Attorney Advisor - Washington, United States - DC Public Library

Description

INTRODUCTION

The DC Public Library's mission is to provide environments that invite reading, learning and community discussion and equips people to learn all their lives, to embrace diversity and to build a thriving city.

DCPL is proud to be a recognized force in the community for engaging the mind, expanding opportunities and elevating the quality of life.

The Office of General Counsel supports DCPL by providing quality legal advice and services in order to further the mission of DCPL, minimize legal risk to DCPL, and to ensure legal compliance.

The Office of General Counsel reports to DCPL's Executive Director.

This position is located in the Martin Luther King, Jr.

Memorial Library, District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) system, under the General Counsel, within the Office of the General Counsel.

The incumbent will serve as an Attorney Advisor responsible for providing proficient legal advice in DCPL, general counsel to the Board of Library Trustees, Executive Director/Chief Librarian and other senior staff within DCPL, as requested.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a senior attorney in DCPL handling more complex and difficult matters. Reviews various legal documents and relevant case laws to determine whether execution or nonexecution of proposed actions is in the best interest of the District of Columbia government.
• Examines and analyses proposed orders, legislation and other legal documents from various sources for legal sufficiency. Performs the aforementioned research and provides oral or written opinions resulting from such analysis.
• Drafts legislation and regulations relevant to Agency operations. Reviews records of hearings and preparation of briefs filed.
• Prepares memoranda on legal questions and proposals, and drafts tentative documents of final decision for consideration by senior staff.
• Consults frequently with officials of various administrative agencies, _e.g._, Office of Attorney General (OAG) and Office of Procurement (OCP), as needed. Works as an attorney liaison with OAG and OCP when handling civil litigation for DCPL in Superior Court of the District of Columbia, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Contract Appeals Board, and Appeals Court.
• As a liaison, the incumbent is responsible for providing advice, agency responses, file documents, court responses, etc., as requested and needed for litigation in for Superior Court of the District of Columbia, United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Contract Appeals Board.
• Oversees responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and subpoena requests.
• Develops trainings for agency staff on pending legal issues.
• Drafts contracts, responds to procurement inquiries, memorandums of understandings, and memorandums of agreements. Represents DCPL as agency counsel.
• Prepares and/or reviews complaints, citations and other documents related to pleadings, as the basis for hearings or other litigation actions filed in various administrative courts.
• Attends and participates in meetings with committees of the Council of the District of Columbia and other District agencies pertaining to proposed laws and/or legislation which may affect existing laws related to the functions of DCPL, as assigned.
• Keeps abreast of judicial, agency, and other changes in laws and regulations related to the functions of DCPL. Recommends appropriate course of action to supervisor, as deemed necessary.
• Provides technical guidance and assistance to junior attorneys and paralegal(s) of the Office in areas of special expertise. Oversees paralegal(s) duties, to include, ensuring that case and calendar management, various quarterly and annual reports, are prepared, documented, and filed, as directed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

The incumbent must possess a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited institution by the American Bar Association (ABA) in addition to a minimum of six (6) year of post J.D.

professional legal experience.

All applicants must present a combination of experience, education, skills, self-development, and expertise to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

KSA #1:
Experience in performing legal research using Westlaw and Lexis-Nexis legal support software.

KSA #2:

Experience in drafting legal briefs, contracts and memoranda relating to the legal issues filed within the Office of the General Counsel.

KSA #3:
Experience in litigating and mediating in District of Columbia Administrative Courts.

KSA #4:
Experience in drafting legislation OR experience with the contracting and procurement process.

KSA #5:

Experience with the DC Municipal Regulations (DCMR), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Equal Employment Opportunity Act (EEO), and DC Human Rights Act (DCHRA).

• Knowledge of research strategies and techniques sufficient to research the most complex lega