DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL

State of West Virginia; Charleston (WV); Presencial; USD 110.000 - 125.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The State of West Virginia seeks a Deputy General Counsel for the Office of the Governor. The attorney will provide executive-level legal counsel, strategic advice, and policy support to the Governor, staff, and agency leadership.

Candidates should demonstrate strong administrative and constitutional law expertise and a dedication to public service. The role involves advising on legislation, drafting executive instruments, ensuring compliance with laws, handling FOIA, and negotiating high-level

Formación

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active member in good standing with the West Virginia State Bar (or eligible for admission).
• 3–5 years of complex legal practice, with emphasis on administrative law, government operations, constitutional law, or legislative affairs.

Responsabilidades

• Provide clear, timely legal advice to the Governor and executive staff on constitutional provisions, statutes, regulations, and orders.
• Counsel cabinet Secretaries and agencies to align actions with policy priorities and legal mandates.
• Review and draft proposed legislation; advise on constitutionality and policy impacts of bills.
• Draft, review, and finalize Executive Orders, proclamations, and official legal instruments.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal laws, including open meeting requirements, procurement rules, and FOIA responses.
• Manage processing of Freedom of Information Act requests.
• Draft, review, and negotiate high-level state contracts, MOUs, and interstate compacts.

Conocimientos

Legal research

Written communication

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Educación

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Descripción del empleo

Nature of Work

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.

Other Information

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

Job not in the classified service. See the hiring agency for a description of benefits.