Deputy Attorney General

DEFINITION

Under the direction of the Attorney General and Chief Deputy Attorney General, this position administers criminal justice in the Territory and provides assistance with the supervising attorneys, professional, technical, administrative, and clerical staff to help maintain a high degree of competence and efficiency in handling the functions of the Department. Acts for and as the Attorney General in the absence of the Attorney General and the Chief Deputy Attorney General.

This position requires a confidential relationship to a policymaker.

DUTIES (NOT ALL INCLUSIVE)

• Aids the Attorney General and the Chief Deputy Attorney General in the long-range office planning and personnel assignments. Assists in developing goals and objectives for the entire department. Initiates new policies and drafts procedures for implementation.
• Acts as the Acting Attorney General when the Attorney General and Chief Deputy Attorney General are both absent from the Territory, as assigned by the Attorney General. Represents the Attorney General on various Boards as assigned by the Attorney General.
• Prepares and presents annual budget, including the Capital Improvements Budget, to the Office of Management and Budget and oversight responsibilities of the Department’s Budget and Accounting Office.
• Appears before the Legislature to testify on legislative matters as assigned by the Attorney General.
• Provides assistance in the selection of new personnel.
• Supervises attorneys, professional, technical, administrative support, clerical, and all subordinate level staff of the department.
• Provides assistance with personnel and labor relations activities for the Department of Justice including but not limited to selection of new personnel, performance review and evaluations of staff and attorneys, resolution of interdepartmental conflicts, and negotiations of collective bargaining agreements on behalf of the Department of Justice.
• Consults with staff attorneys on work assignments regarding individual cases, complaints, investigations, questions of law, and procedures and support staff regarding other administration matters.
• Performs other related duties as delegated by the Attorney General.

FACTOR 1 – KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

• Knowledge of legal principles and their application.
• Knowledge of professional and ethical rules as they relate to the practice of law and particularly the role of public attorneys, to ensure the rules are strictly followed by all attorneys and staff regarding the scope of the attorney-client privilege, and local rules establishing standards of conduct and sanctions for misconduct by attorneys.
• Knowledge of principles and practices for properly conducting legal research, such as ensuring the law is current and checking for recent amendments to statutes.
• Knowledge of available research sources, both printed and electronic, to complete legal research, including what type of material they contain, where they are located, and their breadth, depth, and relative strengths and weaknesses.
• Knowledge of principles of administrative and constitutional law, rules of evidence, and conduct of proceedings in trial and appellate courts of the United States and the United States Virgin Islands and before administrative bodies.
• Skill in computer operating systems and applications.
• Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines and follow-up with minimum direction.
• Ability to make administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive, confidential issues.
• Ability to plan, develop, and coordinate multiple projects.
• Ability to command the English language to effectively produce a variety of written work products. Includes knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence, and paragraph structure, organization, and appropriate vocabulary.
• Ability to develop, promote, and maintain a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.
• Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

FACTOR 2 – SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

Supervision is received by the Attorney General or Chief Attorney General. Work is performed independently with considerable latitude for the oversight of the attorneys, all supervisory, professional, technical, administrative support, and subordinate staff. Sound judgment must be exercised consistently with the department’s objectives, missions, and priorities.

FACTOR 3 – GUIDELINES

Guidelines include federal, local, and departmental manuals or legal procedures as outlined for the U.S. Virgin Islands; the Virgin Islands Supreme Court, the Virgin Islands Code; and Standard Operating Procedures for the Agency.

FACTOR 4 – COMPLEXITY

Professional judgment and initiative must be exercised to interpret and comprehend administrative procedures, protocol, efficient office maintenance, regulations, and procedures.

FACTOR 5 – SCOPE AND EFFECT

The purpose of work is to administer criminal justice in the Territory by providing assistance with supervising all attorneys, professional, administrative, clerical, and subordinate staff to efficiently handle all processes and to act for and as the Attorney General and Chief Attorney General in his/her absence.

FACTOR 6 – PERSONAL CONTACTS

Contacts are employees within the agency, as well as outside agencies, utilizing telephone, e-mail, fax, and/or in-person communication.

FACTOR 7 – PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Contacts are made to coordinate with outside agencies, legal representatives, managers, and staff to attain necessary information or documentation to assist in fulfilling duties.

FACTOR 8 – PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is primarily sedentary with occasional walking, standing, and bending. It may be mentally and emotionally stressful and require after-hours work.

FACTOR 9 – WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in an office or courtroom setting. Some fieldwork and travel are required.

MINIMUM QUALFICATIONS

Juris Doctorate or an LLB degree from an accredited law school and at least three (3) years as an Assistant Attorney General with the Department of Justice or as a prosecutor in another prosecuting office and related experience in areas of administration, labor relations, budget, or management.

NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Regular Admission into the Virgin Islands Bar Association and must be in good standing.

Possession of a valid USVI (United States Virgin Islands) driver’s license.