UI LEGAL OFFICER II

The Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance, is seeking qualified and motivated individuals to fill the full-time, permanent position of Unemployment Insurance Legal Officer II. This position will serve as a staff attorney within the Unemployment Insurance Legal Services & Collection Unit. This recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies within the Division. An eligible list of candidates will be maintained for one year following the closing date of the announcement.

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The primary purpose of the position is to advocate on behalf of the Unemployment Insurance Division as an attorney at various State Circuit and District Courts, U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, and administrative hearings (UI tax appeals) before the Lower Appeals Division and the Board of Appeals within the Maryland Department of Labor.

The position duties including, but are not limited to: 1) litigation in court to collect unpaid unemployment insurance taxes from employers throughout the State; 2) litigation in court to collect improperly paid unemployment benefits received by individual claimants; 3) to advocate for the Agency’s position in administrative appeal hearings before the Lower Appeals Division and the Board of Appeals; 4) to review and process Public Information Act requests and subpoenas received by UI while adhering to confidentiality laws and regulations; 5) to author and issue review determination decisions on covered employment, on assessments, etc.; 6) to perform legal research, assistance, and advice to the Policy Unit and Contributions Division on a variety of legal and tax issues. This position reports directly to the Chief of Legal Services & Collection.

Education:   A Juris Doctor degree or equivalent degree from an accredited school of law.

Experience: Two years of experience in the practice of law. This experience must have required the appearance in court on behalf of clients or have involved the interpretation or enforcement of the Maryland Unemployment Insurance law.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in General Attorney classifications or General Attorney specialty codes in the Legal and Kindred field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Applicants must meet the selective qualification(s) to be considered. Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

• Candidate will have prior experience in litigation that involves collection and/or writing legal briefs or legal memos.  
• Experience and possess strong attention to detail, strong verbal and written communication skills 
• Experience working with Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word) and Google applications (Gmail, Google Docs, etc.)

1. Candidates must be a member of the Maryland Bar.

2. Candidates must be admitted to or eligible for admission to the Federal Bar.

3. Candidates must possess a Certificate of Good Standing from the Maryland Court of Appeals.

4. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland before completion of the probation period.

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year. For positions that require Bachelor/Master Degree etc: 

The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position. ***Please note that your answers on the supplemental questionnaire must correspond to the information provided on your application to receive credit.

This is a full-time, permanent position and eligible for full State benefits, which include:

U.S. Military Veterans may qualify for additional bonus points towards certification. Any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing a U.S. Military form DD 214 verifying honorable discharge from service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview). Permanent State employees do not need to submit proof of Veterans’ status. If you are unable to apply online, or encounter difficulty attaching required or optional documentation, you may submit via email to felicia.ransome@maryland.gov. Please be sure to include your name, identification number (Easy ID#) and job announcement number on any documentation to ensure timely processing.