Job Title: Deputy General Counsel
Division: Executive
Headquarters: WVDA Guthrie Headquarters
Reports To: General Counsel
Supervisory Responsibility: None
FLSA Status: Exempt
Nature of Work:
The deputy general counsel provides legal services to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and the West Virginia Conservation Agency, as directed by the general counsel.
Examples of Work:
- Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of agreements, memoranda of understanding, and contracts.
- Ensure contracts comply with legal requirements and policies.
- Manage agreement databases, templates, and tracking systems.
- Prepare deeds, easements, deeds of trust, subordination agreements, boundary agreements, and other legal instruments.
- Conduct real estate closings for land transfers.
- Conduct or assist with administrative hearings.
- Respond to inquiries concerning laws the department is charged with enforcing.
- Perform legal research on a wide variety of legal issues, including those arising under real property law, contract law, employment law, constitutional law, federal and state administrative law, and environmental law.
- Present legal recommendations to the numerous boards under the purview of the department.
- Coordinate with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office in litigation matters involving employment disputes, real property disputes, and condemnation actions.
- Perform due diligence on real estate transactions.
- Assist with legislative rulemaking and code changes as needed.
- Provide training and educational seminars for department staff, department partners, and the public on agriculture and conservation matters.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on all matters as required.
- Negotiate and draft mineral leases.
- Other duties as assigned.
Working Conditions:
Office environment; sitting, standing, walking, driving, lifting up to 25 pounds. Occasional travel.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of or demonstrated interest in the practice areas of real property law, contract law, constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, and litigation.
- Ability to perform title examinations and other legal research.
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
- Excellent legal writing and analytical skills.
- Strong transactional skills.
- Excellent oral communication skills.
- Ability to handle confidential information with the highest degree of professional responsibility.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Graduation from a regionally accredited or an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
Experience: At least three years of experience as a licensed attorney, preferred.
Substitutions: None.
Licenses/ Certifications: Admission to the West Virginia State Bar within 24 months of employment.
Additional Requirements:
- Valid driver’s license is required.
- Satisfactory completion of pre-employment drug testing.
- Satisfactory completion of pre-employment law enforcement background investigation, including DMV records.
- Must maintain a positive image of the Commissioner, West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and the West Virginia Conservation Agency.
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