JOB TITLE: EXECUTIVE DEPUTY CHIEF COUNSEL, OGC

JOB CODE: 07190

DEFINITION: This is highly responsible administrative and managerial legal work under the authority of the Office of General Counsel (OGC).

An employee in this job directs a complex departmental legal office for a large agency, as second-in-command and principal advisor to the agency chief counsel. Work includes advising the agency chief counsel on administrative, managerial, legal, and policy matters; and developing new priorities, objectives, and recommendations foroperations. Work also includes developing legal office procedures to achieve objectives and priorities. Supervision is exercised over professional legal and supervisory staff, including the deputy chief counsel. Work is performed independently under the general direction of the chief counsel and is reviewed for attainment of goals, objectives, and overall program effectiveness.

   DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

• This work is distinguished from other OGC jobs by the responsibility for supervising deputy chief counsels, attorneys, and all other staff in a legal office which supports a large state agency with significant, specialized, and highly complex legal issues impacting a major function of state government.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Advises the chief counsel on emerging issues,initiatives, legislation, laws, and regulations.

• Plans and determines priorities, objectives, and mandated functions, and enacts policies and procedures to ensure that the strategic vision for the Office of Chief Counsel is met.

• Identifies operational issues in the legal office and recommends viable solutions to the chief counsel.

• Represents the agency in highly complex and highly visible litigation and administrative proceedings.

• Represents the chief counsel at committees, conferences, and work group meetings.

• Directs staff in drafting new legislation.

• Directs the preparation of briefs and work associated with litigation and court work.

• Participates in staff conferences to discuss agency policies, regulations, and legal problems.

• Confers with the chief counsel, agency head, and agency decision-makers on legal matters.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• An employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of common law and state and federal laws regarding general administrative and regulatory functions of state government.

• Knowledge of judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.

• Knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research.

• Knowledge of the methods and practices of pleading civil and criminal cases.

• Knowledge of effective techniques in the presentation of cases in court.

• Ability to interpret, analyze, and organize facts, evidence, precedents, and legal documents and instruments.

• Ability to present materials in clear and logical form as briefs, opinions, orders, or decisions.

• Ability to interpret and draft legal instruments and proposed legislation.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Ten years of professional legal experience and graduation from an accredited school of law;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All employees must be certified for admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and must maintain membership on a continuous basis during employment.