2025-2026 Chief Staff Attorney

The School District of Lee County is currently seeking a full-time Chief Staff Attorney. This role is slated to start on June 1, 2025 and will be located at the District office in Fort Myers, FL.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctor of Jurisprudence from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of the Florida Bar.
• Admitted or eligible for admission to the bar of the United States Federal District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
• Ten (10) years of progressively more responsible work experience in the field related to the title of the position.
• Seven (7) years of experience in educational, governmental, and/or administrative law.
• Three (3) years of experience with education and district school board law.
• Three (3) years of experience supervising a team of attorneys addressing legal issues across multiple subject areas.

Relevant work experience or education may be substituted to satisfy minimum qualifications.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Advise the Superintendent and District staff on all legal matters affecting the District.
• Represent, or provide for the representation of, the Superintendent, and, when appropriate, staff in all litigation, administrative proceedings, arbitrations, mediations, and other proceedings.
• Coordinate with the School Board Attorney regarding legal matters related to the School Board/School District.
• Conduct and oversee legal research, prepare and render legal opinions, and answer legal questions as requested by the Superintendent and District staff.
• Supervise, manage, approve, and evaluate the work of departmental staff; develop leadership in subordinates.
• Assign and monitor all work of in-house attorneys in the Legal Counsel Office.
• Develop and maintain template documents and assist staff in preparing a variety of legal documents to include contracts, agreements, memorandums of understanding, and other items.
• In the absence of the School Board Attorney, serve as needed as parliamentarian at School Board meetings and act as needed as legal advisor to the School Board at quasi-judicial hearings.
• Coordinate inservice education training of District personnel on a wide range of legal topics, including changes in laws and regulations.
• Undertake proactive action to protect the District from exposure to litigation and other risk; timely respond to subpoenas and other requests for documents.
• Counsel executives and administrators in Academic Services, Business Services, Executive Services, Human Resources, Information Services, Operations, and respective departments in developing risk mitigation strategies and playing a key role in risk management activities, environmental health and safety, life safety, and building code and construction compliance.
• Assist in negotiations for collective bargaining.
• Conduct frequent and systematic reviews of current and proposed federal laws, regulations, and state statutes and rules as they relate to the operation of the District.
• Review and recommend appropriate changes to policies, contracts, and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and Department of Education rules and policies.
• Procure and coordinate cost-effective outside legal services in areas requiring specialized legal counsel; review work and legal bills submitted by outside firms for accuracy and completeness and submit for payment.
• Review and monitor the departmental budget and approve departmental expenditures.
• Coordinate the preparation of legal opinions and the dissemination of information related to such opinions.
• Provide quarterly reports on pending litigation and an annual report of all litigation.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $153,523.20 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Doctorate (Required)

Experience:

• Legal counsel: 10 years (Preferred)
• administrative law: 7 years (Preferred)

Language:

• English (Required)

Location:

• Fort Myers, FL 33966 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $153,523