Requisition No: 828411 

Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: FORENSIC ATTORNEY - 67016699

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 67016699 

Salary:  $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 07/20/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 POSITION: Senior Attorney - Selected Exempt Service (SES)

WORKING TITLE: Forensic Attorney

POSITION’S LOCATION: State Office – Tallahassee, FL

POSITION NUMBER: 67016699

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

 

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities works in partnership with local communities to support people with developmental disabilities in living, learning, and working in their communities. APD provides critical services and supports for customers with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential. The Agency serves people with spina bifida, autism, Down syndrome, children ages 3-5 at high risk of developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. There is no charge or co-payment for services provided through the Agency. www.apdcares.org

 

SALARY RANGE

$ 60,000.00- $75,000.00 Annually                  $2,307.69 - $2,884.62 Bi-weekly

 

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Employees of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities are required to demonstrate total commitment to outstanding customer service. This includes, but is not limited to, always acting in a responsive, professional, courteous manner with the employees, customers, and public we serve at all times.

 

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

The incumbent in this position provides legal representation to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (Agency) under the direction of the General Counsel.

 

Represents the Agency in Forensic litigation. Analyzes legal issues raised by the Developmental Disabilities Centers and the Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program, provides legal advice and guidance as needed.

 

Responds to oral and written requests for legal opinions which require careful research, a discussion with the person requesting the opinion and other persons having relevant information, and an exploration of underlying facts.

 

Provides consultative services to areas and headquarters staff related to policies and procedures related to Florida Statutes.

Represents the Agency in litigation in various forums to include state trial and appellate courts, federal trial and appellate courts, and state and federal administrative forums. In these efforts, thorough research of the facts and law for each case is a requirement.

 

Drafts for the Director’s signature requests for Attorney General opinions. The requests contain the issue, the department’s position, if any, and thorough legal arguments supporting the department’s position.

 

Works with Department personnel in developing legislation, reviewing proposed legislation, (bill analyses) from any source, implementing new legislation, and reviewing existing statutes for the purpose of proposing any needed remedial legislation.

 

Reviews proposed rules for both substantive and technical legality. Participate in rule development, rule workshops and rule hearings.

 

Review departmental manuals, letters, and documents for legal sufficiency.

Travels as necessary.

 

Performs other duties as assigned.

 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Ability to:

Ability to provide legal counsel and represent the Agency at the administrative and appellate level.  Ability to perform legal research and prepare various legal documents.  Ability to interpret state and federal legislation, laws, and rules. Ability to employ legal reasoning and to foresee possible legal problems. Ability to communicate effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing. Ability to engage in alternative dispute resolution.  Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public, including unrepresented litigants.  Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments independently for a high-volume caseload. Ability to conduct meetings and to make presentations. Ability to learn and adapt to continually evolving software and technology. Ability to travel.

Demonstrate Skills in:

Willingness and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Knowledge of:

Knowledge of legal terminology. Knowledge of Florida laws and legal procedure, including administrative procedures and practices. Knowledge and experience with public records and their exemptions, HIPAA, Medicaid, and laws and ethics in government. (Preferred). Knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, and SharePoint) and Adobe Acrobat.

 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

2 years of experience as an Attorney. Valid Driver’s License or other efficient means of transportation to travel for work purposes.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PROFILE COMPLETION

Applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile, including their work history with the month and year, to qualify for this position. 

 

Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile, and “see resume” will not be considered an acceptable response.

 

Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information, but these will not replace the required completed Candidate Profile.

 

RETIREE NOTICE

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

 

DIRECT DEPOSIT PROGRAM

As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in the State Personnel System is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.  Rather than receiving a paper paycheck, your funds will be deposited directly into your account at your financial institution. This will be accomplished by Electronic Funds Transfer. Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are eligible to accept such deposits. Retirement funds are also required to be in the Direct Deposit Program.

 

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

 

No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency.
Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

 

Pursuant to S. 110.1127(1), Florida Statutes, this position requires a background investigation, including fingerprinting.

 

APD only hires U.S. citizens, and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. APD participates in the U.S. government’s employment eligibility verification program (E-verify). E-verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee’s eligibility to work in the U.S. after completing the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).

 

All applicants should complete the online application process.  If assistance is needed to apply for this position, please call the people first service center at 1-877-562-7287. 

 

Responses to the qualifying questions are required to be considered for this position. Answers to the qualifying questions must be verifiable based on your submitted application.

 

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.