Attorney II / 61013459

State of South Carolina; Richland (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid holidays

Parental leave

State retirement plan

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Social Services in Richland County seeks an Attorney II to provide legal services for county offices and licensing units, representing the agency in family court matters related to child protection and foster care. The role includes case preparation, court filings, and advising staff on legal matters.

Requires a JD from an accredited law school, admission to the SC Bar, and at least 18 months as a practicing attorney.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• At least 18 months of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Must be a member of the SC Bar.
• Experience as a DSS Attorney preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional legal services and representation for assigned county offices, area adoption offices, and licensing offices, including Family Court matters related to child protection and foster care.
• Represent the agency in emergency or non-emergency removal of children and vulnerable adults, termination of parental rights, and related court actions.
• Prepare, file and serve pleadings, motions, orders, notices and other court documents in agency actions.
• Conduct case staffing meetings to analyze legal status and advise staff on agency legal matters.
• Prepare cases for Court by handling discovery, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing agency documentation.
• Comply with agency policy and law in permanency planning and termination of parental rights.
• Distribute notice of legal proceedings to appropriate parties and manage accompanying documentation.
• Utilize the Legal Case Management System for legal operations and documentation.
• Protect personal identifying information and safeguard agency networks and data.
• Attend trainings and meetings to enhance professionalism; review legislation and case law.
• Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duty/services as directed.

Education

Juris Doctorate Degree

Job description

Posting number: 194329

Department: Department of Social Services

Division: Office of General Counsel

Job classification: Attorney II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community Services, Health Services, Social Services, Human Services, Attorney, Community and Social Services

Summary

D
o you have a passion to provide meaningful contributions to your community? Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of South Carolina’s children, families, and vulnerable adults? If so, the
SC Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you!

Job Duties:

• The County Attorney II provides professional legal services and representation for assigned county offices, area adoption offices, and regional Day Care licensing office, including representation in Family Court on issues relative to child protection, foster care, adoption, adult protection and Economic Services.
• Represents the agency in all matters pertaining to emergency or non-emergency removal of children and vulnerable adults, termination of parental rights, inspection warrants, in-home protective services, permanency planning, judicial review of children or adults receiving services and any appeals resulting from such actions.
• Timely prepares, files and serves or ensures the timely preparation, filing and service of all pleadings, motions, orders, notices, rules to show cause, and other Court documents related to representation of the agency in legal actions. Pleadings and proposed orders shall include all determinations required by state and federal law.
• Timely conducts case staffing meetings for the purpose of analyzing the legal status of the cases and otherwise advising staff on agency legal matters. Prepares cases for Court by conducting and responding to discovery, interviewing, and preparing witnesses and reviewing agency documentation and reports from other sources.
• Complies with agency policy, state and federal law with respect to representing the agency in permanency planning hearings and termination of parental rights.
• Complies with agency policy, state and federal law regarding the provision of notice of legal proceedings to appropriate parties to agency actions.
• Utilizes or ensures the utilization of the Legal Case Management System for legal operations and documentation of legal activity in cases.
• Ensures that personal identifying information (Pll) is properly used, accessed, gathered, shared and disposed. Protects the Agency networks and applications by safeguarding systems, equipment and data.
• Establishes and maintains professional network and attends training sessions in order to enhance individual professionalism. Reviews legislation, statutory changes, and case law decisions and advises staff about the law. Participates in regular agency meetings to discuss and analyze outcomes and determine areas needed for improvement. Conducts in house training for other staff members.
• Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duty/services as directed.

Examples of duties

A Juris Doctorate Degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and at least 18 months experience as a practicing attorney.

Necessary Special Requirements: must be a member of the SC BAR.

Experience as a DSS Attorney preferred.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

DIVISION: Office of General Counsel /

Richland
County