Attorney – Criminal Justice Subcommittee

General Summary

This position primarily focuses on criminal legal issues. The attorney conducts legal research; analyzes legislation; drafts bills, amendments, staff analyses, legal memoranda, and other documents; and provides counsel and advice to legislators and legislative committees.

• Drafts legislative bills and amendments in technically complete language.
• Drafts staff analyses of filed legislation.
• Briefs legislators personally or in writing on issues to be discussed in committee, on the floor, or with constituents.
• Monitors and coordinates the progress of committee legislation through committees of reference and on the floor.
• Provides legal counsel and advice to Legislators and legislative committees including the development of legislation and legislative programs, and interprets state and federal legislation related to programs of any governmental unit.
• Recommends needed changes to legislation based upon trends in case law, agency comment or citizen request.
• Performs legal research concerning the interpretation of Florida Statutes and on other matters in question for Legislators and staff, and answers telephone inquiries and composes routine responses to constituents.
• Reviews agency action pursuant to Chapter 120, the Administrative Procedures Act, to identify instances of the invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority; monitors Florida court cases and administrative decisions and advises agencies accordingly.
• Maintains communications with agency heads, or their assigned deputies, assistants, and agency general counsels.
• Performs other related duties as required.

• Knowledge of legal terminology.
• Knowledge of Florida laws and legal procedure.
• Skill in reading comprehension, analysis, research, and organization.
• Ability to provide legal counsel.
• Ability to interpret state and federal legislation, laws, and rules.
• Ability to employ legal reasoning and to foresee possible legal problems.
• Ability to communicate effectively and concisely verbally and in writing.
• Ability to take action in situations which lack clear direction.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with the public, members and lobbyists.
• Ability to take initiative on independent research projects.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to use independent judgment when releasing information to the public.
• Ability to collect and analyze data.
• Ability to conduct meetings and to make presentations.
• Ability to perform legal writing and prepare various legal documents.

Ability to research legal documents and legal references.

Attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar.

Salary commensurate with experience.

The Legislature offers a competitive benefits package.

Working for the Florida Legislature includes a lucrative benefits package, including affordable health insurance options, free dental, long-term disability and employee life insurance, as well as competitive retirement. Employees have access to a college tuition waiver program, an employee assistance program, paid annual and sick leave, and paid holidays.

If an accommodation is needed for a disability, please notify Human Resources at .

Employees have a choice of participating in the State Self Insured Plan or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) if available in the county of residence or employment (Standard and High Deductible Investor plans are available). Full-time employees pay $30 per month for family coverage or $8.34 per month for individual coverage. Part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.

For dental insurance, the Legislature offers a PPO plan that offers choice of dentist and pays from 50 to 100 percent of usual, customary, and reasonable charges. There is a $1500 maximum benefit per plan year. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work.

Annual Leave accrues as follows based on creditable state service:

Up to 5 years - 11 hours per month 5 to 10 years - 13 hours per month Over 10 years - 15 hours per month

Sick Leave accrues at 9 hours per month for all full-time employees.

Group Term life Insurance with an accidental death and dismemberment benefit provides $25,000 coverage. The Legislature pays the total premium for full-time employees and part-time employees pay premiums based on the total hours of work. For disability insurance, the Legislature offers a Group Long Term Disability Insurance Plan that provides a monthly benefit of 60 percent of covered monthly earnings after an elimination period of 360 days.

The Legislature pays the total premium.

Participation in the Florida Retirement System is compulsory for all salaried staff, except certain re-employed retirees. New…