ASSISTANT COUNSEL - 76715

Executive Service

Who we are and what we do:

Department of Education Vision: We will set all students on a path to success.

Priorities:

Academics: All Tennessee students will have access to a high-quality education, no matter where they live.

Student Readiness: Tennessee public schools will be equipped to serve the academic and non-academic needs of all students.

Educators: Tennessee will set a new path for the education profession and be the top state to become and remain a teacher and leader.

How you make a difference in this role:

The assistant counsel position is a member of the office of general counsel (OGC) and helps provide support and legal advice to the Commissioner of Education, Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) personnel, and the State Special Schools. The assistant counsel is expected to provide proactive and strategic legal support to ensure the TDOEs activities conform to all federal and state laws and rules and Department of Human Resources (DOHR) policies.

Job Overview:

This position will conduct civil rights and human resources investigations and perform research for the resolution of education legal issues. The assistant counsel is expected to advise on day-to-day operations and policy and rule interpretation for special populations and academic programs and provide legislative analysis for all assigned program areas. In addition, this position is expected to speak at conferences, conventions, and workshops across the state for local education agencies (LEAs) and state education and child-focused organizations regarding education law when requested by the general counsel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Civil Rights: Advise on federal and state regulatory requirements and conduct monitoring and compliance activities. Investigate discrimination/harassment complaints filed against LEA; respond to discrimination/harassment complaints filed against the department with the U.S. Department of Education; investigate workplace discrimination/harassment complaints; and respond to workplace discrimination/harassment complaints filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or DOHR.
• Academic Supports: Provide day-to-day legal advice on matters related to academic and instructional programs; services for students from special populations; early learning programs; and postsecondary, workforce, career and technical education, and military readiness initiatives.
• Policy, Rulemaking, and Guidance: Interpret statutes and rules; draft and review internal/external guidance documents, state board of education rules and policies, and internal business procedures for assigned program areas to ensure clarity and legal soundness.
• General Legal Support: Provide legal support and consultation to the OGC and other relevant divisions within the TDOE. This includes assisting with legal research, drafting legal documents, and providing legal advice on a wide range of issues.
• External Communication: Assist in communicating TDOEs position on matters of education law to parents, school officials, and other stakeholders.
• Training: Deliver trainings for TDOE staff, LEAs, and stakeholders on assigned legal topics.
• Legislative Support: Assist TDOE and the OGC in conducting legislative analysis of education related bills introduced by the General Assembly.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, Juris Doctorate, and license to practice law in Tennessee

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.