• Job ID: 72532
• Location: St. Paul
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 1/9/2024
• Closing Date: 1/30/2024
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Labor & Industry Dept / Labor and Industry-MAPE
• Division/Unit: Dept of Labor & Industry / Legal Services
• Work Shift/Work Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Days of Work: Monday – Friday
• Travel Required: No
• Salary Range: $32.71 – $48.51 / hourly; $68,298 – $101,289 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 – MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA Status: Exempt – Professional
• Telework Eligible: Yes – Conditional
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Job Summary

This posting will be used to fill two (2) vacancies. These positions offer a conditional hybrid work schedule which includes telework days and in-office days at the St. Paul Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) office building.

Attorneys in DLI’s Office of General Counsel provide legal representation and advice to DLI by applying knowledge of relevant laws, including those governing occupational safety and health, workers’ compensation, wage and hour, prevailing wage, women’s economic security, child labor, earned sick and safe time, data practices, official records, open meetings, combative sports, apprenticeship, dual training, the State Building Code and associated construction codes, and rulemaking under the Minnesota Administrative Procedure Act. Attorneys also provide legal representation to authoritative boards including the Plumbing Board, Board of Electricity, Board of High Pressure Piping Systems and Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board.

Job duties for this position include:

• Representing DLI and authoritative boards in rulemaking proceedings.
• Representing DLI in regulatory and enforcement actions under its jurisdiction.

• Providing legal advice to DLI staff and authoritative boards on legal issues.
• Assisting senior attorneys in the Office of General Counsel with legal research, legal writing, rulemaking, contract review, and proposed legislation.
• Assisting Department staff in redacting not public information from documents in response to data practices requests.
• Advising the commissioner or designated decisionmaker regarding contested cases.
• Providing other attorney support as needed.

If selected for an interview, part of the interview process may include responding in writing to a legal scenario.

Minimum Qualifications

Current license to practice law in the State of Minnesota.  The license must be in good standing.

Experiential Requirement:

• One year of experience providing legal representation or legal advice specializing in one or more areas of law under the purview of the agency (i.e., workers’ compensation, occupational safety and health, wage and hour, prevailing wage, misclassification, construction, combative sports, apprenticeship), OR
• One year of legal experience with one or more rulemakings subject to Minnesota’s Administrative Procedure Act while employed by a governmental entity, OR 
• One year of experience providing legal representation or legal advice to a Minnesota governmental entity, OR
• One year of experience as a judicial law clerk after graduation from law school, if the employment was within the last five years, OR
• Three years of experience providing legal representation or legal advice specializing in one or more areas of law under the purview of the agency (i.e., workers’ compensation, occupational safety and health, wage and hour, prevailing wage, misclassification, construction, combative sports, apprenticeship) in another US jurisdiction, OR 
• Three years of experience providing legal representation or legal advice to a governmental entity in another US jurisdiction, OR 
• Comparable combination of equivalent experience as listed above.

• Strong legal writing, legal analysis and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to review legal documents for relevance, accuracy, correlation, completeness and compliance with applicable laws.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, who do not share your same culture, ethnicity, language, or other common experiences.
• Ability to work well as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with rulemaking subject to Minnesota’s Administrative Procedure Act.
• Experience with contested case proceedings subject to Minnesota’s Administrative Procedure Act. 
• Experience advising on the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, the Official Records Act and the Minnesota Administrative Procedure Act. 
• Knowledge of workers’ compensation law, administrative law, labor and employment law, construction codes, workplace regulations, workplace safety or other employment-related legal areas.
• Experience providing legal advice to boards.
• Experience with areas of law with intersecting state and federal regulations. 
• Language skills other than English (such as Somali, Spanish, Hmong, Karen or ASL).
• Demonstrated commitment to public service.

Additional Requirements

It is the policy that all final candidates submit to a background investigation prior to employment.  The background check may consist of the following components: SEMA4 Records Check, Employment Reference Check, Driver’s License Check, Education/License Verification.

How to Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

Effective July 1, 2009, legislation provides that the top five Recently Separated Veterans, who apply and meet the qualifications for the vacancy, must be granted an interview.  To be considered a Recently Separated Veteran, you must meet all the following criteria:

• Have separated under honorable conditions from any branch of the armed forces of the United States;
• Have served on active duty for 181 consecutive days or more or for the full period ordered to active duty OR have separated by reason of disability incurred while serving on active duty;
• Be a United States citizen or resident alien;
• Have served in active military service at any time on or after September 11, 2001 as shown on your form DD-214. 

To be considered under this legislation, you must meet all of the Minimum Qualifications identified in this posting; meet all of the above RSV criteria; and submit a copy of your DD-214 form by the closing date via mail, e-mail or fax to: Caren Miller 443 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul, MN 55155, or Caren.Miller@state.mn.us.

Effective August 1, 2012, legislation provides state agencies with the option to appoint certain disabled veterans on a non-competitive basis if you meet all of the following criteria:

• Meet service requirements and have a verified service-connected disability rating of at least 30%.
• Provide qualifying documentation verifying the disability.
• Meet all of the Minimum Qualifications identified in this posting.

To be considered under this legislation you must submit all documentation by the closing date via mail, e-mail or fax to: Caren Miller 443 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul, MN 55155, or Caren.Miller@state.mn.us, or fax 651-284-5723.

If you have questions about the position, contact Caren Miller at caren.miller@state.mn.us or 651-284-5119.

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Caren Miller at caren.miller@state.mn.us.

About Labor & Industry Dept

The Department of Labor and Industry ensures Minnesota’s work and living environments are equitable, healthy and safe. The agency oversees the state’s programs for apprenticeship, construction codes and licensing, dual-training pipeline, occupational safety and health, wage and hour standards, workers’ compensation and youth skills training programs. 

Why Work for Us

Diverse Workforce

We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.

A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:

• 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission
• 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
• 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
• 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule

Comprehensive Benefits

Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:

• Public pension plan
• Training and professional development
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Paid parental leave
• Low-cost medical and dental coverage
• Prescription drug coverage
• Vision coverage
• Wellness programs and resources
• Employer paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Health care spending and savings accounts
• Dependent care spending account
• Tax-deferred compensation
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

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AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. The State of Minnesota recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential and strongly encourages qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

We will make reasonable accommodations to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and indicate what assistance is needed.