Assistant General Counsel

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The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is a state agency responsible for overseeing the complex mission of managing, monitoring, planning for, and financing the state's water resources and infrastructure towards reliable future supplies that support strong communities, commerce, and the environment.

The agency is seeking a full-time Assistant General Counsel to join our family of professionals in delivering exceptional services and expertise to Oklahomans.

Typical Functions

Participates or assists in the resolution of employee complaints, disciplinary actions, and appeals through the State's administrative process, other regulatory bodies, or court appeals when required.

This may include, but is not limited to, complaints or allegations by employees regarding discrimination, wage and hour disputes, and unemployment.

Conducts or assists in the enforcement of agency rules, including action taken against licensees when in violation of agency rules.

This includes review of sufficiency of water right applications and public notices for such applications; providing legal review, advice, and representation in administrative enforcement actions involving stream water right forfeitures, dam safety, construction of wells and installation of pumps, and other matters as assigned.

• Advises agency directors, managers, and other relevant staff on internal employee complaints, administrative, and operational rules, laws, and procedures to include, but not limited to, agency policy, federal and state personnel laws, and other regulatory mandates required for the agency to conduct business.
• Prepares or presents letters, memoranda of law, briefs, contracts, pleadings, motions, orders, consent, and other relevant or related documents and pleadings.

This may include preparing or presenting appeals to district, civil, supreme, or other court proceedings in writing or orally, to Boards and Commissions and their members, and other court proceedings as directed.

Prepares and presents the agency’s case in administrative hearings and trial litigation, pre-trial or pre-hearing conferences, and argues the agency motion / position before the court, commission, hearing officer, or Administrative Law Judge.

Conducts discovery; examines and cross-examines witnesses; negotiates in support of the agency.

• Reviews, edits, and approves litigation filings when appropriate. This may be for lower-level attorneys, or litigation that is significant or complex.
• Mentors or oversees lower-level staff and projects within an assigned area in an effective and professional manner, reviews and provides guidance of cases including cases involving litigation;

may recommend or provide training, guidance, motivation, and support of staff.

Provides legal assistance and guidance as necessary for the drafting, adoption, and promulgation of rules; providing legal review and assistance to Oklahoma commissioners and support staff on Oklahoma interstate stream compacts;

and representing the OWRB in litigation as assigned by the OWRB General Counsel.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of applicable state and federal laws; applicable regulations;
• constitutional law and the Oklahoma Constitution; agency policies and procedures; trial and hearing procedures; rules of evidence;
• methods and techniques for conducting legal research and writing. Skills required include critical thinking skills; conducting legal research;
• written and oral communication; attention to detail; sound judgment; and decision-making. Abilities required include presenting statements of fact and law;
• clearly and logically articulating positions in written and oral form; analyzing, interpreting, and applying various laws, rules, regulations, agency policies, and procedures;
• directing and / or performing independent and difficult research, analyzing, appraising, and applying legal principles and precedents to difficult legal or factual problems;
• conducting legal research on Westlaw, Lexis / Nexis, Fastcase, the Oklahoma State Court Network, and printed or internet-based legal resources;
• meeting timelines while following the Oklahoma statutes; representing the agency in a professional manner; training lower-level employees;

and providing leadership in the absence of the agency General Counsel.

Education and Experience :

Level II

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, a license to practice law in the State of Oklahoma;

an active membership of the Oklahoma Bar Association and two years of legal experience or adjudicative experience.

Level III

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, a license to practice law in the State of Oklahoma, an active membership of the Oklahoma Bar Association, and five years of legal experience or adjudicative experience.

Must abide by the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct.

Some agencies may require the incumbent to function or comply with :

Oklahoma Statutes, in particular Title 68 : Revenue and Taxation, and the Oklahoma Administrative Code, Title 710 : Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Information and records of the agency are subject to the confidentiality provisions in 68 O.S. 205.

Federal tax information (FTI) received by the agency must be protected as directed by 26 U.S.C. 6103.

Agency Awards :

OKLAHOMAN TOP WORKPLACE 2023

CERTIFIED HEALTHY OKLAHOMA

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