Associate General Counsel - DESE

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Hendersonville (MA)

Hybrid

USD 94,000 - 145,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Everett, MA seeks an Associate General Counsel to advise on state and federal education laws, draft regulations, and represent DESE in hearings. The role collaborates with BESE, the Attorney General’s Office, and school leaders to promote legal compliance in elementary, secondary, and adult education programs.

The selected attorney will draft advisory opinions, provide Open Meeting Law guidance, support employment-law matters, and supervise complex contracts and

Qualifications

Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in good standing.
Excellent analytical, legal research, and writing skills.
Experience with administrative adjudicatory hearings and litigation.
Knowledge of public schools and DESE’s Educational Vision.

Responsibilities

Provide legal advice to the Commissioner, BESE, and DESE administrators on state and federal education laws.
Represent DESE before administrative agencies in employment matters.
Draft, review, and interpret regulations, contracts, interagency agreements, and advisory opinions.
Prepare written and oral information and legal memoranda for DESE staff and school officials.
Provide guidance on Open Meeting Law and employment law matters.
Coordinate with other agencies and stakeholders regarding education laws.
Manage strategy for enforcement of education laws in Massachusetts, including litigation with the Attorney General’s Office.
Represent DESE in interagency meetings and train staff and school officials.

Skills

Analytical writing

Legal research

Oral and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Judgment and discretion

Confidentiality handling

Organization and multitasking

Public education law understanding

Education

Massachusetts Bar admission

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Job Description - Associate General Counsel - DESE (260007QN)

Job Description

Associate General Counsel - DESE - ( 260007QN )

Description

The Legal Office of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) advises the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), Commissioner, and DESE staff on issues of education law, policy, and administration; works with the Attorney General’s Office on litigation; and oversees the Office of Professional Practice Investigations. The Legal Office works together with all policy units to implement DESE’s Educational Vision ( https://www.doe.mass.edu/commissioner/vision/ ), which provides:

Our educational vision document describes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s aspiration – our vision – for elementary and secondary public education and adult basic education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This vision is anchored in our commitment to high-quality teaching and learning in the Commonwealth. We will continue to work with districts, schools, and educators to promote teaching and learning that is antiracist, inclusive, multilingual, and multicultural; that values and affirms each and every student and their families; and that creates equitable opportunities and experiences for all students, particularly those who have been historically underserved.

The work of the Associate General Counsel in the Legal Office involves administrative law practice including legal research and writing; client counseling; problem solving; negotiation; public speaking and training; drafting regulations, legislation, and advisory opinions; preparing for and representing DESE at administrative adjudicatory hearings; drafting and reviewing contracts and interagency agreements; and collaborating with the Attorney General's Office on litigation.

The Associate General Counsel reports to a Senior Associate General Counsel and works closely with other colleagues in the Legal Office.

The selected candidate will perform the following duties

provide legal advice to the Commissioner, BESE, and DESE administrators and staff in connection with implementing and enforcing state and federal laws governing public elementary, secondary, career-technical, and adult basic education programs;
analyze legal requirements and provide legal counsel relating to other education-related laws, including but not limited to state and federal laws concerning homeless students, students in foster care, and LEA assignment issues;
analyze legal requirements and provide legal counsel relating to public records, data-sharing and privacy;
draft, review, analyze, and interpret documents including legislation, regulations, contracts, inter-agency agreements, and advisory opinions;
prepare written and oral information, legal memoranda, and advisory opinions for DESE administrators and staff and local school officials concerning their duties under state and federal laws;
provide guidance on Open Meeting Law matters;
provide guidance on employment law matters;
represent DESE before administrative agencies in employment law matters, including the MCAD and the EEOC;
communicate and coordinate as needed with officials of other state and federal agencies, school and district leaders, parents, advocacy organizations, and other constituents regarding education laws;
coordinate and manage strategy relating to the application and enforcement of laws governing public elementary, secondary, career-technical, and adult basic education in Massachusetts, including working in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office in representing the Commissioner and DESE in litigation;
represent DESE in interagency meetings;
prepare materials and provide training to DESE staff and school officials;
participate in preparing recommendations for the Commissioner regarding policies, legislative changes, and regulatory changes;
analyze legal requirements relating to special education and other regulated programs and provide legal counsel to DESE’s offices of Special Education Planning and Policy, Problem Resolution System, Special Education in Institutional Settings, Approved Special Education Schools, and Public School- Monitoring;
represent DESE before the Bureau of Special Education Appeals;
perform other duties as assigned by the General Counsel or Senior Deputy General Counsel, or the Commissioner.

Based on assignment, travel may be required.

This is a hybrid, full-time position based at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Everett, MA. This position is currently expected to work in-person three days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

admitted to the Massachusetts Bar as a member in good standing and eligible to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
excellent analytical, legal research, and writing skills;
excellent analytical, legal research, and writing skills;
respect for diversity and awareness of cultural competency;
exemplary ethical standards;
successful experience in the practice of law, including familiarity with some or all of the following: state and federal education laws, laws and regulations affecting educational programs and services for students with disabilities;
successful experience with administrative adjudicatory hearings and litigation, including negotiating resolution when appropriate;
strong interpersonal skills, including ability to establish rapport, motivate, and maintain positive and productive relationships with colleagues and clients from diverse backgrounds;
ability to understand, apply, and explain laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines governing education programs;
ability to process and assimilate detailed factual information presented orally or in writing;
ability to exercise sound judgment;
excellent communication skills, orally and in writing, including ability to write and present clear, appropriately detailed memoranda and documentation as required;
ability to strategize and work with others to solve problems;
ability to handle matters with mature judgment and discretion;
strong organizational skills, including ability to manage complex tasks and meet deadlines;
ability to work with confidential information and maintain the highest level of confidentiality;
ability to effectively manage a varied caseload while balancing multiple and competing priorities;
knowledge of the organization and structures of public schools and districts;
knowledge of DESE’s Educational Vision; and
strong computer skills and fluency with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

An Equal Opportunity / Aff… Encourage to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC)may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Primary Location

Job

Job: Legal Services

Agency

Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Schedule

Schedule: Full-time

Shift

Shift: Day

Job Posting

Number of Openings

Number of Openings: 1