CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL - 72002715
About the position
The Florida Commission on Human Relations is the state agency charged with enforcing the state’s civil rights laws and serves as a resource on human relations for the people of Florida. It is against Florida law to discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status or familial status. The Commission investigates complaints of discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, and state employee whistle-blower retaliation.
The Commission is responsible for promoting fair treatment, equal opportunity, and mutual respect among members of all economic, social, racial, religious and ethnic groups and works to eliminate discrimination against groups and their members.
This is a highly professional legal and managerial position with the responsibility for advanced legal and administrative services to the Florida Commission on Human Relations, reporting directly to the Executive Director. The Chief Legal Counsel provides legal advice and assistance to the Executive Director, Commissioners, the Commission's program areas, human resources, and employees to facilitate the transaction of the Commission's official business.
The Chief Legal Counsel plays a critical role in advancing the mission of the Florida Commission on Human Relations to promote equal opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination throughout the state. By ensuring that the Commission’s actions, policies, and decisions comply with state and federal law, this position safeguards the integrity and accountability of the agency. The Chief Legal Counsel provides expert legal guidance, ethical leadership, and strategic counsel, to help protect the rights of Florida’s citizens and strengthen public confidence in the Commission.
The Florida Commission on Human Relations is committed to cultivating professional growth, leadership development, and continuous learning for its employees. Training and development opportunities are designed to enhance expertise and support long-term career advancement in public service.
Responsibilities
• Provides or supervises the provision of legal representation for the Commission in all administrative hearings, civil trials, and appellate proceedings.
• Provides legal opinions to the leadership team and advises personnel regarding statutory duties and functions of the Commission.
• Provides legal counsel, including interpretation and application of state and federal laws, and the review and drafting of documents relevant to the administration of the Commission’s functions, including policies and procedures, employee discipline, employment litigation, investigative processes, and administrative proceedings.
• Supervises legal and administrative staff to ensure that all legal activities are implemented and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the legal unit.
• Confers with office personnel on varied legal matters and on ramifications of office regulations and procedures, proposed activities, proposed and existing legislation, and case law.
• Reviews investigative memoranda and case files.
• Serves as the Commission’s Chief Ethics Officer.
• Reviews and renders opinions on public records requests.
• Supervises the development and preparation of proposed rules for adoption.
• Fields and responds to inquiries from agency representatives, attorneys, parties to claims, and the public regarding agency procedures and various legal matters.
• Supports and assists in the preparation of training programs for the Commission and conducts training internally and externally, as necessary.
Requirements
• Knowledge of Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code, the Florida Administrative Procedures Act, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to be solutions-oriented with the capacity to use critical thinking, judgment, and discretion to make sound decisions and effective recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to provide guidance, coaching, and support to subordinates to encourage effective collaboration and growth.
• Ability to effectively manage a busy workload, be productive in an environment with regular interruptions, and meet designated deadlines without compromising attention to detail or customer service.
• Strong independent decision-making skills and work ethic; ability to move things forward without prompting, approaching work with a sense of commitment, urgency, flexibility, and personal accountability.
• Proven ability to analyze and organize facts, evidence, and precedents in difficult and complex cases and present such material in a clear and logical form for oral and/or written presentations.
• Ability to research and interpret complex provisions of law as it relates to powers, duties, and functions of the Commission.
• Knowledge of applicable computer applications and basic computer functions.
• Possess excellent active listening skills and an ability to convey information so that it is clearly understandable.
• Value for customer service and the importance of responsiveness and timely follow-through.
• Ability to portray a positive, respectful, and professional image to all, regardless of situation or communication method.
• Admission to The Florida Bar and a member in good standing.
• Extensive experience in the practice of law, with at least five years of professional experience as a licensed attorney in state government or administrative law.
• Proficiency in civil, appellate, and administrative litigation.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience overseeing attorneys and support personnel.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated success in strategically managing a diverse legal workload.
Nice-to-haves
• A degree in business administration, public administration, or business management.
• Experience in employment discrimination law and/or housing discrimination law.
• Experience with ethics compliance issues.
• Experience with Florida’s public records law.
• Experience with Florida rulemaking.
• At least one year of experience in labor law.
