Senior Counsel

POSITION: Senior Counsel (Labor and Employment)
DIVISION: Law
DEPARTMENT: Law
UNION/GRADE: Unit 6 Confidential/Grade 13
BASIC PURPOSE: Provides legal analysis, advice, and representation of the Authority as requested by the General Counsel and Associate General Counsel.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the general supervision of the General Counsel or Associate General Counsel (Labor and Employment) as assigned.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Exercises supervision of a legal assistant and/or support staff.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Acts as labor and employment counsel. Provides advice and counsel to staff in all areas of federal and state labor and employment law. Represents the Authority in litigation before state and federal courts and in administrative and arbitration proceedings.
• Handles substantive and procedural legal matters in the following areas: labor, employment, wage and hour, unemployment, administrative, arbitration, and litigation.
• Researches and determines the applicability of federal, state and local laws, regulations, and case law, etc.
• Drafts and analyzes advice memoranda, pleadings, motions, briefs, legal documents, claim documents, contract documents, collective bargaining agreements and other memoranda.
• Participates in collective bargaining.
• Develops and drafts rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Construes and applies the Authority's enabling statute and regulations.
• Analyzes and drafts legislation.
• Conducts legal research as required.

SECONDARY DUTIES:

• Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Education and Experience:

• Analytical and writing skills as normally attained through a Bachelor's degree; and
• J.D. from an accredited law school; and
• A minimum of three (3) to six (6) years as an attorney in the field of labor and employment law, preferably in the public sector; and
• Admittance in good standing to the bar to practice law in Massachusetts state and federal courts; or
• Any equivalent combination of education or experience.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Understanding of and experience in labor and employment law. Experience representing clients in litigation, administrative proceedings and arbitrations. Experience in providing advice and counsel to clients in labor and employment law. Experience drafting and analyzing legal documents, collective bargaining agreements, claim documents, memoranda, legislation and regulations.
• Strong analytical, research, organizational, and oral and written communications skills.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Massachusetts Bar License. (State bar admission must be obtained as of date of hire. Federal bar admission must be obtained no later than 6 months after hire.) A valid Massachusetts Class D Driver's License.TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED: Office machines as normally associated, with the use of telephone, personal computer including word processing and other software, copy and fax machines.PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, including office equipment, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. Performing the job may involve lifting or exerting some objects of nominal weight. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to adjust focus.WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually a moderately quiet office setting.Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.