Compensation Attorney/Associate General Counsel

Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry

Posted 6 months ago

Working Title: Associate General Counsel
Job Class: Compensation Attorney
Agency: Labor & Industry Dept

Job ID: 77140
Location: St. Paul
Telework Eligible: Yes-Conditional
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Limited
Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted: 05/31/2024
Closing Date: 06/27/2024
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 – $101,288 / annually
Classified Status: Unclassified
Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 – MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
End Date: Not to exceed 3 years from hire date
FLSA Status: Exempt – Professional
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: No

The work you’ll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Job Summary

This temporary unclassified position offers 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 in regulatory and enforcement actions under its jurisdiction in workers’ compensation.
Representing the Special Compensation Fund in workers’ compensation litigation at the Office of Administrative Hearings and Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals.
Providing legal advice to DLI staff 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.
Providing other attorney support as needed.

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

Qualifications

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

· Litigation experience in the area of workers’ compensation.

· Experience with contested case proceedings.

· 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 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.

Application Details

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.

Contact

If you have questions about this 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.

Working together to improve the state we love.

What do Minnesota’s State employees have in common?

A sense of purpose in their work
Connection with their coworkers and communities
Opportunities for personal and professional growth

Benefits

As an employee, you’ll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your benefits may include:

Paid vacation and sick leave
12 paid holidays each year
Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
- Fertility care, including IVF
- Diabetes care
- Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being

Support to help you reach your career goals:

Training, classes, and professional development
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support:

A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

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.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. State agencies are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state and strongly encourages persons of color and Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve Minnesotans.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, disability, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES

Minnesota state agencies make reasonable accommodations to their employees and applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance in searching or applying for jobs with the State of Minnesota, call the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and let us know the support you need.