SENIOR ATTORNEY

Requisition No: 880364 

Agency: Department of Corrections

Working Title: SENIOR ATTORNEY

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 70024361 

Salary:  $75,128.08 - $92,400.10, depending on experience 

Posting Closing Date: 08/14/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

We Never Walk Alone

WORKING TITLE: SENIOR ATTORNEY

This open competitive advertisement is for a SES (Selected Exempt Service) position located in Tallahassee, FL. Candidates may be considered for assignment to FDC offices in other cities.

Under the direction of Secretary Richard Comerford, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is the 3rd largest state prison system in the country with a budget of 2.9 billion, approximately 90,000 inmates incarcerated and another 149,000 offenders on active community supervision. The FDC has 142 facilities and more than 20,000 staff members statewide, making it the State’s largest agency.

Office location will be determined by the candidate selected for the position. 

JOB DUTIES:

• Representing the Department of Corrections before federal and state courts and administrative bodies.
• Reviewing agency policies.
• Preparing legal pleadings in civil and administrative actions.
• Reviewing written materials for legal sufficiency.
• Serving as legal advisor to department administrators.
• Reviewing, analyzing, and drafting proposed legislation.
• The successful candidate will also be expected to render legal opinions concerning the application of state and federal statues and administrative rules.
• The successful candidate will handle telephone and written requests from agency staff for legal assistance, and will conduct legal research and issue legal opinions, as needed.
• The successful candidate in this position also represents the department and its officials in litigation matters before administrative tribunals and before state and federal courts, as requested.
• The successful candidate will be responsible for all matters related to such representation, including, but not limited to, reviewing evidence, researching law, drafting pleadings and memoranda, conducting, and responding to discovery, preparing and interviewing witnesses, providing legal representation at the hearing or trial, writing briefs, and representing the agency at appellate oral arguments.
• The Office of the General Counsel has units that specialize in the following areas of law: litigation; contracts and procurement; environmental; employment/personnel/labor relations; inmate sentence structure; inmate grievances; civil rights; torts; health care; ethics; probation; administrative law; and public records.
• The General Counsel’s office also represents the agency in garnishment proceedings, advises department staff and provides legal representation regarding subpoenas, litigates public records requests, and responds to requests generated by the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel.
• The position will be given responsibilities in one or more of these areas at any given time, depending upon the needs of the office.
• This position will report to the Chief Legal Counsel of the Human Resources and Community Corrections Section of the Office of the General Counsel, but applicants may be considered for vacancies in any section of the office.
• Expected to perform other tasks as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

 

• Preference will be given to those with knowledge of health care law, constitutional law, civil litigation, administrative law, Florida’s legislative process, criminal sentencing, and/or open government law.
• Knowledge of legal terminology.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of jurisprudence.
• Knowledge of Florida laws and legal procedure.
• Knowledge of civil law and rules of procedure.
• Knowledge of court proceedings.
• Knowledge of Chapter 941-949 Florida Statutes.
• Skill in writing and research.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to research, summarize and provide advice on disparate legal issues as needs dictate.
• Ability to clearly