Senior Attorney

Position: SENIOR ATTORNEY - 42000370
Requisition No: 857812

Agency:
Agriculture and Consumer Services

Working Title:

SENIOR ATTORNEY
- Pay Plan: SES

Position Number:

Salary: $65,000.00 - $

Posting Closing Date: 07/13/2026

Total Compensation Estimator
Tool

SENIOR ATTORNEY

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER

GENERAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE


*** OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY***

CONTACT:

Blair Bodenmiller,

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Admission to the Florida Bar and two (2) years of professional experience in the practice of law, legal research, teaching law or in administrative or judicial hearings.


*** ATTENTION CANDIDATES***

To be considered for a position with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

• All fields in the Candidate Profile must be completed (an attached resume is not a substitution for the information required on the candidate profile).
• Work history, duties and responsibilities, hours worked, supervisor, and formal education fields, etc. must be filled out to determine qualifications for this position.
• Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services values
and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified
individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

NOTES:

To maintain fairness and integrity in our hiring process, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to answer qualifying questions or participate in interviews is strictly prohibited. Applicants must provide their own, authentic responses during all stages of the evaluation and recruitment process. Any candidate found using AI to assist in their answers will be disqualified from consideration.

Successful applicant must pass a background screening, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment.

The Senior Attorney filling this position will represent and advise the Office of Agricultural Water Policy, which develops and implements agricultural best management practices in support of water quality and water conservation efforts by agricultural producers. Relevant provisions of law include portions of ch.369, 373, 403, 570, 576, and 582, Florida Statutes. The Senior Attorney will also provide legal assistance to the Division of Aquaculture, which regulates commercial aquaculture producers, leases sovereign submerged lands for aqua cultural purposes, and monitors shellfish processing plants and harvesting areas.

Relevant provisions of law include portions of ch.253, 379, and 597, Florida Statutes.

JOB DUTIES:

Under the Florida Constitution the Commissioner of Agriculture is responsible for all matters pertaining to agriculture except as otherwise provided by law. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, headed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, has a broad range of powers, functions and duties under various chapters of the Florida Statutes and, in carrying these out, has employed approximately 3500 employees assigned through several divisions and various offices.

To assist and guide the Commissioner and the employees in carrying out their responsibilities, the Commissioner has assigned the department's legal work to a General Counsel, Deputy General Counsels, Senior Attorneys, Attorneys and appropriate support staff.

An employee fulfilling the duties of a Senior Attorney is performing the most responsible professional legal work, other than that performed by a General Counsel and a Deputy General Counsel, that can be accomplished by an attorney for a state agency. A high degree of independent, professional judgment, an intimate knowledge of the law, an ability and skill to handle complex litigation and all types of administrative actions as well as an ability to research and interpret complex provisions of the law as it relates to the powers, duties and functions of an agency are required of a Senior Attorney.

A Senior Attorney must be able to produce a high quality, professional work product in a timely, professional, and practical manner. A Senior Attorney must, also, have a high degree of professional skill in client relations with an ability to listen and communicate effectively, to keep others informed, to deal effectively with conflict and change, and to develop and maintain a professional and effective working relationship with all department employees and the public.

Renders requested legal advice and counsel to the Commissioner, the commissioner's staff, and other employees of the department.

Handles complex cases on all levels of trial and appellate courts in the state and federal system as well as administrative proceedings under the Florida Administrative Procedures Act. Agency cases generally involve enforcement actions, defense of rules and statutes, mandatory or prohibitory injunctions, and contract matters. Reports to the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel on the department's cases, their movement or resolution.

Handles contract matters, real estate proceedings, legal opinions and legal…