Closing Date: 7th January, 2026
Description:
AgencyNC State Highway Patrol
Division:
NC State Highway Patrol
Job Classification Title
Assistant Agency General Counsel I (NS)
Assistant Agency General Counsel I (NS)
Position Number
65042881
65042881
Grade
LG08
LG08
About Us:
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol's primary mission is to reduce collisions and make the highways of North Carolina as safe as possible. The NCSHP has more than 1,600 troopers who cover nearly 80,000 miles of North Carolina roadways, more than any other state except Texas. In addition to enforcing the state's traffic laws, state troopers also guide traffic during hurricane evacuations, re-route traffic around hazardous chemical spills, and they stand ready should any act of terrorism occur. State Troopers are committed to protecting North Carolina's motoring public.
Description of Work:
The NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) is seeking a detailed-oriented Assistant General Counsel to join our team!
The Assistant General Counsel is a member of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and provides legal counsel for the NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP).
This position assists the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel in addressing legal issues affecting the department, delivers legal guidance, recommends liability prevention strategies, and manages risk.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol's primary mission is to reduce collisions and make the highways of North Carolina as safe as possible. The NCSHP has more than 1,600 troopers who cover nearly 80,000 miles of North Carolina roadways, more than any other state except Texas. In addition to enforcing the state's traffic laws, state troopers also guide traffic during hurricane evacuations, re-route traffic around hazardous chemical spills, and they stand ready should any act of terrorism occur. State Troopers are committed to protecting North Carolina's motoring public.
Description of Work:
The NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) is seeking a detailed-oriented Assistant General Counsel to join our team!
The Assistant General Counsel is a member of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and provides legal counsel for the NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP).
This position assists the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel in addressing legal issues affecting the department, delivers legal guidance, recommends liability prevention strategies, and manages risk.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences
Salary Range: $87,849-$97,000 Salary Grade: LG08
This position is deemed eligible for hybrid telework under SHP's Telework Policy.
Click here (https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits) to learn about employee perks and benefits
Click here (https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/classification-compensation/total-compensation-calculator) to see the Total Compensation Calculator
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Position/Physical Requirements:
Note: Qualified recommended applicant(s) must undergo and successfully pass:
Management Prefers:
Minimum Education and Experience:
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See of oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.
Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar
And
two years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.
Note: GS 114-2 and 114-6 make it the duty of the Attorney General of NC to represent the State of North Carolina in all litigation unless another statute specifically states otherwise.
The NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) selects applicants for employment based on required education and experience and job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, National Guard or veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or political influence.
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides to executive management and NCSHP managers oral and formal written legal opinions on laws, constitutional provisions, administrative rules and regulations, court decisions, and other precedents impacting the NCSHP's policies and operational procedures. The OGC drafts departmental rules and regulations, operational guidelines and policies, contracts, department sponsored legislation, and other legal documents. Attorneys in the OGC provide oral and written responses to inquiries by federal, State, and local officials including legislators, judicial officials, law enforcement personnel, and citizens about the NCSHP's policies and practices and the statutes and regulations it enforces. The OGC advises the NCSHP Commander and executive management on the merits of litigation against or on behalf of the department.
We are an Employment First (https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/diversity-inclusion/resources/employment-first) state, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to succeed in the state government workplace. NCSHP supports pay equity for women, establish paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and foster care, and implement fair chance policies. Join a team that welcomes, values, respects and supports all members of our work community.
The NCSHP must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape. "PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions (https://www.prearesourcecenter.org/about/prison-rape-elimination-act)
Application Resources
State of North Carolina Hiring Process Information here. (https://oshr.nc.gov/work-nc/state-government-application-resources)
Be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.
Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application, to support your answers.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
Salary Range: $87,849-$97,000 Salary Grade: LG08
This position is deemed eligible for hybrid telework under SHP's Telework Policy.
Click here (https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits) to learn about employee perks and benefits
Click here (https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/classification-compensation/total-compensation-calculator) to see the Total Compensation Calculator
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Assists with evaluating and responding to records requests, including, but not limited to subpoenas; public records requests, preservation letters, and legal proceedings for the production of NCSHP records; and requests for disclosure and petitions for release of NCSHP custodial law enforcement agency recordings (collectively “records requests”) to ensure statutory compliance and that Communications, media relations, and public relations are handled in a legally defensible manner.
- Aid in appropriately processing, organizing, and responding to the requests.
- Responsible for policy review, drafting legal opinions, and performing timely and accurate research on a variety of issues.
- Work with the NCSHP Procurement Section by reviewing various contract issues on an as-needed basis.
- Counsel provides verbal guidance and conducts annual performance reviews. Supervision is also received through review of reports and discussions as to the status of assignments.
- Assists in providing and overseeing specialized training and advice on all aspects of constitutional and statutory law affecting the NCSHP and assists the OGC in providing legal instruction and advice to NCSHP members including the development of training curricula, delivery of course materials in basic and advanced schools and classes, and service as legal advisor on internal NCSHP risk management boards.
- Typical work schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-5:00pm
- Additional work hours may be required to meet daily priorities and to accomplish division and department missions. The work schedule often extends beyond the eight-hour day, particularly during the legislative session, due to unanticipated demands requiring significant schedule changes. Work occasionally requires travel within the state.
- Criminal Background Investigation
- Drug Screening Test
- Demonstrated knowledge of statutory, case law, and regulatory law.
- Demonstrated knowledge of management principles, techniques, and practices of agency policies and objectives.
- Demonstrated experience in interpreting and applying laws, constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and court decisions .
- Demonstrated skill to creatively develop case strategies and tactics.
- Demonstrated experience in analyzing complex legal problems and render sound legal advice.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See of oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.
Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar
And
two years of progressively responsible professional legal experience.
Note: GS 114-2 and 114-6 make it the duty of the Attorney General of NC to represent the State of North Carolina in all litigation unless another statute specifically states otherwise.
The NC State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) selects applicants for employment based on required education and experience and job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40 or older), disability, National Guard or veteran status, genetic information, political affiliation, or political influence.
The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) provides to executive management and NCSHP managers oral and formal written legal opinions on laws, constitutional provisions, administrative rules and regulations, court decisions, and other precedents impacting the NCSHP's policies and operational procedures. The OGC drafts departmental rules and regulations, operational guidelines and policies, contracts, department sponsored legislation, and other legal documents. Attorneys in the OGC provide oral and written responses to inquiries by federal, State, and local officials including legislators, judicial officials, law enforcement personnel, and citizens about the NCSHP's policies and practices and the statutes and regulations it enforces. The OGC advises the NCSHP Commander and executive management on the merits of litigation against or on behalf of the department.
We are an Employment First (https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/diversity-inclusion/resources/employment-first) state, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to succeed in the state government workplace. NCSHP supports pay equity for women, establish paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and foster care, and implement fair chance policies. Join a team that welcomes, values, respects and supports all members of our work community.
The NCSHP must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape. "PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions (https://www.prearesourcecenter.org/about/prison-rape-elimination-act)
Application Resources
State of North Carolina Hiring Process Information here. (https://oshr.nc.gov/work-nc/state-government-application-resources)
Be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.
Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application, to support your answers.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.