General Counsel (Attorney VI)

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of South Carolina's Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) seeks a seasoned General Counsel to guide legal strategy across environmental, regulatory, and enforcement matters. You will lead the Office of General Counsel, oversee audits and compliance, and partner with agency leadership to shape policy and litigation strategy.

Top candidates will have a Juris Doctor, admission to the South Carolina Bar, and 10+ years of complex legal experience, including supervisory roles and

Qualifications

• Member of the South Carolina Bar in good standing.
• Juris Doctor (or equivalent) from an accredited law school.
• At least 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney including clerkships or LL.M.
• Experience directing or guiding other attorneys or complex legal matters.

Responsibilities

• Directs operations of OGC, OIA, and CO to ensure coordinated legal, audit, enforcement, and compliance functions across the agency.
• Provides written and oral legal opinions, interpretations, and training on statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Oversees litigation from inception through appeals in administrative tribunals and courts, coordinating with external counsel and regulatory bodies.
• Drafts, reviews, and finalizes complex legal documents to ensure accuracy and legal sufficiency.
• Represents the agency in meetings, negotiations, legislative discussions, and stakeholder engagements.
• Performs additional responsibilities as assigned by the Agency Head.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Litigation oversight

Regulatory compliance

Leadership of teams

Legal writing & advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor (or equivalent) from an accredited law school

Tools

South Carolina Bar in good standing

Job description

Careers at SCDES: Where Passion Meets Preservation

Do you love South Carolina and protecting the environment?

Come join our team at SCDES, put your passion to work with us!

We are dedicated to protecting the state of South Carolina and we would love to have you as a member of our team!

Science | Service | Sustainability

SCDES is South Carolina’s statewide environmental regulatory agency. We protect public health, safeguard natural resources, and ensure compliance with environmental laws across the state. Our work matters — every program, every permit, every enforcement action plays a direct role in protecting the people and environment of South Carolina. We offer excellent benefits, meaningful work, stability, and strong work-life balance, making public service an appealing alternative to private-sector legal practice.

Under the direction of the Agency Head, the General Counsel serves as the senior legal advisor for SCDES. This role provides strategic and authoritative legal guidance to executive leadership and program areas, ensuring compliance with state and federal environmental, administrative, and regulatory requirements. The General Counsel oversees and directs operations of Office of General Counsel (OGC), Office of Internal Audits (OIA), and Compliance Office (CO). This executive-level attorney leads complex legal strategy, manages litigation, guides multidisciplinary teams, and ensures accountability across multiple divisions that support the agency’s regulatory mission.

Job Responsibilities

Legal, Audit, Compliance & Enforcement Oversight

Directs operations of OGC, OIA, and CO to ensure coordinated legal, audit, enforcement, and compliance functions across the agency. Provides strategic legal guidance to executive leadership and program directors on emerging issues impacting SCDES.

Legal Opinions, Guidance & Training

Provides written and oral legal opinions, interpretations, and training on statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures. Conducts advanced legal research supporting agency initiatives, enforcement actions, and regulatory interpretations.

Litigation Management

Oversees litigation from inception through appeals in administrative tribunals and state and federal courts. Coordinates with external counsel, law enforcement entities, other state agencies, and regulatory bodies interacting with SCDES.

Document Drafting & Review

Drafts, reviews, and finalizes complex legal documents to ensure accuracy and adherence to legal standards. Collaborates with program staff to ensure legal sufficiency of agency documents, enforcement actions, and regulatory records.

Representation & External Engagement

Represents the agency in meetings, negotiations, legislative discussions, and stakeholder engagements. Responds to inquiries from the regulated community, counsel, legislators, regulatory partners, and media regarding legal matters.

Performs additional responsibilities as assigned or approved by the Agency Head.

Minimum Requirements

• Member of the South Carolina Bar in good standing
• Juris Doctor (or equivalent) from an accredited law school
• At least 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney (including judicial clerkships or time spent completing an LL.M)
• Demonstrated experience directing, overseeing, or providing authoritative guidance on the work of other practicing attorneys or complex legal matters, even without formal supervisory titles

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Expert-level knowledge of legal principles, state and federal law, and regulatory frameworks
• Ability to conduct complex legal research and oversee advanced litigation
• Strong legal writing, oral advocacy, negotiation, and communication skills
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, judicial decisions, and regulatory requirements
• Proven ability to lead attorneys, compliance professionals, auditors, investigators, and multidisciplinary teams

Supervision, Judgment & Work Environment

• Must adhere to state and federal law and agency policies
• Must exercise high-level independent judgment and discretion with minimal supervision
• In-state travel and occasional overnight travel required
• Must be able to perform routine legal and managerial job functions
• Will lead divisions that require consistent accountability, staff development, and sound supervisory practices

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in environmental, administrative, or regulatory law

Demonstrated ability to manage complex litigation and advise executive leadership

Experience leading multidisciplinary legal, compliance, audit, or enforcement teams

Three (3) years of formal supervisory experience managing attorneys, including:

• Accountability and documentation
• Assigning and monitoring workloads
• Applying basic employment and supervisory practices
• Leading teams through complex legal and regulatory matters

Additional Comments

Impactful Public Service

Your legal expertise will directly influence environmental protection, public health outcomes, and statewide regulatory compliance.

High-Level Strategic Leadership

You will lead legal, audit, compliance, and enforcement-related divisions and guide teams working on complex regulatory matters.

Executive Decision-Making

You will advise the Agency Head and senior leadership on policy direction, regulatory strategy, enforcement actions, and major legal decisions.

Complex and Meaningful Legal Work

Expect a varied workload including advanced litigation, statutory interpretation, administrative hearings, regulatory enforcement, and legal strategy development.

Collaborative Leadership

You will work closely with program directors, external counsel, regulatory bodies, and statewide partners on issues affecting the agency and the regulated community.

Full Personnel Management Responsibilities

You will handle performance management, coaching, employee development, accountability, workload balancing, documentation, and supervisory practices across multiple divisions.

Work-Life Balance & Stability

SCDES provides predictable schedules, strong support, flexibility, and excellent benefits typical of state government — making this an attractive alternative to private-sector legal roles.

Professional Growth

This position offers continued learning in environmental, administrative, regulatory, compliance, and enforcement law, alongside high-level leadership experience.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices*
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.

SCDES is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

The Department will not sponsor H1B visas for this position.