Attorney IV / 61012692

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful contributions to your community? Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of South Carolina's children, families, and vulnerable adults? If so, the SC Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you!

We're looking for an enthusiastic Attorney IV who leads the hiring, training, mentoring and supervision function of the county legal operations with assigned area, including county Attorneys and Paralegals. Communicates, develops and maintains protocols for county Attorneys, Paralegals and administrative staff. Engages in general legal operations management and ensures the Legal Case Management System (LCMS) is consistently and correctly utilized. Ensures hearings are completed in a timely manner, including, e.g. Permanency Planning Hearings, TPR hearings, Probable Cause and Removal Hearing and other hearings Ensures county offices are properly staffed and appropriate supplies as required. Appears and represents the agency and its interest in Court to support legal offices over which incumbent has oversight and responsibility.

The Attorney IV will serve as primary supervisor for Attorneys in assigned area and supervise the legal activity in that area including, but not limited to, overseeing personnel administration involving county attorneys within the assigned area; supervise the recruitment, retention, training, and payment of county contract Attorneys in the assigned area; and, supervise Paralegal staff for the assigned regional office

Ensure LCMS compliance and timely training for new employees in LCMS. Utilize and ensure others utilize LCMS for documentation of legal activity in cases.

Provide legal advice to Regional Directors for Human Services and County Directors in assigned region in the areas of child welfare and adult protection; work in collaboration with the Regional Director toward achieving objectives for Human Services. Timely attendance at all required meetings and CLEs. Review legislation, statutory and case law updates to remain current on applicable law, regulation, procedure and policy and disseminate information and director appropriately to ensue that supervised county legal offices likewise remain current.

Evaluate the in-court and out-of-court activities of county attorneys using system data, conduct consistent periodic on-site visits of county legal offices; audit paper files and electronic LCMS files for compliance and quality assurance; monitor and analyze LCMS and CAPPS activity reports.

Oversees and take primary responsibility for the recruitment, training, retention of County Attorneys and contract Attorneys when applicable.

Conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of county legal operations management, caseload ratios and performance standards; monitor and provide leadership in all cases being appealed from the assigned area.

Appear in Court in assigned area as needed to support the legal offices under incumbent's supervisor.
Establish and maintain collegial professional relationship with local community partners, i.e. clerks of court Guardian ad Litem Programs, review boards, Foster parents and other child welfare agencies.

Appear in Court in assigned area as needed to support the legal offices under incumbent's supervisor.
Establish and maintain a collegial professional relationship with local community partners, i.e. clerks of court Guardian ad Litem Programs, review boards, foster parents and other child welfare agencies.

All South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) Employees are expected to Adopt, Implement, and Promote the Published Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles, While Employed by the Agency.

A Juris Doctorate Degree or its equivalent from an ABA accredited law school and four (4) years' experience as a Practicing Attorney.

Necessary Special Requirement: must be a member of the SC BAR.

An Attorney who exhibits confidence and competency with DSS legal issues, oral communication, time management, problem solving, and writing. This Attorney will represent DSS in contested TPRs, complex litigation and appeals. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a powerful aptitude for sophisticated litigation, facility in the legal analysis of novel and complicated issues, proficiency in working with a wide range of experts, and the ability to harness litigation support in the preparation of cases. The ideal candidate must have an expert understanding on state and federal case law, statutes and policy in child protective services. The ideal candidate will have an established history of aggressively pursuing the goals of the agency.

This application for employment with the SC Department of Social Services must be completed in its entirety. A resume may be included; but shall not be substituted in lieu of the completion of this application in part or in whole. "See Resume" is not acceptable information for the completion of any part of the requirements of this application. If such is submitted, this employment application will be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded as eligible for consideration to hiring managers.

Incumbent will provide leadership with a "hands on" approach to training and mentoring new employees on procedures, strategies, and county relationships and will be actively involved in the same. This person will evaluate, and actively manage all legal office employees in the area of supervision.

If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

DIVISION: Legal / Pee Dee Region