.

Qualified candidates have a J.D. from an ABA-accredited school, admission to the West Virginia State Bar or eligibility, and 1–3 years of legal practice.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and admission to the West Virginia State Bar or eligibility.
• 1–3 years of legal practice; exposure to administrative law, government operations, or legislative affairs preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda on state and federal law and executive orders.
• Draft and review proposed legislation, and track bills through the process.
• Process FOIA requests in line with state transparency laws.
• Draft, review, and evaluate contracts and MOUs to ensure procurement compliance.
• Support executive orders, proclamations, and official Governor correspondence.
• Advise on open meeting requirements, ethics guidelines, and administrative procedures.

Skills

Legal drafting

Legal research

Regulatory analysis

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Legal research tools

Job description

Nature of Work

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.

Examples of Work

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.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Other Information

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