LEGAL
Legal Counsel-General Counsel
Summary
Legal Counsel (General Counsel) This responsible professional position serves as the chief legal advisor for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. This position provides a full range of legal guidance, advice, and counsel for all matters affecting the Patrol, and may, upon request and approval by the Superintendent, represent the Patrol before a judicial body. Work includes conducting research, preparing legal opinions, drafting rules and regulations for the agency, and counseling and/or advising personnel in relation to their duties as required by Missouri and federal laws. An employee is accountable for ensuring compliance with all state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, as well as providing legal guidance regarding the implementation of Patrol programs. The employee must exercise independent judgment and discretion in contacts with others. Work is performed under minimal supervision with considerable independent judgment, decision making, and discretion required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- In addition to those identified in the previous levels within this career path: Thorough and comprehensive knowledge of and the ability to demonstrate understanding and successful interpretation, explanation, and application of all assigned areas of legal administration and support, as well as the laws, principles, and practices as they are related to implementation within the agency.
- Thorough and comprehensive knowledge of and the ability to demonstrate understanding and successful interpretation, explanation, and application of the agency's policies, procedures, rules, and regulations in the performance of duties.
- Comprehensive knowledge of and the ability to demonstrate understanding and successful interpretation, explanation, and application of the agency's policies, procedures, rules, and regulations in the performance of duties.
- Comprehensive and working knowledge of and the ability to demonstrate successful use of computer equipment and associated software/databases in the performance of duties.
- Possess and demonstrate successful communication skills in English via all modes of communication.
- Possess and demonstrate successful management and prioritization of work within predetermined deadlines and stressful/adverse situations.
- Possess and demonstrate the ability to successfully work as a team member and positively interact with a variety of people, as well as work hours as assigned.
- Ability to demonstrate successful performance in the engagement, training, mentoring, and supervision of assigned personnel and support staff.
- Ability to demonstrate successful performance in the development of short and long-range plans that meet established objectives and contribute to the overall goals and mission of the agency.
- Ability to demonstrate successful performance in the development of presentations and training programs, as well as in presenting and training others in the performance of duties.
- Ability to demonstrate successful performance in the research, gathering, correlating, and analyzing of facts to develop statistical reports, charts, recommendations, and/or solutions in the performance of duties.
- Ability to demonstrate successful performance and adherence to the rules of conduct for Patrol employees in accordance with General Order 26-02, as well as all other applicable agency policy and procedures.
- Ability to demonstrate successful performance and adherence to policy and procedure in the care and maintenance of restricted and confidential information in the performance of duties.
- Ability to work with material that may be of a sexual nature relating to criminal activity (e.g., written material, photographs, and/or verbal language, etc.)
Minimum Requirements
The following represents the minimum qualifications used to accept applicants, provided that equivalent substitution will be permitted in case of deficiencies in either experience or education.):
- Possess a Juris Doctorate, possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited law school, and be licensed to practice law in Missouri.
- Preference may be given to those possessing experience in contract, expungement, employment and/or Sunshine law.
- Must be a United States Citizen, or a legal resident of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Requirements that may apply and are dependent on assigned areas of responsibility:
- Must reside within a 50 nautical mile radius of General Headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri, within six months of employment.
- Must possess proof of licensure with the Missouri Bar Association.
- Must attend and successfully pass Police Instructor School within twelve (12) months of appointment.
Necessary Special Requirements
- Documented successful completion of at least 26 hours of professional skill development and leadership training each calendar year.
- Possess and maintain membership with at least one organization as it relates to assigned area of responsibility.
- Possess and maintain certification with at least one organization as it relates to assigned area of responsibility.
- working hours are subject to change at the discretion of the commanding authority.