ASSOCIATE COUNSEL - HR - 81156

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) seeks an experienced Associate Counsel in the Office of General Counsel to provide legal advice and support to DHS staff across programs and internal divisions. This Executive Service, in a hybrid role, focuses on HR and employment law, background checks, and related regulatory issues.

The position involves limited litigation in administrative forums, coordination with the Attorney General, and legal research.

Qualifications

• Active Tennessee law license required.
• Three+ years of continuous legal practice, preferably with state government or litigation experience.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Willing to travel throughout Tennessee.
• Ability to make timely and effective decisions aligned with DHS goals and mission.
• No prior or pending disciplinary actions with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Consult with DHS staff regarding legal issues involving HR and employment law (FMLA, ADA, PWFA, background checks, disciplinary actions).
• Handle limited litigation, primarily in administrative forums, related to employee appeals and EEOC responses; coordinate with the Attorney General's Office on employment litigation.
• Collaborate with the Deputy General Counsel on legal writing and research projects.
• Perform legal research of federal/state laws and regulations and prepare memoranda for DHS staff.
• Produce accurate and thorough professional legal work in a timely manner.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Word processing

Excel

Travel availability

Timely decision making

Interpersonal collaboration

No disciplinary actions

Litigation experience

State government experience

Education

Active Tennessee law license

Job description

Executive Service

Closing Date: 10/12/2026

This is a hybrid position.

ASSOCIATE COUNSEL - HR

Department of Human Services, Asst Comm General Counsel-HRPD, Nashville, TN

Annual Salary: $103,440.00 - $134,244.00

Closing Date: 10/12/2026

This is a hybrid position.

Background Check

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who we are and what we do:

Strengthen Tennessee by Strengthening Tennesseans

DHS Vision

To revolutionize the customer experience by growing capacity to reduce dependency.

DHS Values

• High Performance
• Collaboration
• Continuous Improvement
• A shared Vision
• Customer-Centered Solutions

Job Overview

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) is currently seeking experienced candidates for Associate Counsel in the DHS Office of General Counsel. The Associate Counsel will be primarily responsible for providing legal advice and support to DHS staff in multiple program areas and internal support divisions within the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The position is Executive Service. The Office of General Counsel provides legal advice to DHS programs and support divisions, legal representation in judicial and administrative litigation affecting the department, prepares departmental rules, and prepares legislation for and analysis of legislation affecting the Department.

Key Responsibilities

• The Associate Counsel will be responsible for consulting with DHS staff regarding legal issues involving Human Resources and employment law matters, including but not limited to FMLA, ADA, PWFA, background checks, disciplinary action and issues arising out of internal investigations.
• This position is responsible for limited litigation, primarily in administrative forums related to employee appeals under the TEAM act, unemployment compensation, as well as responding to EEOC complaints, and coordinating with the Attorney General's Office on any employment litigation in state or federal court.
• The Associate Counsel will be responsible for working directly with the Deputy General Counsel on legal writing and research projects as assigned.
• The position requires legal research of federal and state laws, regulations and case law on multiple issues and preparation of memoranda advising DHS staff on issues affecting agency and program operations.
• The Associate Counsel must possess the ability to perform assigned duties in a timely and accurate manner, be self-directed, and to produce accurate and thorough professional legal work.

Minimum Qualifications

Active License to practice law in Tennessee is required.

Preferred Skills

Three or more years of continuous legal practice, preferably with state experience or litigation experience.

• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Proficient in use of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Candidate must be able to work cooperatively with Department program staff in diverse areas and flexible to work extra hours and days as necessary
• Candidate must be willing to travel (throughout the state of Tennessee) on occasion.
• Ability to make timely and effective decisions in keeping with the goals and mission of the Department.
• No prior or pending disciplinary actions with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.