Attorney 3

State of West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

State of West Virginia seeks an experienced attorney to join the Tax Division as an Attorney 3. The role involves advanced legal work, research, drafting memoranda, and supporting tax policy development for the agency.

The candidate will serve as co-counsel on complex matters, prepare briefs, respond to taxpayers, and monitor legislation. Requires WV Bar admission, five years’ practice, and rolling applications. Travel may be intermittent.

Qualifications

• Admission to practice law in the State of West Virginia.
• Five years of full-time or equivalent paid employment in the practice of law.
• Fingerprinted background check.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced and complex legal work to administer and enforce state tax law and develop tax policy.
• Conduct extensive legal research and write memoranda for Tax Commissioner and General Counsel.
• Serve as co-counsel on complex litigation; draft briefs and other pleadings; respond to discovery.
• Advise taxpayers and agencies; communicate complex legal information clearly.
• Draft legislation, bills, and interpretive rules; monitor and summarize proposed legislation.

Job description

The Tax Division is seeking an experienced attorney (Attorney 3) to join its legal team. Under the direction of the managing attorneys, the chosen candidate will perform advanced and complex legal work in support of the agency’s mission to administer and enforce state tax law and develop tax policy for the State of West Virginia. Performs extensive legal research and writes memoranda for the Tax Commissioner, General Counsel for the Tax Division, and other directors and managers within the agency regarding research findings, which are used to answer legal questions, establish and update Tax Division policies and procedures, and improve administration of tax law. Serves as co-counsel on complex litigation matters; performs case research, analysis, and development; establishes a legal strategy for cases; writes briefs and other pleadings; and answers discovery. Assists other agency attorneys in doing the same, providing opinions on cases to be litigated by other staff attorneys. Responds to legal questions asked by taxpayers, their representatives, other government agencies, and the general public; must be able to communicate complex legal information to any audience in an approachable, understandable way. Drafts legislation, bills, and legislative procedural and interpretive rules on behalf of the Tax Division. Monitors legislation that would have an impact on the agency; summarizes proposed legislation and anticipates the effect it may have on the Tax Division, other state and local government entities, taxpayers, and other constituents relative to the work of the agency. May appear before legislative committees to discuss bills and answer questions on behalf of the Tax Division. This is an advanced-level attorney position that will operate with significant latitude to develop cases, respond to taxpayer and other legal inquiries, and represent the agency in, but not limited to, court, the Office of Tax Appeals, federal bankruptcy hearings, and the State Legislature.

Intermittent travel may be needed, so a valid driver’s license is required. The chosen applicant must be a member of the West Virginia State Bar. There is no application deadline. The Legal Division will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, with the aim of filling the position as soon as possible.

Employment requires a fingerprint-based criminal-background check to be provided at the West Virginia Tax Division’s expense. Failing to initiate the process or cooperate with this process, providing false or incomplete information, or discovery of disqualifying information will result in denial of, or dismissal from, employment or denial of transfer irrespective of when discovered. The chosen applicant will also be subject to a tax compliance check.

Training

• Admission to practice law in the State of West Virginia.

Experience

• Five years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid employment in the practice of law.

Substitution

• One year of full-time or equivalent part-time paid employment as an attorney with the agency to which assigned shall be considered the equivalent of two years of experience.

Starting pay is competitive with the private sector when hours and benefits are considered.