Deputy Regional Counsel - Northern Legal

Reporting to the DCF Regional Counsel, the selected candidate will oversee all related legal activities of the region and supervise Assistant Regional Counsels.

Responsibilities

• Assist Regional Counsel with coordinating and supervising the legal activities of the Legal Region.
• Ensure timely completion of trial court and appellate cases through both direct litigation and supervision of Assistant Regional Counsels.
• Act as the liaison between areas, the region, and central office on legal issues to ensure effective communication between clinical and legal staff.
• Serve as the liaison with Juvenile and Probate and Family Courts as well as the Defense Bar concerning agency litigation and staff.
• Provide technical assistance to Regional and Area office staff regarding interpretation and implementation of Massachusetts General Laws, Massachusetts Regulations, and Department policy.
• Develop, establish, and implement systems and procedures for effective law office management, including the use of available management reports.
• Provide in-service training on legal issues to Regional and Area Office staff in child welfare law, privacy, confidentiality, access to records, court rules and procedures, and related areas.
• Represent the Department in Juvenile, Probate, and Superior Court regarding Department records or other litigation matters.
• Supervise legal staff and assist in framing litigation issues.
• Participate in recruitment and hiring of legal staff.

Qualifications

• Current membership in the Massachusetts Bar Association.
• At least five (5) years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a legal specialty, with at least one (1) year in a supervisory, managerial, or project management capacity.
• Substitution options:
  • A certificate in a relevant field may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.
  • A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.
  • A Graduate degree in a related field may substitute for three (3) years of the required experience.
  • A Doctorate in a related field may substitute for four (4) years of the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of the laws of the Commonwealth and Federal laws.
• Ability to supervise the legal operations of a DCF Region using effective law office management principles.
• Thorough knowledge of the laws and regulations governing DCF.
• Ability to supervise the legal activities of staff attorneys.
• Ability to direct legal research and prepare reports.
• Ability to direct the preparation and trial of complex court cases, hearings, and recommendations, and to confer with judicial officials.
• Ability to file answers, prepare briefs, effect settlements, prepare legal documents, and plan Department legal activities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to resolve issues effectively.
• Demonstrated commitment to DCF’s core practice values: child-driven, family-centered, community-focused, strength-based, committed to diversity/cultural competency, and continuous learning.

About the Department of Children and Families

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to protecting children from abuse and neglect to ensure they can grow and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. DCF’s vision is that all children have the right to grow up in a nurturing home, free from abuse and neglect, with access to food, shelter, clothing, health care, and education.

DCF works toward establishing the safety, permanency, and well-being of the Commonwealth's children by stabilizing and preserving families; providing quality temporary alternative care when necessary; safely reunifying families; and, when necessary and appropriate, creating new families through kinship, guardianship, or adoption.

Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package, including:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Work-life balance programs.

Pre-Hire Process

• A criminal and tax history background check will be completed on the recommended candidate.
• Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.
• Education and license/certification information may be published on the Commonwealth’s website under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.