General Counsel

General Job Information

Job Summary

This position is located in the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The mission of DLCP is to protect the economic interests of residents, businesses, and visitors in the District of Columbia by licensing, and regulating businesses, and investigating and enforcing the Consumer Protection Procedures Act.

As General Counsel, the incumbent serves as the chief legal officer and authoritative legal advisor for the agency. The General Counsel is responsible for managing the agency's legal affairs and the staff assigned to perform legal work. The overall function is to provide comprehensive legal service, counsel, recommendations, and reviews and opinions regarding all functions and activities, both programmatic and administrative.

Duties and Responsibilities

The General Counsel serves as the senior legal advisor to the agency Director in planning and policy decision-making. The incumbent is responsible for implementing, coordinating, and directing the legal affairs for the agency and for facilitating and improving legal service delivery to its clientele. The General Counsel develops and institutes program guidelines and new and improved policies, procedures, and processes to effect efficient program operations. The incumbent independently plans, develops, and institutes short-term and long-term agency plans and activities, incorporating strategic provisions, as required. The General Counsel is responsible for overseeing the review, research, and preparation of responses for the Director to selected, sensitive, and often confidential inquiries and correspondence from the Mayor, members of the Council of the District of Columbia (the Council), officials of the District and federal governments and surrounding jurisdictions, the media, members of the private sector, and the general public. The incumbent prepares testimony for presentation at hearings before the Council, congressional committees, and other public appearances. The General Counsel also represents and speaks for the agency or Director on various complex and sensitive issues.

The General Counsel prepares legal documents on complex and substantive matters of an urgent nature, providing summary analyses of issues and recommendations for consideration of the agency Director. The incumbent conducts extensive and detailed research of legal documents dealing with proposed laws and amendments to existing laws to assure conformance with legal requirements. The General Counsel is responsible for drafting and justifying the annual budget and multi-year plan to make the best use of available resources and implementing the most cost-effective and beneficial strategies to accomplish the mission of agency and to assure that a system for reporting and accountability is established and implemented. The incumbent plans, coordinates, and administers operations of legal affairs through subordinate attorneys; engages in the performance of functional responsibilities of subordinate attorneys and reviews their work for quality and consistency; devises and implements feedback systems, performance measures, and benchmarks to assure adequate performance and successful goal achievement; identifies barriers to quality legal services; and designs effective strategies to resolve issues; and implements corrective actions. The General Counsel also devises a system of controls and keeps carefully documented records; plans, develops, and directs the design and implementation of the data automation systems for the management and administration of legal affairs; and formulates and guides feasibility studies to consider data automation applications.

Qualifications and Education

Applicants must have a law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. In addition, the attorney shall have at least six (6) years of post J.D. professional legal experience that is commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position (ten (10) years is preferred).

Licensures, Certifications and other Requirements

The incumbent must be a current member in good standing for the District of Columbia Bar or must be admitted in another United States jurisdiction, be eligible to waive in, and be admitted into the District of Columbia Bar within 365 days of appointment. If eligible for waiver, the incumbent must submit an application for admission prior to employment and successfully obtain admission to the D.C. Bar within 365 days of commencing employment. An appointee to the Legal Service position shall remain a member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar during his/her employment in the Legal Service.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in an office setting.

Other Significant Factors

Open Until Filled

Applicants must submit a legal writing sample to dlcphrdivision@dc.gov in order to be considered for this position.

Tour of Duty: Monday- Friday 8:15am- 4:45pm

Pay plan, Series and Grade: LX-0905-02

Promotion Potential: None

Collective Bargaining Unit (Union): This position is not covered under a collective bargaining unit.

Position Designation: This position is designated as Security Sensitive. The incumbents of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC personnel regulations, Suitability.

Residency Requirement:Senior Executive Attorney Service appointees must either be a District resident at the time of their appointment or become a District resident within one hundred and eight (180) days of their appointment date.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, or any other legally-protected status within the limits imposed by applicable District and federal laws and regulations.