Transportation Attorney 3 - Kanawha County

** This Is an Exempt Position ***

The Attorney 3 for the West Virginia Department of Transportation will serve at the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, Legal Services Unit. This incumbent works under the Executive Division, Division Director and/or Attorney Manager. This position is a principle lead advisor to a specialized legal practice area and performs more complex legal support work for this section. In this position there is a responsibility to solve more complex problems that may come from both within and outside of the Agency which may require extensive analysis and probing to develop a conclusion. This position will analyze and make recommendations to the Attorney Manager and/or Division Director.

Pay Grade 22

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide lead advisor support to Division staff of a specialized legal practice area including attorneys, and administrative support in determining case strategy, developing litigation tactics, research, investigations, and conducting litigation.
• Report to the Director and/or Attorney Manager.
• Rendering legal advice and opinions to their Director and/or Attorney Supervisor and to section's clients
• related to the sections area of legal specialization.
• Must use independent judgment in the interpretation and adaption of policies and guidelines
• Represents the agency in various administrative and judicial forums
• Performs complex legal work in connection specialized area of assignment such as contract law, employment law, real property law, collections and civil litigation matters
• Makes recommendations to Director and/or Attorney Manager regarding further appeal of contested cases
• Analyzes and makes recommendations to the Director and/or Attorney Supervisor regarding settlements and/or legal strategy
• Consults with agency staff on the interpretation of court opinions and statutes, the application of rules and regulations, and related matters where a serious legal issue is involved
• Collaborates with groups or individuals from outside the Department of Transportation in a moderately unstructured setting
• The work involves isolating and defining unknown conditions, resolving critical problems, or developing new theories
• Answering telephone inquiries, written inquiries including Freedom of Information Act requests and correspondence
• Performs related duties as assigned
• Travel may be required; therefore, a valid driver's license is required.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Knowledge of statutes, court opinions, and Attorney General opinions
• Knowledge of judicial and quasi-judicial procedures
• Ability to conduct complex civil and administrative litigation in trial and appellate courts.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and court decisions
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other agencies, other WVDOT divisions, the public, and the federal government
• Ability to communicate effectively and express conclusions and arguments clearly and logically both orally and in writing
• Significant education or training is required to carry out duties in this level
• Work is generally administrative or professional requiring knowledge pertinent relted education and experience
• Ability to supervise and direct the work of subordinate attorneys and other staff members in the conduct of legal affairs and establish and review results
• Ability to effectively coordinate staff functions in the provision of competent legal assistance to the Agency
• Ability to determine issues in various cases
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues and render formal opinions
• Ability to creatively develop case strategy and tactics and have excellent skills in problem solving
• Ability to demonstrate discretion
• Ability to mentor, develop, and train subordinate attorney and administrative staff

Minimum Requirements:
Required Training/Education
Admission to practice law by the West Virginia State Bar.

Required Experience:

• Five (5) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in the practice of law.
• Substitution: One (1) year of full-time or equivalent part-time paid employment as an attorney with the agency to which assigned shall be considered the equivalent of two (2) years of experience.