Director of General Counsel

About the role

The Attorney General’s Office is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as the General Counsel Division Director. This high-level role oversees a team of attorneys and staff, providing thoughtful supervision, mentorship, and professional development to support the success of the entire division.

Responsibilities

• Champion the agency’s mission especially in preparation for and throughout the legislative session.
• Guide attorneys on effective client communication to help prevent legal challenges before they arise.
• Stay ahead of legal and regulatory developments, including legislative changes, rulemaking efforts, and key court decisions, ensuring the team is well-informed and clients receive accurate, timely advice.
• Demonstrate exceptional leadership abilities, sound judgment, critical thinking, open-mindedness, and a natural talent for problem-solving.

Requirements

• Five years or more of legal experience is preferred.
• Five years of experience supervising professional and administrative employees highly preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage detailed information efficiently and accurately.
• Demonstrated leadership ability with strong skills in planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, and overseeing.
• High ethical standards.
• Must be adept at drafting, reviewing, and editing legal analyses, memoranda, letters, or other legal documents.
• The ability to recognize and explain complex legal matters and prioritize critical tasks.
• The ability to understand legislation and identify and address legal issues in legislation is preferred.
• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate tactfully and provide superior service.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, harmonious working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, employees, legislature, and the public.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in North Dakota is preferred.
• Exceptional leadership abilities, sound judgment, critical thinking, open-mindedness, and a natural talent for problem-solving.
• Deep expertise in state and federal law, Attorney General opinions regarding legal questions, contracts, open records and meetings, and administrative rules.
• Proactive guidance on effective client communication to prevent legal challenges.
• Staying ahead of legal and regulatory developments, including legislative changes, rulemaking efforts, and key court decisions.
• Exceptional organizational skills, management of detailed information, and leadership abilities.
• High ethical standards, drafting, reviewing, and editing legal documents, recognizing and explaining complex legal matters, understanding legislation, and communicating effectively.
• Establishing and maintaining effective, harmonious working relationships with various stakeholders.
• Maintaining a high degree of confidentiality.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and strong communication skills.
• Expertise in state and federal law, Attorney General opinions, contracts, open records and meetings, and administrative rules.
• Proactive guidance on effective client communication.
• Staying ahead of legal and regulatory developments.
• Exceptional leadership abilities, sound judgment, critical thinking, open-mindedness, and problem-solving skills.
• Organizational skills, management of detailed information, and leadership abilities.
• High ethical standards, drafting, reviewing, and editing legal documents.
• Recognizing and explaining complex legal matters and prioritizing critical tasks.
• Understanding legislation and identifying and addressing legal issues in legislation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Communicating tactfully and providing superior service.
• Establishing and maintaining effective, harmonious working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, employees, legislature, and the public.
• Maintaining a high degree of confidentiality.

Benefits

• Monthly salary.
• Comprehensive benefits package including fully paid health insurance for employee and family (with a wellness rider included), the option to participate in employee-paid dental and vision for employee and family, participation in the state NDPERS retirement plan as well as the option to participate in the 457 deferred compensation plan, the option to contribute to a medical spending account, and earning annual leave and sick leave.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Pay

In addition to the monthly salary, this position includes fully paid health insurance for employee and family (with a wellness rider included), the option to participate in employee-paid dental and vision for employee and family, participation in the state NDPERS retirement plan as well as the option to participate in the 457 deferred compensation plan, the option to contribute to a medical spending account, and earning annual leave and sick leave.

Schedule

This is an in-person position located in Bismarck, ND.

Additional Information

Total Rewards: The State of North Dakota is committed to providing team members with a strong and competitive rewards package that support you, your health and your family.

To learn more about living in North Dakota, visit Find the Good Life ND website.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.