Committee Attorney

General Summary

This is highly complex legal work providing professional legal counsel, advice and representation to the chair and vice chair of a committee. An employee in a position allocated to this class serves as the senior legal expert to a legislative committee and lead for the other attorneys in the committee.

Financial Disclosure

Pursuant to sections 112.3144 and 112.3145, Florida Statutes, this position is required to electronically file a Form 1 – Statement of Financial Interests with the Florida Commission on Ethics within 30 days of hire.

Examples of Work Performed

• Serves as the lead attorney, coordinating and supervising the work of the other attorneys on the committee.
• Maintains communications with agency heads, or their assigned deputies, assistants, and agency general counsel.
• Reviews agency action pursuant to Chapter 120, the Administrative Procedures Act, to identify instances of the invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority.
• Makes recommendations for needed changes to legislation based upon trends in case law, agency comment or citizen request.
• Performs legal research concerning the interpretation of Florida Statutes and on other matters in question for the committee chair or vice chair; answers telephone inquiries and composes responses to constituents.
• Reviews statutes passed each session and calls to the attention of the agencies all those which may require administrative rule promulgation, repeal or amendment.
• Prepares and presents proposed objections to full committee.
• Prepares and drafts legal opinions involving statute and rule interpretation.
• Prepares and drafts legislative bills, resolutions, and amendments for the committee where a thorough knowledge of the existing statutes and statutory requirements in drafting legislative bills is required.
• Provides legal counsel and advice to the committee chair and vice chair in developing agency programs and regulations, and in interpreting state and federal legislative acts requiring extensive legal experience, knowledge of the law, and the exercise of a high degree of independent judgment.
• Participates in conducting complex legal research in highly technical and specialized areas requiring extensive legal experience.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of legal terminology.
• Knowledge of Florida laws and legal procedure.
• Knowledge of the Florida Constitution.
• Skill in reading comprehension, analysis, research, and organization.
• Ability to provide legal counsel.
• Ability to interpret state and federal legislation, laws, and rules.
• Ability to employ legal reasoning and to foresee possible legal problems.
• Ability to communicate effectively and concisely verbally and in writing.
• Ability to take action in situations which lack clear direction.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to use independent judgment when releasing information to the public.
• Ability to collect and analyze data.
• Ability to conduct meetings and to make presentations.
• Ability to perform legal writing and prepare various legal documents.
• Ability to research legal documents and legal references.
• Ability to prepare and present briefs, pleadings, and oral arguments.
• Ability to draft legislation.
• Ability to supervise people.

Minimum Qualifications

• Attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar and three years of professional experience in the practice of law, legal research, teaching law, or in administrative or judicial hearings.

Salary

Salary commensurate with experience. The Legislature offers a competitive benefits package.

Accommodation for Disability

If an accommodation is needed for a disability, please notify Human Resources at (850) 488-6803.

Working for the Florida Legislature

Includes a lucrative benefits package, including affordable health insurance options, free dental, long-term disability and employee life insurance, as well as competitive retirement. Employees have access to a college tuition waiver program, an employee assistance program, paid annual and sick leave, and paid holidays.

Health and Dental Insurance

• Full-time employees pay $30 per month for family coverage or $8.34 per month for individual coverage.
• Part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.
• Dental insurance offers a PPO plan that pays from 50 to 100 percent of usual, customary, and reasonable charges. There is a $1500 maximum benefit per plan year.

Life and Disability Insurance

• Group Term life Insurance with an accidental death and dismemberment benefit provides $25,000 coverage.
• The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.
• Disability insurance offers a Group Long Term Disability Insurance Plan that provides a monthly benefit of 60 percent of covered monthly earnings after an elimination period of 360 days. The Legislature pays the total premium.

Florida Pre-Tax Plan And Deferred Compensation Plan

• This state sponsored program includes Supplemental Insurance Plans, Health Savings Account (when enrolled with an Investor Health Plan), and a Flexible Spending Program on a pretax basis.
• The Supplemental Insurance Plans include hospitalization, cancer/intensive care, dental, vision, and accidental/disability.
• The Flexible Spending Program includes healthcare and dependent care accounts.
• A competitive Deferred Compensation Plan is also offered. The State of Florida Deferred Compensation Plan offers a number of investment options including variable annuities, mutual funds, and a bank, with a variety of contract providers.

Leave Accrual

• Annual Leave accrues as follows based on creditable state service: Up to 5 years - 11 hours per month 5 to 10 years - 13 hours per month Over 10 years - 15 hours per month
• Sick Leave accrues at 9 hours per month for all full-time employees.

Retirement

• Participation in the Florida Retirement System is compulsory for all salaried staff, except certain re-employed retirees.
• New employees have until the end of the eighth month following their first month of employment to select a retirement plan, from the traditional pension plan or the investment plan.
• New employees will receive an informational packet approximately two months after the hire date.
• Members and staff contribute 3% of their salary towards retirement and the Legislature pays the remainder of the premium.

Total Compensation Statement

The Total Compensation Statement provides a monetary value of each benefit listed below as well as a total annual compensation estimate. The annual salary amount used in this example is $60,000. Note: All values are based on individual plans.