ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL

State of West Virginia; West Virginia; On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of West Virginia, Office of the Governor, seeks an Assistant General Counsel to provide legal analysis, research, and day-to-day regulatory support to the Governor’s executive staff and state agencies.

The ideal candidate has strong drafting capabilities, a foundational understanding of administrative law, and a commitment to public service, with duties spanning constitutional research, legislation review, FOIA requests, contracts, MOUs, and executive orders.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from ABA-accredited law school.
• Active Ohio State Bar in good standing or eligibility (as applicable).
• 1–3 years of legal practice; government/administrative experience preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong legal research skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal analysis and research to Governor’s staff and state agencies.
• Draft, review, and track proposed legislation; monitor bills.
• Process FOIA requests in compliance with transparency laws.
• Draft, review, and evaluate contracts and MOUs for compliance.
• Assist with executive orders, proclamations, and official correspondence.
• Support open meeting requirements and ethics guidelines daily.

Skills

Legal research

Legal drafting

Administrative law knowledge

Open government compliance

Education

J.D. (ABA-accredited)

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)