Title:  General Counsel

Summary/Objective

Serve as legal advisor to the Conservation Commission, Director, and other Department employees on legal matters.  Coordinate all legal services for the Department pertaining to areas of employment, wildlife, endangered species, construction, contracts, environmental compliance, purchasing, real estate, administrative proceedings, litigation, and regulations.  

Essential Job Duties

• Represent the Commission, Department, and employees in litigation. 
• Oversee litigation strategy and review all aspects of cases including discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal.
• Represent the Department in federal administrative proceedings.
• Serve as Custodian of Records and oversee administration and fulfillment of public record requests.
• Conduct research and prepare drafts of legal opinions, briefs, pleadings, petitions, and other legal documents. 
• Provide legal services to Commission and Department to include researching, writing, presenting, training, and representing on all legal topics and/or coordinating with outside legal counsel. 
• Draft and review contracts for the Department and Conservation Commission. Represent the Conservation Commission in the suspension and revocation of hunting and fishing permits. 
• Draft rules and regulations for the Conservation Commission. 
• Advise and counsel Commission and senior management on potential impacts of legislation and coordinate legal review of all bills filed in legislature. 
• Supervise in-house and outside legal counsel including Deputy General Counsel and legal assistant.
• Advise Commission and Department employees on applicable provisions of state and federal law and assist in compliance efforts. 

Additional Essentail Job Duties

• Advise the Regulations Committee by preparing and/or reviewing draft regulations and legal authority for filing regulations and ensure compliance with the Missouri Administrative Procedures Act.
• Serve as legal liaison to Governor's Office, and other state and federal agencies. Includes travel and participation in regional and national legal committees of fish and wildlife associations.

Ancillary Job Duties

• Assists Branches in legal aspects related to creation and implementation of various programs, studies and day-to-day functions. 
• Keeps informed on current changes in law and recent case decisions particularly in the fields of all law related to the operation of the Department of Conservation. 
• Participates in training of uniformed Conservation Agents both as trainees and in service. 
• Attend meetings of the Conservation Commission. 

Education and Experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge in the following areas of law: administrative law; sunshine law; employment and labor law; constitutional law; real estate law; environmental law; criminal law; construction law; estates and trusts and probate law; and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Excellent analytical and verbal and written communications skills.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem solving.
• Strong negotiation and litigation skills.
• Skills in understanding, anticipating, and responding to the needs of customers.
• Ability to accept change and new information and cope with job pressures and stress.
• Ability to be detail-oriented and able to function well under pressure and deal with deadlines.  Handle several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to make timely and effective decisions with available information or knowledge within own span of authority.
• Ability to define a problem, analyze relevant information, and develop solutions and plans to solve the problem.
• Knowledge to develop and implement effective strategies that are consistent with the Department’s vision and mission.
• Ability to take a long-term view of the Department’s and Branch’s direction and articulate a vision which integrates key program goals, priorities, values, and other factors.

Work Environment

Physical Abilities

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.  The Missouri Department of Conservation reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises.  This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.  Management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties, functions, and requirements.