Lawyer, Labor, Employment and Litigation

Position Type:

Administration and Professionals

Date Posted:

2024-01-29

Location:Administration or As Assigned

Reports to: Chief Legal Counsel
Department: Legal Services
Location: Administration/As Assigned
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Band: 16
Compensation: $ 91,800. - $ 128,520. (Commensurate with Experience)

As part of the district's legal team, this attorney is directly responsible for conducting litigation, trials, and appeals in the Office of Legal Services for the District with minimal supervision. The Office of Legal Services is designed to provide support and experience in collective bargaining, board policy development, discrimination claims, student discipline, special education, District-sponsored community schools, public records/sunshine laws, and more. The professional duties of the Lawyer, Labor, Employment, and Litigation position include researching and analyzing facts and law, litigation motions and pleadings, discovery, settlement negotiations, presenting evidence and jury arguments, and appellate processes. This attorney advises clients and litigates legal issues arising from disputes involving employment matters, personnel disciplinary actions, premises liability claims, civil rights actions, intentional torts actions, and other litigation matters involving the District. This position will represent the District before various courts, administrative agencies, and arbitrators.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Research and analyze facts and law, drafting pleadings, conducting discovery
• Provide timely and professional legal advice to a variety of internal stakeholders regarding labor, employment, and litigation matters
• Represent the District through all phases of the litigation process across a variety of civil litigation issues. This includes researching and analyzing facts and law, drafting motions and pleadings, conducting discovery, engaging in oral arguments, conducting settlement negotiations, presenting evidence and jury arguments, and appellate processes.
• Represent the District before both state and federal courts and administrative agencies
• Represent the District in arbitrations involving labor, employment, and disciplinary actions. Effectively manage multiple cases simultaneously and at all stages of litigation
• Able to manage a high volume and varied litigation docket
• Conduct impartial internal investigations of discrimination and sexual harassment complaints as assigned by the Districts Director of EEO / Title IX Coordinator
• Provide legal and strategic counsel to District management relating to current and potential litigation matters involving labor, employment, and litigation issues
• Support projects that involve compliance with labor and employment law, judicial decisions, and other legal or policy guidelines
• Proactively identify potential problems relating to current or potential litigation and grievances and devise creative solutions that strike an effective balance between cost and return, including both short-term and long-term business and legal considerations
• Provide accurate and timely reporting to the District Chief of Staff on a weekly basis
• Lead efforts and initiatives to ensure that the District complies with all employee and labor-related local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations, working collaboratively with OCI, Talent, and other departments as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Requirements

• Required: Current member in good standing of Ohio Bar or membership within three months of hire
• At least 5 years of trial experience
• At least 5 years of experience litigating Employment and Labor Claims
• Public-sector defense litigation experience preferred
• Demonstrated success in high-stakes, high-pressure environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and strong interpersonal skills
• Writing sample to be provided with the application
• Preferred: Experience working for or serving as counsel to a school district or public entity
• Experience in special education law

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The characteristics listed below are representative of the work environment typically encountered by an individual while performing the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

• Expected moving, walking, and standing consistent with an office environment and light physical effort in sedentary to light work and may involve some manipulation of lightweight items (5-10 pounds)
• May involve extended periods at a keyboard or workstation
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms
• The employee is frequently required to talk and/or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal office environment
• Local travel may be required for training/meetings

NOTE: The above-stated duties are intended to outline those functions typically performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This description of duties is not intended to be all-inclusive or to limit the discretionary authority of management to assign other tasks of a similar nature or level of responsibility.

Education

To Apply

EEO Statement

We believe that equity and inclusion at CMSD is an essential call to action, a catalyst to ensure value and appreciation among all our employees, so we may be fair and welcoming now and in the future. CMSD provides equal opportunities for employment, retention and advancement of all personnel by administering all terms and conditions of employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex, disability or genetic information, age, citizenship status, military status, sexual orientation or expression, socio-economic status, title, other dimensions of identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.