Chief Counsel DLR

Chief Counsel DLR (250006LK)

Job Description.

The Massachusetts Department of Labor (DLR) is a neutral agency charged with administering the Commonwealth's collective bargaining statutes. The DLR includes the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (CERB) which hears appeals of various DLR cases, and the Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC), which mediates collective bargaining negotiations involving municipal police officers and firefighters.

The DLR is seeking a Chief Counsel to represent the DLR and its component agencies in court and to provide legal advice and guidance to the DLR Director, CERB, JLMC and staff on matters that could affect cases processed by the DLR. In this position, you will be part of the team that implements newly-enacted M.G.L. c.150F (Ballot Question 3), the statute that "creates the opportunity for ride-share drivers to unionize and negotiate on an industry-wide basis with transportation network companies (Uber, Lyft, etc.) to raise the standards for the terms and conditions of work in this industry."

Responsibilities

Act as appellate counsel for the CERB by assembling records, drafting briefs, making oral arguments and otherwise defending CERB decisions in the Massachusetts Appeals Court or the Supreme Judicial Court

Represent the DLR and JLMC in court litigation, including seeking injunctive relief and enforcing the CERB's orders in Superior Court

Advise the CERB on appeals from hearing officer probable cause decisions, full hearing officer decisions and interlocutory appeals and review CERB work product prior to issuance

Work with the Director to update DLR regulations as needed

Provide advice and oversight to the DLR, CERB and JLMC regarding public records law, personnel matters, open meeting laws and other legal matters

Review and approve written work prepared by staff, as needed

Advise the Director regarding procedural case processing issues such as deferral to arbitration

Attend DLR Advisory Council Meetings

Participate in appropriate bar association or other professional organization activities

Qualifications

Member in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar with annual certification and registration by the Board of Bar Overseers

Five years' experience practicing law

Preferred Qualifications

At least six (6) years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, legal experience in a regulatory, government, corporate legal department, or at a governmental agency, including litigation experience

Two (2) years of litigation experience, particularly in appellate litigation

Experience in writing legal briefs and / or adjudicatory decisions and oral advocacy ability

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Five (5) years of labor law or labor relations experience

Minimum Entrance Requirements

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and / or registration requirements established for the performance of the position, of which (B) at least one (2) years must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience

III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience

An Equal Opportunity / Affir­mative Action Employer. Fem­ales, min­ori­ties, veter­ans, and persons with dis­ability­es are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you have Diversity, Affir­mative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Dennis Johnson - 617-626-5111.

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