Job Description

POSITION: Legislative Attorney, Legal Research and Drafting Section

OF POSITION: The Legislative Attorney I works under the direct supervision of the Administrator of the Legal Research and Drafting Section. The Legislative Attorney I provides legal research and bill drafting services to members of the Arkansas General Assembly, as well as providing legal staff support to legislative committees and legal advice concerning legislative matters to members.

Position grade and salary will be commensurate with experience. The grade range is SPC03-SPC08, and the salary range is $71,027-$169,298. Both new and experienced attorneys are encouraged to apply.

The Bureau of Legislative Research seeks a Legislative Attorney who will prepare bills and other documents related to issues being addressed by the Arkansas General Assembly and provide legal advice and analysis to members of the Arkansas General Assembly in relation to the development, interpretation, and implementation of legislation and important public policies. This position emphasizes qualifications and interest in legal research and writing in a public service legislative context. Candidates who demonstrate strong research, writing, and oral communication skills, have research experience in and broad general knowledge of various legal issues, and possess a portfolio of high-quality legal analytical writing are encouraged to apply. Given that the Arkansas General Assembly often deals with issues that are at the forefront of the law, candidates must be capable of working in a number of different areas of the law and have the intellectual curiosity to seek out and maintain a broad working knowledge of legal issues.

Experience in handling children and youth issues, family law, or criminal law is preferred but not required.

BLR works exclusively for the Arkansas General Assembly, providing various services, including bill drafting and legal analysis, to committees and members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, regardless of political affiliation. BLR is known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. BLR seeks to ensure that the Arkansas General Assembly has immediate access to high-quality research, analysis, and writing on issues of interest to its members and committees.

Application Requirements Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter in addition to an application. A background check is required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Be available to members of the General Assembly, state agency staff, and Bureau staff to provide answers to legal issues that may arise and provide legal research and legal memoranda.
• Draft bills, amendments, resolutions, constitutional amendments, interim study proposals, and other documents as requested by members of the General Assembly, including conforming drafts by third parties to Arkansas Code style.
• Provide legal staff support to legislative committees.
• Summarize Acts of the General Assembly for post-session publication in the Bureau’s General Act Summary.
• Develop and maintain expertise in assigned subject matter areas, including monitoring case law, trends in other jurisdictions, news items, and emerging developments.
• Assist in the supervision of the work product and job performance of administrative assistants in the section.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Prepare materials and conduct presentations concerning legislative drafting and the legislative process in general.
• Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel to conferences and seminars.
• Perform other related duties as requested by the Administrator of the Legal Research and Drafting Section, the Assistant Director for Legal Services, and the Director of the Bureau.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

• Doctor of Jurisprudence degree.
• License to practice law in Arkansas, maintained in good standing.
• Three (3) years of legal experience preferred.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and constitutions.
• Knowledge of the legislative process and the functions of state and federal agencies.
• Knowledge of laws, precedents, and procedures related to the General Assembly.
• Knowledge of the Bureau Bill Drafting Manual and the laws and precedents related to statutory construction.
• Ability to conduct objective legal research and perform legal analysis.
• Ability to organize workload and set priorities.
• Ability to communicate with Bureau Staff, state agency staff, members of the General Assembly, and members of the public.

PRODUCTION STANDARDS:

• Accurately analyzes and provides legislative solutions to complex legal issues.
• Adept in communicating with Bureau staff, members of the General Assembly, state agency staff, and members of the public, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrates proficient time management skills, including the ability to complete work under strict time deadlines.
• Functions and cooperates as part of a bill drafting and legal research team, including without limitation assisting with the workload of other section members when necessary.
• Maintains high standard of professional ethics and exercises appropriate discretion with confidential matters.

Position Information

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