Job Summary
This position is located in the Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL), Office of the Director. The mission of DACL is to advocate, plan, implement, and monitor programs in health, education, employment, and social services which promote longevity, independence, dignity, and choice for the city’s older adults (ages 60 years or older), people living with disabilities (ages 18-59 years), and caregivers.
The position serves as the Agency’s primary legal advisor and provides legal advice in promulgating and maintaining DACL policies and receiving, preparing, and responding to external requests for information, such as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, discovery motions, legal inquiries, requests for protocols, work product, and other relevant materials.
Duties And Responsibilities
- Serves as an adviser to the Director in the planning, directing, overseeing, and coordinating of the legal services for the agency.
- Prepares legal documents on complex and substantive matters, provides summary analyses of issues and recommendations for consideration.
- Conducts extensive and detailed research of legal documents dealing with proposed laws and amendments to existing laws to ensure conformance with legal requirements.
- Serves as the agency liaison to OAG and the Office of Employee Appeals (OEA) in litigation matters.
- Works with agency management to provide legal advice in the implementation of human resources actions.
- Responsible for reviewing, writing, and revising all intra district and external memorandum of understanding and agreements for services, goods, and other contractual arrangements.
- Reviews budgetary documents for legal sufficiency.
- Responsible for legal sufficiency review and/or updates and revisions to agency statute and regulations and policies and procedures.
- Primarily responsible for overseeing and managing all regulatory compliance issues within the agency, including reviewing, and evaluating compliance issues and concerns within the agency.
- Develops, initiates, maintains, and revises policies and procedures for the general operation of the agency to prevent illegal, unethical, or improper conduct.
- Is knowledgeable of, and responsive to, subpoenas and other requests under the Freedom of Information Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPPA").
- Provides direction and legal guidance to the agency and writes implementing legislation as necessary.
- Provides guidance in implementation of various statutes and regulations, including HIPPA, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Older Americans Act and other federal grant guidance, Freedom of Information Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act.
- Communicates with other District of Columbia agencies and other entities as appropriate, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and other law enforcement jurisdictions.
Qualifications And Education
- Must possess a LLB or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time of appointment.
- Must be an attorney admitted to the practice of law and qualified by experience and training to advise the Department with respect to legal issues related to the powers and duties of the position.
- Must have at least five (5) years of post J.D. professional legal experience providing legal advice on complex and sensitive issues to high-level executives and officials in a government agency or other entity.
Licensures, Certifications And Other Requirements
Must be an active member in good standing with or eligible to waive into the District of Columbia Bar. If eligible for waiver, incumbent must submit an application for admission prior to commencing employment and successfully obtain admission to the D.C. Bar within 360 days of commencing employment. An appointee to the Legal Service position shall remain a member in good standing of the D.C. Bar during their entire employment in the Legal Services.
Special Note
Any attorney appointed to the Senior Executive Attorney Service (SEAS) under the authority of D.C. Official Code 1-608.51 et seq. (2012 Repl.) shall:
- Be a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia at the time of appointment and remain a District resident for the duration of employment; or
- Become a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia within one-hundred eighty (180) days of his or her appointment and remain a District resident for the duration of employment.
Work Environment
The work is performed in a normal office setting.
Other Significant Facts
- Tour of Duty: Monday-Friday 8:30 am- 5:00 pm
- Operational Status: In-person reporting with limited telework and flexible work schedules available upon eligibility.
- Promotion Potential: No known promotion potential.
- Duration of Appointment: Legal Services-Regular Appointment
- Pay Plan, Series and Grade: LX-0905-02
- Collective Bargaining Unit (non-union): This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
- Position Designation: This position has been designated as security sensitive therefore the incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability and as such, incumbents of this position shall be subject to criminal background checks, background investigations, and mandatory drug and alcohol testing, as applicable.
EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.
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