Attorney - Staff Attorney

Gardiner, Maine, United States | Legal | Full-time

Apply by: Nov. 17, 2024
Apply

Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (and Boards) - Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation 
Job Class Code: 2016
Grade: 31 (Professional/Technical)
Salary: $67,038 - $94,515
Location: Gardiner, ME
Opening Date: October 25, 2024
Closing Date:  November 17, 2024

The Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation seeks an attorney to assist agency staff with a wide variety of legal tasks related to the regulation of professionals in many fields.  State licensing programs operating within the Office include health-related professions, as well as trade and service professions. 
In this dynamic, fast-paced, multi-faceted regulatory agency, the core staff of program administrators, investigators and field inspectors requires legal analysis, advice and assistance with legal issues associated with consumer complaint resolution, administrative rulemaking, the adjudicatory hearing process, the examination process, and freedom of access issues.
 

Primary responsibilities include:  

  • Managing the Office’s agency rulemaking activities, including drafting rules, reviewing rules, and coordinating the scheduling of the rulemaking process pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act
  • Providing legal advice to the staff regarding professional licensing matters
  • Interact with staff and consumers about the administrative complaint process
  • Reviewing and analyzing case history, preparing complaint reports for licensing administrators, responding to staff requests for legal research, drafting legal memoranda regarding the statutory interpretation of professional licensing statutes as well as state and federal laws affecting licensees
  • Coordinating Office responses to requests for records under Maine’s Freedom of Access Act (“FOAA”) and performing confidentiality and privilege review of responsive documents.
  • Managing the agency’s mandated reporting requirements, including to the National Practitioner Data Base and the ASC Registry
  • Drafting training materials as needed for agency staff on issues such as rulemaking, document retention, complaint, and hearing procedures
  • Drafting and maintaining board member process manual
  • Providing general legal guidance to the OPOR Director 

Skills or knowledge required:

  • Applying agency and industry laws, rules, policies, and procedures
  • Maine law and judicial system
  • Understanding Maine Legislative Process
  • Effective oral and written communication with staff, state officials and the public at large

Minimum qualifications:

A Law degree from an accredited law school.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class).
  • Admitted to practice law in Maine and currently registered with the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.

Preference will be given to those applicants:

With experience in regulatory compliance or administrative law.
 

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Anne L. Head, Commissioner  (207) 624-8511
or anne.l.head@maine.gov

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants need to apply online by selecting the "Apply for this opening" button along with uploading a cover letter, current resume, and copies of any transcripts or certifications you wish to have considered while evaluating your application.  In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes month and year for any experience listed along with the duties and responsibilities associated with each particular time period.  Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such. 

If you require a paper application, please download and print one here https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/application-process or contact our office at 207-623-6700.  Paper applications for this posting should be submitted along with cover letter and resume before the closing date to Security & Employment Service Center, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME  04330 or faxed to 207-287-2018.  Be sure title of the job you are applying for is included.  Applications cannot be accepted after the posting closing date.  

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

  • Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
  • Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. 
  • Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value). 
  • Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) for MSEA, or 18.09% for Confidential employees. 

 

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

 

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

 

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.