Attorney II

State of Arkansas; Independence (MO); On-site; USD 86,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration seeks an Attorney II to provide legal counsel, draft documents, and represent the agency in administrative and judicial proceedings. The role advances from Attorney I with more independent decision‑making and case management.

The attorney will interpret laws, analyze proposed rules, and support agency policy with rigorous legal analysis, including complex litigation and settlements.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• At least two years of experience as an Attorney.
• Must be licensed as an Attorney in Arkansas.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal guidance to state agencies, boards, and commissions on compliance, policy implementation, and statutory interpretation.
• Review proposed legislation, admin rules, and agency policies for legal sufficiency.
• Interpret state and federal laws, court decisions, and regulatory changes affecting agency operations.
• Prepare and present cases in administrative hearings, state courts, and appellate proceedings.
• Assist in defending or prosecuting claims on behalf of the state.
• Develop legal arguments, draft pleadings, and participate in discovery processes.
• Represent the agency in settlement negotiations, mediation, and arbitration when applicable.
• Conduct in-depth legal research on statutory, regulatory, and constitutional issues.
• Draft legal memoranda, contracts, interagency agreements, and opinions.
• Review and approve agency contracts, procurement agreements, and admin decisions for compliance.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting docs

Litigation

Policy interpretation

Communication

Ethics

Time management

Administrative law

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited law school

Tools

Westlaw

LexisNexis

Fastcase

Job description

Position Number: 22107351

County: Independence

Posting End Date: [[postingEndDate]]

Anticipated Starting Salary: $85,943

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The mission of the Department of Finance and Administration is to provide Arkansas citizens convenient, effective, and courteous service which will encourage voluntary compliance with tax, license, and child support laws.

Position Information

Job Series: Attorneys – Career Path

Classification: Attorney II

Class Code: LAT04P

Pay Grade: SPC05

Salary Range: $85,943 - $127,195

Job Summary

The Attorney II is a mid‑level legal professional within the state government, responsible for providing legal counsel, conducting legal research, drafting documents, and representing the agency in administrative and judicial proceedings. This position builds upon the foundational legal knowledge of Attorney I by requiring more independent decision‑making, case management, and complex legal analysis.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide legal guidance to state agencies, boards, and commissions on matters of compliance, policy implementation, and statutory interpretation.
• Review and analyze proposed legislation, administrative rules, and agency policies for legal sufficiency.
• Interpret state and federal laws, court decisions, and regulatory changes that impact agency operations.
• Prepare and present cases in administrative hearings, state courts, and appellate proceedings.
• Assist in defending or prosecuting claims on behalf of the state.
• Develop legal arguments, draft pleadings, and participate in discovery processes.
• Represent the agency in settlement negotiations, mediation, and arbitration when applicable.
• Conduct in‑depth legal research on statutory, regulatory, and constitutional issues.
• Draft legal memoranda, contracts, interagency agreements, and official opinions.
• Review and approve agency contracts, procurement agreements, and administrative decisions to ensure compliance with state laws.
• Advise agencies on ethics, administrative law, public records, and employment‑related legal issues.
• Assist in developing and implementing regulatory policies to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
• Monitor and evaluate court rulings, attorney general opinions, and legislative changes that affect agency procedures.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of Arkansas state laws, administrative regulations, and judicial procedures.
• Advanced legal research skills, with proficiency in using legal databases (Westlaw, LexisNexis, Fastcase).
• Ability to draft and review legal documents, contracts, and policy statements with precision.
• Experience with litigation, case management, and dispute resolution processes.
• Ability to assess complex legal matters and develop sound legal strategies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to convey legal concepts to various stakeholders.
• Capacity to provide strategic legal advice and anticipate legal risks.
• Ability to manage multiple legal matters and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to advocate for the agency’s interests while working toward fair resolutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must possess a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school, plus two years of experience as an Attorney.
• Satisfaction of the minimum qualifications, including years of experience and service, does not entitle employees to automatic progression within the job series. Promotion to the next classification level is at the discretion of the department and the Office of Personnel Management, taking into consideration the employee’s demonstrated skills, competencies, performance, workload responsibilities, and organizational needs.

Licensure/Certifications

Must be licensed as an Attorney in the State of Arkansas. OTHER JOB RELATED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ALL OR PART OF THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPT FOR CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, UPON APPROVAL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE.

The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.