SENIOR ATTORNEY - 48000342

Florida; Tallahassee (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State Group Insurance

Nine paid holidays

Personal Holiday

Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Tuition Fee Waivers

Annual and Sick Leave

Flexible Spending Accounts

Career Growth

Maternity and Parental Leave

Job summary

Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee seeks a Senior Attorney (SES) to represent the Department in contracts, procurement, and litigation. The attorney will advise the agency, draft and negotiate agreements, and provide litigation support to the General Counsel’s Office.

Responsibilities include handling litigation, reviewing contracts, attending meetings, and advising on education law matters; candidates must be admitted to the Florida Bar and demonstrate strong written and oral

Qualifications

• Admitted to the Florida Bar.
• Ability to prepare and maintain a variety of records.
• Ability to understand and apply Florida Statutes and FDOE rules and policies.
• Ability to solve problems.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to produce accurate and timely information under tight timeframes, balance multiple and.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Handle litigation as assigned by the General Counsel in state and federal courts and tribunals.
• Represent the State Board of Education, Commissioner of Education, and Department of Education in litigation.
• Advise personnel on a wide range of issues affecting the agency.
• Assist in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and related documents.
• Attend meetings and conferences to advance knowledge in education law.
• Provide verbal and written advice as needed.

Skills

Florida Bar

Litigation

Contract review

Legal research

Communication skills

Time management

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website .

Requisition No:884780

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY - 48000342

Location: Tallahassee Turlington Building

Position Title - Senior Attorney (SES)

Salary Range: 70k-90k

SALARY IS BASED ON CANDIDATE’S EXPEREINCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

OFFICE CONTACT

Tria Parsons, 850-245-0442

JOB DESCRIPTION

Working in the Department of Education’s General Counsel’s Office is a perfect opportunity for a motivated attorney to sharpen their existing legal skills and develop new ones while providing an integral service to the people of Florida. The Department has general oversight of Florida’s education policy and works tirelessly to ensure that every Florida student is given the opportunity to pursue one of life’s greatest intrinsic goods: knowledge.

The primary responsibility of the attorney in this position is to represent the Department in contractual matters and relating to other issues encountered by the Department operating as a state agency generally. The attorney in this position may participate in procurement activities, labor relations matters, the Department’s scholarship programs and ethics matters. More specifically, the job entails:

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• HANDLE LITIGATION AS ASSIGNED BY THE GENERAL COUNSEL - Handle litigation before all state and federal courts and administrative tribunals.
• Represent the State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education, and Department of Education in litigation where any of the above may be a party.
• ADVICE AND CONSULTATION - Consult with and advise personnel of the Department of Education on a wide range of issues affecting the agency.
• Areas of practice include, but are not limited to, contracts; reviewing, drafting and implementation of legislation; public records requests and Sunshine Law issues; intellectual property; technology issues; rulemaking; purchasing procedures and competitive solicitations; charter school issues; matters under the Administrative Procedures Act; assist K-12 section in litigation and resolving legal issues involving the Education Code; and provide legal advice and litigation support to Choice Office and Office of Student Financial Assistance.
• Write legal advisory opinions as assigned by the General Counsel.
• ASSIST IN THE PREPARATION, REVIEW AND NEGOTIATION OF CONTRACTS - Responsible for the review of contracts, agreements, amendments, leases, and other miscellaneous contractual and commercial documents entered by the Department of Education as assigned by the General Counsel.
• Provide assistance in the preparation, negotiation, and legal interpretation of complex contractual documents.
• ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES - Attend professional meetings and conferences designed to advance skill and knowledge in the field of education law.
• Attend meetings and conferences involving Department of Education personnel and provide verbal and written advice as needed and when requested.
• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the General Counsel.
• Coordinates intra-agency agreements on issues relating to educational facilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Admission to the Florida Bar
• Ability to prepare and maintain a variety of records
• Ability to understand and apply Florida Statutes and FDOE rules and policies
• Ability to solve problems
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments
• Ability to produce accurate and timely information under tight timeframes, balance multiple and
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MISSION STATEMENT

Every day the Department of Education works hand in hand with parents, teachers, educators, and community members to improve Florida's education system for students of all backgrounds and abilities. Our site reflects this cooperative relationship and the role that so many Floridians play in ensuring student success.

The FDOE’s mission for Florida’s Early Learning-20 education system is to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient system, by allowing them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents, and communities.

Serving approximately 3 million students, 4,400 public schools, 28 colleges, 200,000 instructional staff, 46,000 college professors and administrators, and 340,000 full-time staff throughout the state, FDOE enhances programs and services for Florida’s students from early learning through college and career development. In addition, FDOE manages programs that assist individuals who are blind, visually‑impaired, or disabled succeed either in school settings or careers - encouraging independence and self‑sufficiency.

FDOE’s goal is to hire individuals to provide:

1. Higher Student Achievement

2. Seamless Articulation and Maximum Access

3. Skilled Workforce and Economic Development

4. Quality Services

Florida Department of Education - https://www.fldoe.org/

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

• State Group Insurance coverage options+
• (health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental option)
• Nine paid holidays and a Personal Holiday each year
• Student Loan Forgiveness Program (Eligibility required)
• Tuition Fee Waivers (Accepted by major Florida colleges/universities)
• Annual and Sick Leave Benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Career Growth * Highly skilled, professional environment
• Maternity and Parental Leave Benefits

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

LEAVE INFORMATION: SMS/SES

• Annual Leave - Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
• Sick Leave - Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions shall be credited with 104 hours of sick leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of initial appointment.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of

Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.

For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please note that this position requires an on-site schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework is not available for this role.