General Counsel

Salary : $133,129.00 Annually

Location : Richland County, SC

Job Type : FTE - Full-Time

Job Number : 171236

Agency : Department of Motor Vehicles

Division : General Counsel

Opening Date : 12 / 20 / 2024

Closing Date : 1 / 31 / 2025 12 : 00 AM Eastern

Residency Requirement : No

Class Code : : UA03

Position Number : : 60029683

Normal Work Schedule : : Monday - Friday (8 : 30 - 5 : 00)

Pay Band : Unclassified

Hiring Range - Min. : $133,129.00

Hiring Range - Max. : $133,129.00

Opening Date : 12 / 20 / 2024

EEO Statement : Equal Opportunity Employer

Agency Specific Application Procedures : : You must apply online at www.careers.sc.gov. All applications must be received by 5pm on January 31,2025.A resume may be included but will not be accepted or reviewed in lieu of an incomplete application. Follow the status of your application on-line. You will be notified of scheduled interviews and also the final disposition of the job. If you are having technical difficulties submitting your application on-line and need assistance, please contact 1-855-524-5627.

Veteran Preference Statement : South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.

Job Responsibilities

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) is seeking a business-minded, execution driven, General Counsel to serve as the primary attorney for the agency and oversee the Office of General Counsel. If you are ready to put your legal knowledge and litigation skills to work in support of our agency and the citizens of South Carolina, then come join the SCDMV!

This position is located in the Office of General Counsel, at the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle Headquarters, in Blythewood SC

Responsibilities of the General Counsel include :

• Serve as the primary attorney for the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Advise and provide legal counsel to agency Executive Leadership (Executive Director and Board of Directors) on all DMV related matters
• Responsible for regularly undertaking and managing litigation for the agency as well as directing and managing legal activities within the department.
• Manage the Office of General Counsel and supervise agency attorneys and support staff, conducting legal research and preparing legal opinions, briefs, pleadings, and arguments for various types of agency litigation.
• Responsible for coordinating support and monitoring representation of outside counsel retained for DMV matters
• Responsible for conducting complex legal research and preparing documents regarding legislative acts and court decisions.
• Review requests received by the agency under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to validate their justification in accordance with the Driver Personal Protection Act (DPPA).
• Represent the agency in major litigation that affects the agency. Manage the tracking of administrative hearings outcomes and processing of any transaction that are necessary as a result of the hearing.
• Work with representatives from across the agency to draft proposed legislative bills, resolutions, amendments, provisos, and regulations.
• Other duties as required by the SCDMV Executive Director.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

Minimum Requirements

Additional Requirements

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Experience

Additional Comments

What's in it for you?

At the SCDMV you get to be part of an exceptional team and diverse culture that nurtures mutual success for our customers, employees and our communities. We give you the tools to be successful; all you need to do is bring your best ideas, your energy and a desire to develop your skills, experience and career.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles offers an exceptional benefits package for full time employees (FTE) employees.

Additional Comments

The Department of Motor Vehicles is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education.

Benefits for State Employees

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits

State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits

State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note : The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.

It is very important that you update your answers to both the Agency-Wide and Supplemental Questions each time you apply for a position. By your responses, you affirm, agree and understand that all answers are true and accurate. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or material omission of information or data may result in exclusion from further consideration or, if hired, termination of employment. I acknowledge by responding with a "yes" that I understand this statement.

Do you possess a juris doctor degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and experience as a practicing attorney?

If yes, provide name of school and date you received your law degree.

This position is in the Blythewood / Columbia area. If hired, are you prepared to commute there daily for the position?

Are you an active member in good standing with the South Carolina Bar? If yes, please provide your South Carolina Bar number.

This position has a salary of $133,129.00. Would you accept this salary if offered the position?

Are you licensed to practice law in the state courts of South Carolina?

Are you licensed to practice law in any other courts beyond the state courts of South Carolina? If yes, please provide the name of the court, jurisdiction, and any applicable Bar number.

Have you ever been disciplined by the South Carolina Supreme Court or other legal licensing body for any reason? If yes, please explain.

Describe your litigation experience, including any appellate experience.

Describe your experience with the South Carolina Legislature, including any experience with regulation promulgation, testifying before Legislative committees or subcommittees, and drafting proposed legislation.

Describe your level of experience with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.

Describe your experience with the Freedom of Information Act, including any experience with how FOIA interacts with the Driver Privacy Protection Act.

Do you have experience dealing with the federal Driver Privacy Protection Act?

Describe your experience with the National Voter Registration Act and South Carolina voting laws.

Do you have experience with the South Carolina Tort Claims Act?

Describe your experience with the South Carolina Tort Claims Act.

Do you have experience with the Insurance Reserve Fund.

If yes, describe your experience with the Insurance Reserve Fund?

Describe any courtroom and appellate experience you have. Have you briefed and / or argued any appellate cases that resulted in published opinions?

Have you ever requested an Attorney General's opinion?

If yes, describe the requests.

Describe your experience with personnel law.Have you given legal advice to employers in regard to personnel actions?Have you defended an entity in personnel actions, unemployment claims, and / or workers compensation claims?If yes, describe the cases

Describe your experience interpreting the statutes in Title 56 of the South Carolina Code of Law and Chapter 90 of the South Carolina Code of Regulations.

Please print your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security Card.

Are you currently a SCDMV employee?

Have you worked previously for the DMV or another State Agency?

If the answer to question #26 or #27 is "yes", please include what agency, what state, what facility, what department, address / location, past reporting manager, dates of employment, job title, job responsibilities / duties, reason for leaving. (If No, put N / A)

Do you wish to claim Veteran Preference? If yes, you must submit a copy of your DD Form 214 (Member Page 4 or Service Copy 2) with your job application in order to qualify and claim this preference.

Required Question

Salary : $133,129