Section Chief, Financial Recovery Section

Attorney General & Dept of Law; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Attorney General & Dept of Law in Virginia is seeking a Section Chief for the Financial Recovery Section within the Office of the Attorney General. The role oversees attorneys and staff, providing strategic leadership and direct legal representation for collecting delinquent debt owed to state agencies.

The position requires seven years of attorney experience, Virginia bar admission, and the ability to sign settlements and guide multiple units in Administrative, District Court, Medical, Complex

Qualifications

• Seven years of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Current Virginia bar membership and admission to practice in all VA state and federal courts.
• Excellent analytical, verbal and written communication; able to manage large caseloads; meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a staff of attorneys and non-attorneys in the Financial Recovery Section.
• Provide strategic leadership and legal representation for debt collection of Commonwealth agencies.
• Sign off on settlements and financial adjustments in collections files; supervise five units.
• Mentor and train junior attorneys; support interoffice collaborations and special projects.

Skills

Pleadings and motions

Discovery

Litigation in VA courts

Analytical skills

Verbal and written communication

Time management

Work under pressure

Travel flexibility

Client relations

Education

Bar admission in Virginia

Licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Virginia

Job description

Title: Section Chief, Financial Recovery Section

State Role Title: Senior Assistant Attorney General

Hiring Range: $165,000-$170,000

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Attorney General & Dept of Law

Location: Office of the Attorney General

Agency Website: https://www.oag.state.va.us/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This position, as Section Chief of the Financial Recovery Section (FRS), oversees a staff of attorneys and non-attorneys; provides strategic leadership in the office; and legal representation for the collection of delinquent debt to agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The position shall also represent the section in interoffice collaborations and contribute to the overall management and success of the office. Currently, not including the section chief, the FRS has five attorneys and seventeen non-attorney staff members. The section chief is the primary contact for all represented agencies on any questions of collections policy, procedures, and client relations. The section chief is responsible for signing off on all settlements and all financial adjustments to the collections files. In addition, the section chief oversees currently 5 units in the section including, Administrative and File Intake, General District Court Litigation, Medical Collections, Complex Litigation/Fraud, and Judgment Enforcement. Each unit has a unit manager. The section chief is also responsible for assigning legislative bill reviews to FRS attorneys and signing all bill reviews performed in the section.
This position provides legal advice and representation in furtherance of the section’s mission to provide aggressively and professionally all appropriate and cost-effective services to recover funds owed to state agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The section chief may also handle FRS section attorney tasks including all phases of the recovery process as needed, from initial file review and analysis, through litigation, and to post-judgment enforcement and file closure. Also, as a senior assistant attorney general/section chief, this position is expected to provide mentorship and training to less experienced attorneys, serve as a primary backup to other attorneys positions as needed, and participate in special projects as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• The applicant should have a minimum of seven years experience as a practicing attorney and have current bar membership in the Commonwealth of Virginia and be admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Virginia.
  
• The successful candidate will have the ability to draft pleadings, motions, and supporting memoranda and briefs; conduct all aspects of discovery; advise client agencies through the course of litigation; and appear in court on motions, trials, and appeals.
  
• The position requires excellent analytical, verbal and written communication skills; the ability to prioritize the demands of a large and diverse caseload; knowledge of general legal principles; proficiency in time management and the ability to work both independently and as a team member to complete complex assignments within prescribed deadlines; and the ability to be responsive to inquiries from multiple client agencies, courts, and opposing counsel.
  
• Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to work well under pressure and quickly adjust priorities.
  
• The successful candidate must possess a valid driver's license and will be subject to a criminal background check.
  
• Admission to the Virginia State Bar is required.
  
• Ability to travel as needed on day trips and, on occasion, overnight is required.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.