State of Maryland

The General Counsel, Human Relations coordinates, supervises and participates in the prosecution of civil rights violations on behalf of the State in order to enforce compliance with certain subtitles of the State Government Article, Title 20 Human Relations of the Annotated Code of Maryland.  The employee in this classification supervises Assistants General Counsel, Human Relations and paralegals, and provides legal advice to the Human Relations Commission members and executive staff.

The employee in this classification receives managerial supervision from the Executive Director, Human Relations Commission.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Supervises and coordinates the work of Assistants General Counsel, Human Relations, paralegals, law clerks, investigators and support staff involved in the prosecution of alleged violations of the housing, employment and public accommodation subtitles of Title 20 Human Relations of the Annotated Code of Maryland in State and federal administrative courts and courts of law;

Supervises the gathering and analysis of case evidence;

Plans and develops legal strategies and case presentation;

Counsels and advises agency executive staff regarding legal issues;

Supervises the preparation of opinions, briefs and other legal documents;

Supervises the negotiation and drafting of settlement agreements;

Provides guidance and advice to Maryland Commission on Civil Rights staff regarding legal aspects of cases;

Reviews proposed legislation and may prepare and present legislative testimony;

Prepares and presents training on legal issues to agency staff, community groups and business organizations;

May draft bills and regulations regarding agency operations and areas of interest;

Performs other related duties.

Education: Possession of a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience: Experience as a practicing attorney, including at least five years of specific experience in civil rights law or related fields.

Notes:

1. The General Counsel, Human Relations must be a member of the Maryland Bar at the time of appointment.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in General Legal and Administrative classifications or General Legal and Administrative specialty codes in the Legal field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Education:    A Juris Doctor degree or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience:  Experience as a practicing Attorney, including at least five years of specific experience in civil rights law or related fields.

Notes:

1. Candidates must be a member of the Maryland Bar at the time of appointment.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in General Legal and Administrative classifications or General Legal and Administrative specialty codes in the Legal field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class Descriptions are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

This is a Management Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Management Service positions.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102 Annotated Code of Maryland, special    appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.