Benefits
• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
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The Florida Commission on Human Relations is the state agency charged with enforcing the state’s civil rights laws and serves as a resource on human relations for the people of Florida. It is against Florida law to discriminate on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status or familial status. The Commission investigates complaints of discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, and state employee whistle-blower retaliation.
The Commission is responsible for promoting fair treatment, equal opportunity, and mutual respect among members of all economic, social, racial, religious and ethnic groups and works to eliminate discrimination against groups and their members.
This is a highly professional legal and managerial position with the responsibility for advanced legal and administrative services to the Florida Commission on Human Relations, reporting directly to the Executive Director. The Chief Legal Counsel provides legal advice and assistance to the Executive Director, Commissioners, the Commission's program areas, human resources, and employees to facilitate the transaction of the Commission's official business.
The Chief Legal Counsel plays a critical role in advancing the mission of the Florida Commission on Human Relations to promote equal opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination throughout the state. By ensuring that the Commission’s actions, policies, and decisions comply with state and federal law, this position safeguards the integrity and accountability of the agency. The Chief Legal Counsel provides expert legal guidance, ethical leadership, and strategic counsel, to help protect the rights of Florida’s citizens and strengthen public confidence in the Commission.
The Florida Commission on Human Relations is committed to cultivating professional growth, leadership development, and continuous learning for its employees. Training and development opportunities are designed to enhance expertise and support long-term career advancement in public service.
Responsibilities
• Provides or supervises the provision of legal representation for the Commission in all administrative hearings, civil trials, and appellate proceedings.
• Provides legal opinions to the leadership team and advises personnel regarding statutory duties and functions of the Commission.
• Provides legal counsel, including interpretation and application of state and federal laws, and the review and drafting of documents relevant to the administration of the Commission’s functions, including policies and procedures, employee discipline, employment litigation, investigative processes, and administrative proceedings.
• Supervises legal and administrative staff to ensure that all legal activities are implemented and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the legal unit.
• Confers with office personnel on varied legal matters and on ramifications of office regulations and procedures, proposed activities, proposed and existing legislation, and case law.
• Reviews investigative memoranda and case files.
• Serves as the Commission’s Chief Ethics Officer.
• Reviews and renders opinions on public records requests.
• Supervises the development and preparation of proposed rules for adoption.
• Fields and responds to inquiries from agency representatives, attorneys, parties to claims, and the public regarding agency procedures and various legal matters.
• Supports and assists in the preparation of training programs for the Commission and conducts training internally and externally, as necessary.
Requirements
• Knowledge of Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code, the Florida Administrative Procedures Act, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to be solutions-oriented with the capacity to use critical thinking, judgment, and discretion to make sound decisions and effective recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to provide guidance, coaching, and support to subordinates to encourage effective collaboration and growth.
• Ability to effectively manage a busy workload, be productive in an environment with regular interruptions, and meet designated deadlines without compromising attention to detail or customer service.
• Strong independent decision-making skills and work ethic; ability to move things forward without prompting, approaching work with a sense of commitment, urgency, flexibility, and personal accountability.
• Proven ability to analyze and organize facts, evidence, and precedents in difficult and complex cases and present such material in a clear and logical form for oral and/or written presentations.
• Ability to research and interpret complex provisions of law as it relates to powers, duties, and functions of the Commission.
• Knowledge of applicable computer applications and basic computer functions.
• Possess excellent active listening skills and an ability to convey information so that it is clearly understandable.
• Value for customer service and the importance of responsiveness and timely follow-through.
• Ability to portray a positive, respectful, and professional image to all, regardless of situation or communication method.
• Admission to The Florida Bar and a member in good standing.
• Extensive experience in the practice of law, with at least five years of professional experience as a licensed attorney in state government or administrative law.
• Proficiency in civil, appellate, and administrative litigation.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience overseeing attorneys and support personnel.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated success in strategically managing a diverse legal workload.
Nice-to-haves
• A degree in business administration, public administration, or business management.
• Experience in employment discrimination law and/or housing discrimination law.
• Experience with ethics compliance issues.
• Experience with Florida’s public records law.
• Experience with Florida rulemaking.
• At least one year of experience in labor law.
Benefits
• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
Apply tot his job
Apply To this Job