Attorney

at  The State of Kansas

POSITION DESCRIPTION

An application, cover letter and résumé must be submitted to be considered for this position. No interviews will be granted to applicants who have missing items. The Department of Commerce participates in the E-Verify program.
Job Posting closes: Open until filled

POSITION SUMMARY:

The attorney role involves receiving oral or written inquiries from various divisions and employees of the agency, as well as assignments from the Chief Counsel. The incumbent identifies the legal and policy issues related to these inquiries and prepares clear memoranda or briefs that outline the relevant legal authorities, possible courses of action, and the potential outcomes of each option. Additionally, the position requires reading, analyzing, and evaluating agency communications, policy statements, manuals, and proposed regulations to ensure compliance with applicable laws and legal reasoning. Legal counsel is provided to various divisions, staff, and administrative officials to ensure adherence to state and federal laws, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The role also includes representing the agency in administrative hearings and state and federal courts, where the incumbent presents evidence, examines, and cross-examines witnesses, and addresses legal motions and objections.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. Degree from an accredited law school. Certification of admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Kansas.
• Complex work experience in licensed law practice

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:

• Receives oral or written questions from other divisions’ working groups and employees of the agency or receives oral or written assignments from the Chief Counsel.
• Identifies the legal and/or policy issues which are involved in the questions or assignments.
• Searches for primary and/or secondary legal authority to answer the legal and/or policy issues that must be answered.
• Prepares and clearly communicates memoranda or briefs which identify the legal and/or policy issues involved, the legal authorities pertinent to the legal and/or policy issues involved, and where appropriate, the possible courses of action that might be taken and the possible results from each possible course of action.
• Reads, analyzes, and evaluates agency letters and interoffice memos, policy statements, personnel and program manuals, and proposed administrative regulations for compliance with current law, legal authority, legal reasoning, and legal implications.
• Researches and drafts agency letters and interoffice memos, policy statements, personnel and program manuals and administrative regulations which comport with current federal and state law.
• Provides legal counsel to various Divisions, Staff, agency administrative officials and field personnel to assure that Commerce and its operating unites perform their respective duties in accordance with the law and also to aid in compliance with state laws, federal laws, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and other pertinent federal laws and regulations.
• Reads, analyzes and evaluates the legal and factual claims raised in letters, motions, discovery, memoranda, briefs, pleadings, KJRA hearings appellate briefs delivered to the agency by opposing parties.
• Travels to, attends and actively participates in meetings, depositions, hearings and trials.
• Represents the agency at administrative hearings and tries cases on behalf of the agency in state and federal courts by presenting evidence, examining and cross-examining witnesses, stating and explaining objections, and arguing motions, objections and other legal issues.