Staff Attorney

State of Vermont; Montpelier (VT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Vermont Department of Human Resources (DHR) seeks a Staff Attorney to support employee and employer relations. The role covers research, advising on disciplinary matters, handling discrimination responses, and defending the State in labor and employment matters.

Open to Staff Attorney I, II, or III level with Vermont bar eligibility and strong labor law interest. The position emphasizes collaboration with HR, labor relations staff, and the Attorney General's Office to resolve disputes and

Qualifications

• Must be a member in good standing of the Vermont bar, or eligible for admission.
• Experience in labor and employment law preferred.

Responsibilities

• Research labor and employment issues and draft memoranda.
• Advise appointing authorities on disciplinary actions and draft related documents.
• Advise State leadership on responses to discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environment claims.
• Help defend the State in labor and employment-related proceedings and litigation.
• Collaborate with DHR, State managers, and AG's Office to resolve disputes.
• Respond to public records requests and citizen inquiries.
• Review and analyze proposed legislation impacting the State as an employer.
• Review, revise and draft internal personnel policies.
• Ensure the State fulfills its duties as an employer while employees meet their obligations.

Skills

Labor and employment law experience

Job description

The Vermont Department of Human Resources (DHR) has an opening for a Staff Attorney that may be filled at the Staff Attorney I, Il or III level. The position entails a wide variety of duties and skills, with a principal focus on employee and employer relations. The attorney will work closely with human resources and labor relations professionals, will research and provide legal advice in response to a broad range of inquiries, and will help find solutions to ongoing issues and/or complaints.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Researching labor and employment issues as they arise, and drafting related memoranda;
• Advising appointing authorities on appropriate employee discipline and drafting documents essential to the disciplinary process;
• Advising State leadership on the elements of and/or appropriate response to complaints of discrimination, harassment, and hostile work environment;
• Helping defend the State in labor and/or employment-related administrative proceedings and litigation;
• Collaborating with DHR employees, State managers, appointing authorities, and the Attorney General's Office to take appropriate action, defend the State, and resolve employment-related disputes;
• Responding to public records requests, and to other citizen and employee inquiries;
• Review and analysis of proposed legislation impacting the State of Vermont as an employer;
• Review, revision and drafting of internal personnel policies;
• Generally, striving to ensure that the State of Vermont fulfills its duties and legal obligations as an employer, while simultaneously striving to ensure that State of Vermont employees fulfill their duties and obligations to the State and its taxpayers.

This position, Staff Attorney (Job Requisition #55846), is open to all State employees and external applicants.
If you would like more information about this position, please contact Commissioner [e-mail] .

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate must be a member in good standing of the Vermont bar, or eligible for admission.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in labor and employment law is strongly preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of Vermont celebrates diversity, and is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and meaningful inclusion that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The State does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, membership in an employee organization, family medical history or genetic information, or family or parental status. The State’s employment decisions are merit-based. Retaliatory adverse employment actions by the State are forbidden.