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Job Announcement Monday, March 18, 2019

Job Title:                      Attorney III, DOCR General Counsel

Location:                      Bismarck, ND

Full/Part Time:              Full-time

Regular/Temporary:       Regular

Closing date:                 3/24/19

Salary Range:                $6,442 to $10,736

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a unique population and have a positive impact on the safety and security of all North Dakota citizens. This position has direct impact on the ND Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation´s (DOCR) mission to enhance public safety, to reduce the risk of future criminal behavior by holding adult and juvenile individuals accountable, and to provide opportunities for change. The ND DOCR is looking for an Attorney to provide general legal counsel for the ND DOCR. This position reports directly to the Director of the DOCR.

This position's total compensation includes single or family health insurance with no monthly premium cost to you! This position has a competitive total compensation package that includes retirement (choice of defined benefit/pension or defined contribution), paid holidays, vacation and sick leave that begins to accrue on day one, and much more. For more information on the state employee benefits package, go to www.nd.gov/ndpers and click on Active Members.

Starting salary is negotiable and will be commensurate with experience and abilities of the selected applicant.

This job posting has been extended to 3/17/19.

                Provide general legal counsel for the ND DOCR, and its Division of Adult Services, including adult prison facilities, prison industries, parole and probation, crime victim’s compensation and victim’s services, and jail inspections, and its Division of Juvenile Services, including juvenile detention and juvenile community corrections services. Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Serve as the legal advisor and legal representative for the DOCR.
  • Draft, prepare, and review legal forms, contracts, and other legal documents.
  • Provide advice on state and federal laws and administrative rules.
  • Receive, research, and respond to questions; provide information, explain policy and procedure, and/or facilitate a resolution.
  • Develop and propose policies and procedures.
  • Participate in the administrative rulemaking process.
  • Assist in drafting and analyzing legislation; communicate with parties and other legal counsel and agency officials, including other state agency officials on legislative matters.
  • Appear at scheduled conferences, meetings, and hearings and present testimony to support DOCR policy and position on legislation.
  • Provide legal counsel services to the Pardon Advisory Board, the Parole Board, and the State Advisory Councils for the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision and the Interstate Compact on Juveniles.
  • Consult with the DOCR, the Office of Attorney General, State’s Attorneys, and Law Enforcement Officers on the Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act, the Uniform Extradition and Rendition Act, and the Interstate Agreement on Detainers.
  • Perform legal research and give advice to DOCR personnel regarding particular work related legal matters.
  • Consult and advise on Open Records and Meetings laws, and the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
  • Consult with counsel and officials for local, state and federal agencies and courts, including the State Risk Management Fund, the Office of Attorney General, local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies, and local, state, and federal courts, on matters that affect the ND DOCR.
  • Participate in contested Crime Victims Compensation Fund and Parole Revocation cases before Administrative Law Judges with the Office of Administrative Hearings.
  • Consult with the civil litigation division in the Office of the Attorney General and with special assistant attorney generals to decide how to proceed with specific legal actions. Consult with the same division on litigation strategy and participate in negotiations.
  • Provide assistance to the Office of Attorney General Civil Litigation on civil litigation issues that affect the ND DOCR and its officials and employees.
  • Review documents from opposing parties’ filings to assess validity of the claims and arguments asserted.
  • Prepare pleadings, objections, and responses in civil litigation matters when requested by the Civil Litigation Division of the Office of Attorney General , including responses to subpoenas, responses to requests for DOCR inmate records, and in non-damage litigation, including N.D.C.C. Chapter 32-22 habeas cases.
  • Perform legal research and give advice to DOCR personnel regarding miscellaneous DOCR-related legal matters, including real estate transactions and Human Resources issues.

Minimum Qualifications                 

                Requires a Juris Doctor degree, licensure to practice law in North Dakota, and four years of work experience as an attorney that included administration or management experience or experience in the practice of law directly related to DOCR programs or operations.

If unable to hire a qualified applicant, the DOCR is willing to underfill at the Attorney II or I classification. The minimum qualifications and salary range for Attorney II and I are below:

Attorney II - Requires a Juris Doctor degree, licensure to practice law in North Dakota, and two years of work experience as an attorney. Salary range is $5,687 to $9,479.

Attorney I - Requires a Juris Doctor degree and licensure to practice law in North Dakota. Salary Range is $4,667 to $7,778.

Application Procedures  

                All applications for open DOCR positions must be made via the ND Careers site.  Paper submissions will not be accepted.  Application materials must be received by 11:59 PM on the closing date listed above.  All potential applicants must attach and/or upload the following documents:

  • Cover Letter
  • Resume
  • Transcripts

Application materials must clearly explain how experience and education are related to the minimum qualifications and job duties.

Applicants who are residents of ND and eligible to claim veteran's preference must upload a Form DD214.  Claims for disabled veteran's preference must include a current statement of disabled status from the Veteran's Affairs Office.

Contact Travis Engelhardt at tlengelhardt@nd.gov, 701-328-6102, TTY 800-366-6888 for more information or assistance in the application or interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity                  

                The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.