Associate General Counsel

$90,000 - $105,000/Yr

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Worcester, MA

Full-time - Mid Level

Worcester, MA

Administration of Human Resource Programs

About the position

The Associate General Counsel will support the Commission's mission by addressing and resolving legal matters across various areas of law, including public meetings, policy review, administrative hearings, and more. This role involves providing legal counsel to the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and Commission staff, while developing expertise in laws governing adult- or medical-use marijuana and monitoring relevant legal developments.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel as needed by the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, as well as the Executive Director, the Commission and its Commissioners, and other Commission staff.
• Develop expertise with laws governing adult- or medical-use marijuana and identify emerging issues.
• Monitor applicable state and federal laws, decisional law from other jurisdictions, and industry publications.
• Provide clear, concise and correct written and oral advice on legal issues.
• Advise Commission staff on constituent and press inquiries.
• Support the Commission in public meetings and compliance with Open Meetings and Public Records Laws.
• Coordinate with the Office of the Attorney General on litigation matters.
• Draft and review contracts, statements of work, and associated legal documents.
• Maintain high standards of personal, professional, and ethical conduct.
• Communicate the Commission's policies and procedures to staff and the public.
• Anticipate and address legal issues related to the Commission's evolving mission.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited school of law and member in good standing with the Massachusetts bar.
• Two to three years of legal experience, preferably in a public-sector or compliance environment.
• Experience or familiarity with state agencies, including boards and commissions.
• Familiarity or experience with laws governing adult- or medical-use marijuana.
• Familiarity or experience with civil or criminal litigation.
• Experience or expertise in managing caseloads and/or prosecuting cases.
• Experience or expertise in administrative law, and licensing and investigations.
• Knowledge of the conduct of informal and formal adjudicatory hearings.
• Familiarity or experience with contracts and procurement.
• Strong experience using MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Nice-to-haves

• Demonstrated experience in advising administrative agencies or cannabis-industry participants.
• Ability to conduct comprehensive legal research and analyze legal precedent.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Outstanding organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple projects.
• Ability to work independently and creatively in an evolving environment.
• Commitment to building constructive working relationships.

Benefits

• Paid vacation, sick and personal leave time.
• Health, dental and vision insurance through the Commonwealth's Group Insurance.
• Optional pre-tax Health Savings Account plans.
• Life insurance and long term disability insurance options.
• Deferred compensation savings and tuition remission.
• Pre-tax commuter account plans.
• Participation in the Commonwealth's State Retirement Plan.