Staff Attorney - Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct

The Board of Judicial Conduct is seeking a full-time staff attorney to assist in legal and administrative matters as determined by the Board.  Work will be performed under the supervision of Disciplinary Counsel.  The position is located in Nashville, Tennessee.  The Board of Judicial Conduct is the state agency responsible for investigating, hearing, and determining ethical matters involving judges serving on all courts statewide with the aim of preserving the integrity of the judiciary and enhancing public confidence in the legal system.  The Board consists of sixteen members from across the state composed of judges, lawyers, and nonlegal professionals.  The Board’s current, full-time staff consists of Disciplinary Counsel, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, and a Legal Assistant.  The staff attorney, a new position, would be added to the Board’s current staff to provide legal, investigative, and administrative support.    

General Description: The staff attorney will provide legal and administrative assistance to the Board through: 
1.    Screening complaints filed against judges for timeliness and compliance with statutory requirements.
2.    Reviewing and evaluating complaints for merit and, when appropriate, prosecute the case.
3.    Conducting investigations as needed, including coordination with law enforcement agencies.
4.    Drafting memoranda in assigned cases analyzing the issues and making dispositional recommendations.
5.    Performing legal research in assigned cases and special projects.
6.    Drafting correspondence to the parties, judges, and others.
7.    Tracking the progression of cases to ensure all deadlines are met. 
8.    Assisting with and/or conducting disciplinary proceedings.
9.    Assisting in preparing reports to the General Assembly; 
10.    Assisting in preparing and/or delivering presentations at judicial conferences or other events. 
11.    Monitoring proposed legislation affecting the work of the Board.
12.    Handling inquiries/questions from the public. 
13.    Providing ethics guidance to judges when appropriate.
14.    Assisting with other matters as directed by the Board and Disciplinary Counsel.  

A hybrid work schedule is a possibility following a sixty-day training and probationary period. 

Essential knowledge, skills, and abilities: 
•    Ability to maintain confidentiality due to the confidential nature of the Board’s work.
•    Ability to function well under tight deadlines.
•    Prepare clear, thorough, and professional written work products. 
•    Conduct electronic legal research. 
•    Proficiency in computer and word processing skills. 
•    The ideal candidate will have a warm, polite, and professional presence in person and over the phone as he or she will be interacting with judges and the public.

Minimum Qualifications: To qualify, applicants must have graduated from law school and possess a valid Tennessee law license.  Newly licensed attorneys and law school graduates awaiting bar results are welcome to apply.

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you will be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer