SENIOR ATTORNEY - 60010110

Requisition No: 872713

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY - 60010110

Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 60010110

Salary: $85,000 - $92,000

Posting Closing Date: 04/30/2026

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Senior Attorney

Office of General Counsel

Department of Children and Families

1200 N.E. 55th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32641

Open Competitive

Current employees will be compensated in accordance with the DCF salary policy.

The hospital is located in Gainesville; however, the employee may work from any DCF office within the state.

What you will do:

• This position is the legal counsel for the North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center. Provide legal counsel in areas of general liability, legal problem solving, court liaison, personnel actions, and confidential investigations at the request of the Office of General Counsel, Administrator and/or Leadership.
• Sustaining a knowledge of Chapter 916 F.S, Chapter 394 F.S.,F.A.C 65, F.R.Cr.Pr. and F.R.C.Pr. as a resource for the Center. To serve as a guide in the discharge process; and support the Admissions coordinator and the Resident Advocate.
• Review all court submitted Resident Care Evaluations.
• Provides legal advice in personnel matters including the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII, employee discipline, and administration of collective bargaining agreement.
• Review subpoenas for production of documents including videos and appearance by personnel. Act as a liaison to arrange/request remote appearances.
• Monitors court reports and transmits (files and serves) those reports to the committing courts throughout the state. Assists regional legal counsel with providing model orders and filing motions regarding individuals committed for treatment.
• Review and file garnishment responses.
• Represents the mental health facilities in all matters relating to Chapters 394 and 916, Florida Statutes, in circuit court hearings and administrative hearings pursuant to Ch. 120, F.S.
• Provide training for staff on required Court documentation and presentation.
• Interface with the Court regarding requested documents or testimony.
• Interface with the Department of Corrections regarding treatment of individuals order to the Department for competency restoration.
• Serves as liaison and assists outside counsel appointed to represent DCF in civil litigation involving North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center as well as the other State facilities when needed.
• Collaborates and provides counsel for the other State forensic and civil mental health facilities at the request of or in the absence of assigned of assigned legal counsel.
• Other Duties as Assigned.

Qualifications:

• Member of the Florida Bar

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

SELECTIVE SERVICE: Male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT: It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and, if applicable, Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.