District Office – Position – Legal
Job Number 8600032654
Start Date
Open Date 03/28/2023
Closing Date
Assists the Chief Legal Officer in monitoring and managing the day-to-day operation and coordination of legal activities and services for Baltimore City Public Schools (“City Schools”). Ensures effective liaison, appropriate confidentiality, and coordination with all academic and non-academic departments on matters relating to administration, management, operations, and strategic planning. Represents the Chief Legal Officer and provides leadership and direction for special projects that may have an operational or organizational impact. Provides direction and insight by participating in the development of organizational and financial analyses. Facilitates and manages City Schools’ cross-office strategic collaboration and legal review of responses to public records requests and spearheads the policy development and review process. The Special Advisor to the Chief Legal Officer also monitors and provides strategic guidance regarding relevant legislation or legal decisions which may impact City Schools policy or practice.
Essential Functions
- Coordinates and manages highly skilled tasks and special legal projects on behalf of the Chief Legal Officer.
- Consults, advises, and provides leadership for programs and/or legal initiatives as assigned.
- Evaluates needs and services, human capital requirements, feasibility and cost effectiveness, performance and accountability, and other aspects of division management.
- Maintains and tracks special legal projects and assignments.
- Conducts legal research and drafts legal opinions regarding legal questions and issues, interpreting laws, rulings, policies, and addressing current or potential litigation exposure as needed.
- Proactively anticipates legal issues relevant to decision making.
- Provides updates and guidance to school system staff on relevant legal decisions, legislation, policies, or regulations which may impact school system policy or practice.
- Drafts and collects pertinent budgetary planning and implementation data.
- Monitors and implements procedures for the distribution and use of funds allocated to implement the Office of Legal Counsel’s management plan.
- Responds to inquiries about problems, issues, program status, or activities and provides reports to the Chief Legal Officer.
- Coordinates and provides technical and logistical support for staffing and staffing transfers.
- Develops and facilitates appropriate in-service activities and trainings for staff on education law, legal interpretations, and related areas or other professional development.
- Responds to information requests from City Schools’ central office departments, schools, and the public on matters related to the Chief Legal Officer’s area of responsibility.
- Manages City Schools’ responses to public records requests; facilitates collaborative cross-office team meetings; works with central office staff to collect relevant information and collaborates with the Office of Communication to ensure messaging that is consistent with City Schools priorities and goals.
- Reviews management policies and procedures and prepares reports and memoranda documents applicable to academic and non-academic services and programs.
- Assists in planning, organizing, and directing policy and organizational analyses on issues and concerns which impact the Office of Legal Counsel and City Schools’ operations.
- Facilitates development and review of Board policies and administrative regulations; drafts policies and regulations based on ideas from relevant offices; reviews policies and regulations for legal sufficiency and consistency; monitors relevant legislative changes and legal developments; reviews compliance reports; collaborates with the Chief of Staff office to standardize policy process and facilitate internal Policy Review Team.
- Facilitates and manages City Schools’ cross-office strategic collaboration and legal review of responses to public records requests and coordinates development of annual compliance report regarding the Maryland Public Information Act.
- Assists in the development and implementation of the annual master plan and strategic program initiatives.
- Represents the Chief Legal Officer in various meetings and conferences as required and flags important legal issues for the Chief Legal Officer, as necessary.
- Coordinates the work of staff, temporary employees, and interns as assigned.
- Coordinates involvement in community activities, including advisory councils and planning committees.
- Meets with and may address a variety of groups, including employees, school administrators, public and private agencies, and community agencies on behalf of the Chief Legal Officer.
- Performs and promotes all activities in compliance with equal employment and nondiscrimination policies; follows federal laws, state laws, school board policies and the professional standards.
Maximum Salary 134875.00
Minimum Salary 114125.00
Desired Qualifications
- Possession of a Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school, plus a minimum of five years of recent progressively more responsible professional experience in public or private sector practice of law, preferably which deals with public school legal issues.
- Membership in the Maryland State Bar required.
- Thorough knowledge of legal principles and their application, policy experience, and knowledge of one or more of the primary legal practice areas of the Office of Legal Counsel (e.g., contracts and transactions, labor and employment, special education and school support services, and litigation).
- Three years project management with successful, timely deliverables and positive outcomes preferred.
- Demonstrated organizational skills and experience in assessing, analyzing, interpreting, and resolving complex legal problems/situations.
- Excellent skills in managing legal matters and negotiating resolutions that accommodate conflicting interests and viewpoints.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally, verbally, and in writing, as well as excellent skills in legal research and in persuasively presenting, explaining, and defending policies and procedures.
- Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with school system employees and managers at all levels, as well as external attorneys and law firms, government leaders, and community stakeholders.
- Ability to interact with diverse constituencies and convey complicated information with tact and diplomacy.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment.
- Skill in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential legal issues.
- Ability to multi-task, prioritize changing assignments, and organize busy workload, meet deadlines, and work well under pressure, while exercising excellent attention to detail.
- Interpersonal skills that ensure effective teambuilding.
- Strong organizational, management, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work with all levels of management to facilitate change, implement strategy, and accomplish objectives.
- Ability to quickly analyze problems and to recommend workable solutions including the planning and implementation of those solutions.
- Proficient in the use of technical computer applications, including electronic databases, case management systems, and Microsoft Office applications particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Other combination of applicable education, training, and experience which provides the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.
Full time or Part time Full time
Additional Details
Qualified candidates for the above position must submit the following:
- Completed online application
- Resume that clearly demonstrates the above minimum qualifications. It is important that you include all experiences and education related to the position to which you are applying.
- Upload copies of all transcripts -undergraduate, graduate and all MSDE Certifications
- Must provide three (3) professional references to include: name, title, business address, e-mail address and phone number
- All documentation/certification necessary (scanned copies accepted) to substantiate minimum qualifications; must be uploaded into application
- All documentation must be scanned and uploaded to application
Benefits — This position is eligible for benefits. To review the available options please see the information relevant to the union for this position by viewing the following link: http://www.baltimorecityschools.org
- Baltimore City Public Schools (“City Schools”) does not discriminate in its employment, programs, and activities based on race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy or parenting status, family structure, ability (cognitive, social/emotional, and physical), veteran status, genetic information, age, immigration or citizenship status, socioeconomic status, language, or any other legally or constitutionally protected attributes or affiliations. Discrimination undermines our community’s long-standing efforts to create, foster, and promote equity and inclusion for all. Some examples of discrimination include acts of hate, violence, harassment, bullying, or retaliation. For more information, see City Schools’ non-discrimination statemen City Schools also provides equal access to the Boy and Girl Scouts and other designated youth groups.
- For inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies, please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Manager, 200 E. North Avenue, Room 208, Baltimore, MD 21202; 410-396-8542 (phone); 410-396-2955 (fax).
This position is not affiliated with any bargaining unit.
This position is affiliated with the City Retirement Plan.