Assistant Counsel - Department of Labor and Industry, Safety and Labor-Management Relations Division

Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC)
Pennsylvania

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

ASSISTANT COUNSEL

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, OFFICE OF CHIEF COUNSEL SAFETY AND LABOR MANAGEMENT RELATIONS LEGAL DIVISION

The Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) seeks a licensed attorney to work as Assistant Counsel in the Department of Labor and Industry, Safety and Labor-Management Relations Division. This position will be classified as either an Attorney 1, 2, or 3 depending on the level of relevant experience possessed by the successful candidate(s). An Attorney 1 is considered to have limited legal experience or exposure to the labor law practice and an Attorney 3 is considered to have significant litigation experience and a profound understanding of labor law. While preferably based at the Labor and Industry Building in Harrisburg, OGC will consider Philadelphia or Pittsburgh based applicants. This position is eligible for a hybrid remote/in-office schedule of three days onsite at the discretion of the General Counsel.

The Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) is responsible for, among other things, administering and enforcing worker protection and occupational safety laws in Pennsylvania. The successful applicant(s) for this position will provide investigative support, legal advice, and representation to the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance, which is responsible for the Department’s enforcement of numerous state labor laws including the Minimum Wage Act, the Wage Payment and Collection Law, the Prevailing Wage Act, the Child Labor Law, the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act, and more. Under the supervision of the deputy chief counsel, the attorney will handle summary criminal actions and civil and administrative litigation before tribunals including administrative hearing officers, the Prevailing Wage Appeals Board, and state trial and appellate courts, as well as the collection of unpaid wages, prevailing wage differentials and fines.

In addition to playing a key role in enforcing workplace protections, the position will include opportunities to work on agency rulemaking and legislative review, to have frequent client contact, and to contribute to other initiatives aimed at strengthening the enforcement process and promoting compliance with the law. The attorney will also provide advice and counsel to the Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety on workplace safety standards, the uniform construction code, and other related issues. The work requires an attorney who possesses excellent litigation and writing skills, communicates well, is a team player, and can capably manage a large case load. While not required, the ideal candidate will have prior experience litigating or enforcing workplace labor and safety laws, comparable enforcement experience working for a government agency, and/or experience with the rulemaking process.

Applicants must have a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school and be a member in good standing with the Pennsylvania Bar. Interested attorneys should send a cover letter setting forth interest in this position, resume, and writing sample (no more than ten pages) not later than February 16, 2024 to ogchiring@pa.gov directed to Derek Riker, Deputy Chief of Staff, 333 Market Street, 17th Floor, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101.

To learn more about OGC’s mission and what it is like to be part of the OGC team, visit our website, at www.ogc.pa.gov/careers. OGC is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.