DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL

West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of the Governor in West Virginia seeks a Deputy General Counsel to provide executive-level legal counsel, strategic advice, and policy support to the Governor, staff, and state agencies. The role requires a J.D., WV Bar admission, and 3–5 years in admin/government law.

Duties include drafting legislation, reviewing contracts and MOUs, and guiding FOIA responses while maintaining the highest professional standards. This is an on-site role in Charleston, WV.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school.
• Active WV State Bar member or eligible for immediate admission.
• 3–5 years of complex legal practice in administrative law, government operations, constitutional law, or legislative affairs.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; ability to research under tight deadlines; strong interpersonal collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to the Governor and executive staff on constitutional provisions, statutes, regulations, and executive orders.
• Counsel cabinet secretaries and agencies to align actions with policy priorities and legal mandates.
• Review, analyze, and draft proposed legislation and advise on implications and constitutionality.
• Draft and finalize Executive Orders, proclamations, and other official instruments.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal laws and respond to FOIA requests.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Legal research

Interpersonal skills

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Active WV State Bar member (or eligible)

Job description

Position Overview

The Office of the Governor is seeking a highly skilled, motivated, and collaborative attorney to serve as Deputy General Counsel. This critical role reports directly to the General Counsel and provides executive-level legal counsel, strategic advice, and policy support to the Governor, executive staff, and state agency leadership. The ideal candidate possesses sharp analytical skills, a strong grasp of administrative and constitutional law, and a deep commitment to public service.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clear, timely, and actionable legal advice to the Governor and executive staff on state and federal constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and executive orders.

• Provide strategic counsel to cabinet secretaries and state departments to align agency actions with the administration's policy priorities and legal mandates.

• Review, analyze, and draft proposed legislation. Advise the Governor on the legal implications, constitutionality, and policy impacts of bills passed by the Legislature.

• Draft, review, and finalize Executive Orders, proclamations, and other official legal instruments issued by the Governor.

• Ensure compliance with state and federal laws; such as open meeting requirements, procurement regulations, freedom of information requests.

• Responsible for the processing and responses to Freedom of Information Act requests.

• Draft, review, and negotiate high-level state contracts, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and interstate compacts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited school of law.

• Licensure: Active member in good standing with the West Virginia State Bar (or eligible for immediate admission).

• Experience: Minimum of 3–5 years of complex legal practice, with a strong preference for experience in administrative law, government operations, constitutional law, or legislative affairs.

• Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to perform rigorous legal research under tight deadlines; and strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders.

Salary: $110,000 to $125,000 (depending on qualifications)