Deputy General Counsel – Real Property & Contracts

State of West Virginia; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is seeking a Deputy General Counsel in Kanawha County to provide legal services to the department and the Conservation Agency under the direction of the General Counsel.

The role handles real property, contract, and environmental law matters, drafts and negotiates agreements, conducts title examinations, and advises on regulatory issues. Travel and training are minimal; strong writing and negotiation skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school with a J.D.
• At least three years as a licensed attorney (preferred).
• Admission to the West Virginia State Bar within 24 months.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements, memoranda of understanding, and contracts.
• Ensure contracts comply with legal requirements and policies.
• Manage agreement databases, templates, and tracking systems.
• Prepare deeds, easements, deeds of trust, subordination agreements, boundary agreements, and other legal instruments.
• Conduct real estate closings for land transfers.
• Conduct or assist with administrative hearings.
• Respond to inquiries concerning laws the department is charged with enforcing.
• Perform legal research on a wide variety of legal issues, including real property law, contract law, employment law, constitutional law, federal and state administrative law, and environmental law.
• Present legal recommendations to the numerous boards under the purview of the department.
• Coordinate with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office in litigation matters involving employment disputes, real property disputes, and condemnation actions.
• Perform due diligence on real estate transactions.
• Assist with legislative rulemaking and code changes as needed.
• Provide training and educational seminars for department staff, department partners, and the public on agriculture and conservation matters.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on all matters as required.
• Negotiate and draft mineral leases.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Real property law

Contract law

Constitutional law

Administrative law

Environmental law

Litigation

Legal research

Legal writing

Negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Education

ABA-accredited law school/J.D.

Tools

Microsoft Office

Title examinations

Job description

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is seeking a Deputy General Counsel in Kanawha County to provide legal services to the department and the Conservation Agency under the direction of the General Counsel.

The role handles real property, contract, and environmental law matters, drafts and negotiates agreements, conducts title examinations, and advises on regulatory issues. Travel and training are minimal; strong writing and negotiation skills are essential.