Closing Date: 1st April, 2024
Description:
The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has the general charge, supervision, and direction of the legal business of the State, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major agencies, various boards, commissions, officials and institutions of State Government. As Maryland's 47th Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown, leads the Office with a key focus on equity, justice, and fairness.One of Attorney General Brown's top priorities is ensuring Maryland's workers are protected from financial exploitation. As such, the OAG is expanding its Consumer Protection Division and is looking for talented, hardworking individuals who are interested in being part of a newly formed Worker Protection Unit.
Government wage enforcement programs exist to ensure that employees are paid all that they are entitled to under the law. Sometimes wage actions are necessary because a particular law may have been violated (e.g., minimum wage, livable wage, overtime, or prevailing wage). A common term used to describe allegations in this area is “wage theft." Wage theft, which is most prevalent in low- wage jobs, is often accompanied by discriminatory practices like occupational segregation – where there is a systematic concentration of workers by race, gender, ethnicity, or immigration status. These practices are not only harmful to the individual in terms of lost wages, but they also inhibit an impacted community's ability to achieve increasing levels of economic progress.
The Senior Assistant Attorney General (Senior AAG) for Worker Protection leads and oversees the work of the OAG Worker Protection Unit. This unit investigates and enforces allegations and suspected violations of state and federal wage laws, at times in coordination with law enforcement, that are uncovered during civil rights, consumer protection and criminal enforcement actions. The successful candidate will work with OAG attorneys from the Civil Rights Division, the False Claims Unit of the Consumer Protection Division, and the Fraud and Corruption Unit of the Criminal Division in cases where they seek redress from employers and contractors for the violation of state and/or federal wage laws.
The Senior AAG will also coordinate with OAG attorneys assigned to the Maryland Department of Labor (MDOL) on the investigation of suspicious patterns of wage payment behavior involving certain employers, or within certain industries. Specifically, the Senior AAG may assist in cases that arise under MDOL's enforcement authority in Prevailing Wage, Living Wage, Minimum Wage and Workplace Fraud matters. The Senior AAG will also work directly with the Governor's Joint Enforcement Task Force on Workplace Fraud (JETF) to assist in the development of a comprehensive state-wide approach to enforcing Maryland's wage laws.
The Senior AAG manages the enforcement caseload, and mentors and assists less experienced attorneys and investigators in the preparation and, as necessary, the presentation of their cases before judicial or administrative tribunals. This position also performs other duties as assigned.
Experience: The ideal candidate will have at least seven years of employment law, workplace investigation, wage litigation, or appellate experience. Candidates may substitute experience in related fields such as criminal, policy or civil rights work for up to three years of the above. Preference will be given to applicants with a demonstrated commitment to protecting workers' rights and with experience developing complex, affirmative investigations or conducting complex litigation. The successful candidate will have strong writing skills, with experience researching and drafting briefs and motions, and experience completing in-depth written projects. Current or pending admission to the Maryland Bar, or the ability to waive in without delay, is required.