Description

Classification Title: Assistant General Counsel
Department: Office of General Counsel
FLSA Status: Exempt
Pay Range: $80,000 - $128,000
Reports to: General Counsel

General Statement of Job

A full-time attorney who: represents the Florida Board of Bar Examiners in matters before the Florida Supreme Court and in federal litigation; performs work associated with the creation and administration of the Florida portion of the bar examination; advises on legal compliance and contributes to the development of rules, policies, and procedures; prepares and presents character and fitness cases at formal hearings; and performs general legal work to support the General Counsel and Executive Director as described below.

Job Location and Travel

This position is based at the board’s office in Tallahassee, Florida. It is not a remote
position. The position requires travel to up to five (5) in-person board meetings and two
(2) exam grading conferences every year.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association
• Excellent academic credentials
• Member of The Florida Bar
• At least five (5) years of experience as a practicing attorney with significant experience in civil, criminal, or administrative litigation

Essential Job Functions

• Drafts briefs, reports and recommendations, motions, and other filings for the board in applicant matters before the Florida Supreme Court
• Assists General Counsel with preparing and litigating rule change petitions in Florida Supreme Court
• Prepares reports for board regarding proposed rule and policy changes
• Drafts legal memoranda as requested by Executive Director or General Counsel
• Assists General Counsel or outside counsel with litigating matters in federal court
• Attends monthly board meetings and committee meetings when requested by Executive Director or General Counsel
• Drafts, researches, and edits essay and multiple-choice questions for Florida Bar Examination
• Recruits authors for essay and multiple-choice questions and edits their content
• Helps coordinate timely grading of Florida Bar Examination essays, including participating at readers’ calibration conference after the examination
• Works on bar examination-related matters as assigned by the General Counsel
• Drafts Specifications and identifies exhibits for formal hearings
• Presents cases and examines witnesses at formal hearings
• Conducts depositions for use at formal hearings
• Negotiates consent judgments when appropriate in cases awaiting formal hearings
• Leads questioning at investigative hearings and finalizes Notices to Appear at Investigative Hearing
• Reviews applicant files and provides legal commentary as requested by Executive Director, General Counsel, or Director of Investigations
• Drafts correspondence to applicants and others as requested by Executive Director or General Counsel
• Advises on Americans with Disabilities Act compliance for character and fitness investigations, test accommodations, and examination administration
• Advises on routine legal matters such as employment law issues, contract review, and insurance-related matters
• Performs such other duties and tasks as assigned by Executive Director or General Counsel

Necessary Special Qualifications

• Excellent research and legal writing skills
• Must be committed to fairness and equal justice under the law
• Must be committed to the ethical and professional standards governing the conduct of an attorney
• Must be courteous and civil with excellent administrative abilities
• Demonstrate moral character equal to that of applicants for admission to the Bar whose background investigation is cleared without review by members of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners
• Maintain strict confidentiality of information as required by the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to the Bar

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to read, speak, write, and understand English
• Knowledge of trial procedures and techniques, including rules of evidence and examination of witnesses
• Knowledge of fundamental principles of law and their application
• Ability to communicate persuasively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to manage high-volume workload
• Ability to supervise background investigations
• Ability to conduct witness interviews and depositions
• Ability to think logically and solve problems
• Ability to discern and recommend needed changes to board policies, procedures, and rules to ensure compliance with developments in the law
• Ability to discern and develop facts and evidence in support of Specifications
• Ability to make orderly and effective presentation of testimony and evidence
• Ability to perform in-depth legal research
• Ability to draft bar examination content
• Ability to assess statistical performance of bar examination questions
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others

Physical Requirements

• Speaking, writing, and visual and mental acuity are required. 
• This work is sedentary in nature with some repetitive motion.

https://www.floridabarexam.org/employment