Closing Date: 16th October, 2025
Description:
The work we do matters!Hiring Agency:
Education - Agency 13
Location:
Lincoln, NE
Hiring Rate:
$49.095
Job Posting:
JR2025-00019918 Legal Counsel (Legal Counsel II or III) – two positions (Open)
Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):
10-16-2025
Job Description:
The Nebraska Department of Education is looking for two attorneys to join our legal services team and provide legal assistance and opinions to provide overall agency support.
The hiring team is looking for candidates with high integrity, attention to detail, and critical thinking and analytical skills. There is a variety of work these positions may focus on depending on each candidate's strengths. Experience with Nebraska government, including legislation, rules and regulations, contract or request for proposals preparation and review, and similar legal functions are a plus!
**The Nebraska Department of Education does not sponsor or transfer non-immigrant work visas for these positions.**
Office Location: This position is assigned to our office located at 84th & O St, Lincoln, NE.
Salary: Salary may be commensurate with education and experience if approved.
Teammates Enjoy
In addition to being part of meaningful work and making a difference through public service, our Total Compensation package includes an approximate $31,600 - $35,400 in additional Benefits value! See full benefits information at https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits
Essential Functions:
Working Conditions and Travel:
This position requires approximately 75% of work time spent in an office environment; the remaining 25% is spent traveling or working in alternative sites such as off-site meetings, conferences, and hearings. There are also approximately five days of overnight travel per year.
Requirements / Qualifications
Legal Counsel II: Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, admission to practice law in Nebraska, and two years of experience in the practice of law.
Legal Counsel III: Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, admission to practice law in Nebraska, and four years of experience in the practice of law related to Agency programs.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience with drafting and interpreting rules and regulations, participating in administrative hearings or other litigation, education law, state procurement law, or drafting, reviewing, and interpreting contracts.
If you have any questions about this posting or working at NDE, please email us at nde.hrjobpostings@nebraska.gov.
Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.
Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits
Equal Opportunity Statement:
The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.
Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.
Office Location: This position is assigned to our office located at 84th & O St, Lincoln, NE.
Salary: Salary may be commensurate with education and experience if approved.
- Legal Counsel II, pay grade 11, starts at $84,393.74
- Legal Counsel III, pay grade 13, starts at $102,117.83
In addition to being part of meaningful work and making a difference through public service, our Total Compensation package includes an approximate $31,600 - $35,400 in additional Benefits value! See full benefits information at https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits
- Competitive benefits, paid time off, and retirement
- 79% employer-paid health insurance, dental, vision, long and short-term disability, flex spending and health savings accounts, employee discount program, and more!
- Generous vacation and sick leave earnings each year (starting at 12 days each!), plus a variety of other leave types
- 156% state-matched retirement (yes, that's $1.56 for every dollar!) with a guaranteed 5% return
- Thirteen paid holidays per year
Essential Functions:
- Provides legal assistance and opinions for NDE program areas including working with NDE staff and outside parties; researches, interprets, and applies court decisions, administrative regulations, and other sources of legal information for the preparation of legal opinions, and legislation.
- Reviews documents, (e.g., contracts, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), legislation), and responds to staff on these documents with suggestions; drafts and analyzes various legal documents.
- Assists management with personnel matters and interprets, develops, revises, and trains Agency employees on personnel/administrative policies.
- Administers legal responsibilities related to issuance of certificates and permits by the Commissioner of Education, handling investigations, prosecution, and administrative hearings.
- Prepares and coordinates memoranda of agreements and contracts between the NDE and other State Agencies involved in education. Prepares correspondence and legal opinions for NDE programs and other NDE attorneys.
- Prepares public comments to proposed changes in federal law or policy, and other Nebraska guidance, policy, and interpretation of existing Nebraska law.
- Responds to public records requests, analyzes documents and reviews protected considerations, and responds with appropriate information within legal guidelines.
- Conducts legal research and writing for other staff attorneys, develops state regulations for NDE programs, represents the Agency in contested cases and assists the Attorney General in connections with litigation.
- Collaborates to ensure appropriate advice, information, interpretations, and recommendations are provided regarding implementation of education laws.
- Communicates with and serves as a liaison to educators, patrons, attorneys, and other interested parties concerned with legal, educational, and departmental matters; prepares correspondence involving educational and legal questions.
- Maintains regular & reliable attendance, possesses a valid driver's license and travels independently, and works in a variety of settings.
This position requires approximately 75% of work time spent in an office environment; the remaining 25% is spent traveling or working in alternative sites such as off-site meetings, conferences, and hearings. There are also approximately five days of overnight travel per year.
Requirements / Qualifications
Legal Counsel II: Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, admission to practice law in Nebraska, and two years of experience in the practice of law.
Legal Counsel III: Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, admission to practice law in Nebraska, and four years of experience in the practice of law related to Agency programs.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience with drafting and interpreting rules and regulations, participating in administrative hearings or other litigation, education law, state procurement law, or drafting, reviewing, and interpreting contracts.
If you have any questions about this posting or working at NDE, please email us at nde.hrjobpostings@nebraska.gov.
Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.
Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits
Equal Opportunity Statement:
The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.
Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.
