SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL

RI Council 94; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 99,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to provide legal advice and services on complex interpretations of state and federal law. The role trains and supervises junior staff, serves as a hearing officer, drafts rules and regulations, and represents the agency in court on civil and criminal matters.

Candidates must be a graduate of an accredited law school and a member of the Rhode Island Bar, with strong research and writing skills and experience in

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited law school.
• Must be a member of the Rhode Island Bar.
• Strong research and writing skills; experience with civil/criminal litigation.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on complex interpretations of state and federal law.
• Train and supervise entry level legal staff; review their work for accuracy and compliance.
• Serve as a hearing officer for complex cases requiring legal interpretation and enforcement of laws, rules and regulations.
• Draft legal documents, rules, regulations, laws, and amendments thereto.
• Conduct extensive legal research and prepare reports, briefs, and recommendations on legal matters.
• Represent the agency in court and coordinate with other departments on legal matters.
• Develop and maintain legal service programs and consult with client groups.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Staff supervision

Hearing officer

Interpreting laws

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Access to Public Records

Job description

SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL# State of Rhode Island External Career Site## SENIOR LEGAL COUNSELApply: Administration Building A: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: November 2, 2026 (9 days left to apply): JR103983# **Department**Department of Corrections# **Division**Legal# **Salary**$99,388.00 - $112,633.00# **Job Profile**JC-02992100-99 - Senior Legal Counsel (Non-Union Executive Branch)# **Scheduled Work Days & Work Hours**Monday-Friday; 8:30am-4:00pm (Non-Standard Work Week)Limited/Restricted to the leave of the prior incumbent.# **Job Requisition Number**JR103983 SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL (Open)# **Pay Grade**C00136 A# **Classification**Senior Legal Counsel# **Class Definition****GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:** To perform legal advice and services in a state department or agency on issues posing complex legal interpretations and extensive research of law, rules and regulations; to train, instruct and supervise entry level legal staff; and to do related work as required.**SUPERVISION RECEIVED:** Works under the general supervision of a superior with latitude for the exercise of independent judgement; work is subject to review of conformance to established policies, rules, regulations and provisions of law.**SUPERVISION EXERCISED:** Trains, instructs and supervises entry level legal staff members and clerical support staff assigned to assist.**ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:*** To provide legal advice and services in a state department or agency on issues posing complex legal interpretations and extensive research of law, rules and regulations.* To provide instruction and training to subordinate legal staff in the performance and execution of legal services and to review such work performed for results obtained and conformance to law, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.* To serve as a hearing officer for cases of a complex and difficult nature requiring the interpretation and enforcement of applicable laws, rules and regulations.* To prepare legal documents, as well as draft rules, regulations, laws, legislation and amendments thereto.* To perform extensive legal research relative to various departmental or agency issues or the preparation and presentation of cases in court.* To prepare in-depth reports, briefs, papers and recommendations on legal matters.* To be responsible for analyzing pertinent information and evidence in order to provide legal opinions to departmental or agency staff personnel for the proper execution of their responsibilities.* To review and evaluate departmental programs from a legal perspective and to propose appropriate changes.* To gather and analyze evidence for cases and review pertinent decisions, policies, regulations, and other legal matters pertaining to such case and to represent the agency in court.* To interact and coordinate legal activities with other legal staff and various other state departments and agencies.* To be responsible for the development and maintenance of legal service programs designed for client groups and to consult with such groups on legal program matters.* To do related work as required.**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT:****KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND CAPACITIES:** A thorough knowledge of the methods, practices and procedures of governmental law; the ability to interpret the provisions of state and federal laws and to prepare opinions relating thereto for use in the administration of the functions of the department; the ability to function as a hearing officer; the ability to prepare briefs, rulings and miscellaneous legal documents; the ability to research and draft rules and regulations having the force and effect of law while remaining consistent with the purpose and provisions of the law; the ability to exercise independent judgement in making decisions in complex and difficult cases involving legal matters; the ability to train, instruct and supervise entry level legal staff; the ability to prepare detailed reports and recommendations; and related capacities and abilities.**EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:****Education:** Graduation from an accredited law school; and**Experience:** Considerable employment in a responsible capacity within a legal services program involving the interpretation of law and the application of pertinent laws, rules, regulations, policies and decisions.**Or,** any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.**SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:** Applicant must be a member of the Rhode Island Bar and must maintain such membership as a condition of employment.# **Supplemental Information**It is preferred that the applicant be licensed to practice law in Federal Court with a minimum of 2 years as a practicing attorney with experience in civil and/or criminal litigation. Strong research and writing skills and experience with Access to Public Records is desired. State of Rhode Island is an Equal Opportunity/Diversity Employer.# **Benefits**For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/.Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.