Chief Legal Officer

The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) holds an essential position overseeing legal matters for the agency. The CLO provides legal guidance to the Clerk and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Reporting directly to the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, the CLO collaborates closely with the Executive Leadership Team to achieve agency goals and strategic initiatives, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Why work for us? The Clerk's offers a competitive benefits package including: 

• Superior health care plans with low premiums
• Competitive retirement and pension plans - Florida Retirement System and 457 deferred compensation options
• Generous paid time off, paid holidays, birthday leave, and volunteer time
• Our Wellness Program gives employees incentives, tools, social support, and strategies to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle
• We are a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Our office values a work-life balance. Enjoy your nights and weekends with friends and family!

At the Clerk's Office you can:

• Work with a purpose
• Give back to the community
• Be part of a team
• Pursue career advancement opportunities
• Reach your professional and personal goals

• Represents the Clerk in all legal matters. 
• Report to the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller with the ability to maintain independence and confidentiality with high regard for ethics.
• Manage the General Counsel, which includes contract management personnel.
• Serve as a back-up to the duties of the General Counsel, as needed. 
• Attend Florida Bar and Lee County Bar events and meetings. 
• Collaborates with the County Attorney’s Office and City Attorney’s Office, as needed. 
• Collaborates with the General Counsel of the Administrative Office of the Courts and the other Constitutional Offices, as needed.
• Serve on local or state-wide legal related committees and workgroups, as approved by the Clerk. 
• Attend local and state-wide meetings or conferences with and on behalf of the Clerk
• Oversee the County Record Services Team (Value Adjustment Board & Minutes operations). Attend Board/Port Commission meetings on a regular basis. 
• Oversee the Records Management Liaison Officer (RMLO) and the office-wide records management audit program 
• Partner with the Chief Officer of Government Efficiency to ensure constructive, efficient, and cost-effective outcomes for all agency processes. 
• Works in partnership with the Clerk and the executive leadership team on all internal workplace investigations/claims by any team member, citizen or agency and responds to these claims. 
• Advises the Clerk and executive leadership team on legal questions or research arising out of their departments. This includes performing legal interpretations/opinions, application of statues and ordinances, administrative orders, and other regulations imposed upon the Clerk. 
• Anticipate and identify legal issues of concern and develop strategies and solutions to mitigate risk.
• Advise the Clerk on acceptable levels of risk the agency can assume related to legal issues that have potential impacts on the agency. 
• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned

Education, Experience & Certification(s):

• Requires a Juris Doctorate Degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school and 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Proficiency in the Public Sector preferred with knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations specifically related to local government. 
• Member in good standing of the State Bar and possess a Florida Bar license.
• An ideal candidate will have experience with technology, vendor relations, employment law and compliance in a public sector environment.

• Excellent skill in building and leading teams with the ability to influence others to perform in the agencies best interest.
• Be familiar with the Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations related to the functions performed by local governments for paying employees, paying allowable vendor invoices and payments, required financial reposting, and the intricacies of government debt issuance and compliance.
• Advanced knowledge of Employment Law.
• Ability to work with the Clerk and the Executive Leadership team in a manner that creates trust.
• Advanced knowledge of contracts and contract law, and a demonstrated ability to apply such knowledge to solve a broad range of legal and contractual issues.
• Ability to provide expert legal advice on a wide variety of general business issues.
• Demonstrated ability to manage professionals in a team environment.
• Skill in the evaluation and planning for risk and in formulating effective plans to mitigate risk.
• Advanced skills in oral and written communications and in dealing effectively with a wide range of people at all levels of an organization.
• Ability to make oral presentations on complex issues and interact successfully with a wide range of staff, management, executives and outside counsel.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and exercise sound business judgment, work under tight time schedules and upper management job pressures, handle confidential and sensitive information with discretions, and understand policy-level issues with sensitivity to organizational culture. 
• Skill in the use of business software, with the ability to self-prepare legal and other business documents.
• Highest level of ethics and ability to handle confidential and sensitive legal and agency information with discretion.

Physical Requirements:

• Office: Majority of the time is spent sitting at the computer, remainder of the time is spent assisting in other functions 
• Work from Home (if applicable): Majority of the time is spent sitting at the computer 
• This position requires clear verbal interaction with employees, the public and agencies
• This position may require bending and reaching 
• This position may require going to other departments and/or offices on different floors and/or buildings throughout the day
• This position may require occasional travel to other sites to review products, or attend meetings, seminars or classes 
• Ability to use standard office equipment
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds