Senior Attorney

Join the State of South Carolina as an Attorney III and contribute to the protection, stabilization, and strengthening of the lives of South Carolina's children, families, and vulnerable adults.

The Attorney III provides professional legal services and representation for assigned county offices, area adoption offices, and regional Day Care licensing offices. This role involves representing the agency in all matters pertaining to emergency or non-emergency removal of children and vulnerable adults, termination of parental rights, inspection warrants, in-home protective services, permanency planning, judicial review of children or adults receiving services, and any appeals resulting from such actions.

• Provide professional legal services and representation for assigned county offices, area adoption offices, and regional Day Care licensing offices.
• Represent the agency in all matters pertaining to emergency or non-emergency removal of children and vulnerable adults, termination of parental rights, inspection warrants, in-home protective services, permanency planning, judicial review of children or adults receiving services, and any appeals resulting from such actions.
• Timely prepare, file, and serve or ensure the timely preparation, filing, and service of all pleadings, motions, orders, notices, rules to show cause, and other court documents related to representation of the agency in legal actions.
• Conduct case staffing meetings for the purpose of analyzing the legal status of the cases and otherwise advising staff on agency legal matters.
• Prepare cases for court by conducting and responding to discovery, interviewing, and preparing witnesses and reviewing agency documentation and reports from other sources.
• Comply with agency policy, state, and federal law regarding the provision of notice of legal proceedings to appropriate parties to agency actions.
• Comply with agency policy, state, and federal law with respect to representing the agency in permanency planning hearings and termination of parental rights.
• Utilize or ensure the utilization of the Legal Case Management System for legal operations and documentation of legal activity in cases.
• Establish and maintain professional networks and attend training sessions to enhance individual professionalism.
• Review legislation, statutory changes, and case law decisions and advise staff about the law.
• Participate in regular agency meetings to discuss and analyze outcomes and determine areas needed for improvement.
• Conduct in-house training for other staff members.
• Perform Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duty/services as directed.

• A Juris Doctorate Degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• Three (3) years of experience as a Practicing Attorney.
• Must be a member of the South Carolina Bar.

The State of South Carolina offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouses, and children. Additionally, employees receive 15 days of annual leave, 15 days of sick leave, 13 paid holidays, paid parental leave, and participation in the State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs.

As a State of South Carolina employee, you will have access to a range of benefits, including tuition assistance, holiday, annual, and sick leave, and discounts on purchases, travel, and more. If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for additional benefits.

Please note that the benefits listed 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.