Closing Date: 6th July, 2026
Description:
Job Responsibilities:The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to serve students, support teachers, empower parents, and engage the community so that every student graduates prepared to reach their full potential.
Job Purpose:
This position reports to the General Counsel and serves in a dynamic, fast-paced professional environment. The successful candidate must demonstrate exceptional flexibility and adaptability in managing a broad range of assignments and responsibilities.
Responsibilities:
- Provide legal support across agency operational areas, Offices across the Division of College, Career, and Military Readiness, Division of District Operations and Support, and Division of Strategic Engagement.
- Conduct legal research and prepare opinions requiring a high degree of legal competence. Draft and/or review a wide range of legal documents as requested by various offices within the agency.
- Coordinate the handling of various legal and administrative activities within the agency. Work directly with the agency's General Counsel and agency leadership in formulating legal strategy. Represent the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) in civil actions before state and federal courts as assigned.
- Provide legal advice and representation for the Office of Federal and State Accountability, managing responses to school districts and the United States Department of Education related to protests, as well as federal compliance and reporting for programs authorized under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), including federal Title programs.
- Provide legal assistance and administers due process hearings on behalf of various program offices within the SCDE in accordance with the agency's appeal hearing procedures.
- At the direction of the General Counsel, prepare memoranda concerning rulemaking, regulations, legislative acts, and court decisions.
- Assist in educator misconduct cases by reviewing evidence, interviewing witnesses, preparing cases for hearings, negotiating consent agreements, drafting orders, and presenting cases to the State Board of Education.
- This position is located in the Office of General Counsel.
Minimum and Additional Requirements:
- A juris doctor degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and experience as a practicing attorney.
- Juris doctorate or its equivalent from an accredited law school and five (5) years minimum experience.
- Member of SC Bar in good standing.
- Completion of Rule 403 required.
