Deputy General Counsel, Agriculture & Conservation

State of West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture seeks a Deputy General Counsel to provide legal services to WVDA and the Conservation Agency, reporting to the General Counsel.

Duties include drafting and negotiating agreements, handling real estate matters, advising on property, contracts, rulemaking, and litigation coordination with the Attorney General’s Office. Requires three years’ experience and WV Bar admission within 24 months.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from a regionally accredited or ABA-accredited law school.
• Experience: At least three years of experience as a licensed attorney.
• Admission to the West Virginia State Bar within 24 months of employment.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• satisfactory completion of pre-employment drug testing and background investigation.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services to the WV Department of Agriculture and the WV Conservation Agency as directed by the General Counsel.
• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements, MOUs, and contracts.
• Manage agreement databases, templates, and tracking systems.
• Prepare deeds, easements, deeds of trust, and other legal instruments.
• Conduct real estate closings for land transfers.
• Conduct or assist with administrative hearings.
• Present legal recommendations to boards and coordinate with the Attorney General’s Office in litigation.
• Assist with legislative rulemaking and code changes as needed.
• Provide training and seminars on agriculture and conservation matters.
• Negotiate and draft mineral leases.
• Provide legal advice on all matters as required.

Skills

Real property law

Contract law

Constitutional law

Administrative law

Environmental law

Litigation

Transactional skills

Oral communication

Legal writing

Analytical skills

Title examinations

Legal research

Education

ABA-accredited law school

West Virginia Bar admission

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture seeks a Deputy General Counsel to provide legal services to WVDA and the Conservation Agency, reporting to the General Counsel.

Duties include drafting and negotiating agreements, handling real estate matters, advising on property, contracts, rulemaking, and litigation coordination with the Attorney General’s Office. Requires three years’ experience and WV Bar admission within 24 months.