The North Carolina Department of Justice protects the people of North Carolina through its work to prevent crime and support law enforcement, to safeguard consumers, and to defend the State, its people, and their constitutional rights.
Responsibilities
The primary purpose of the Office of Solicitor General is to represent the State, its agencies, offices and employees, in legal proceedings before the North Carolina and federal appellate courts.
Appellate Advocacy
The majority of time, this attorney will brief and argue significant and complex appeals on behalf of the State.
This attorney will also serve as a resource for other attorneys throughout the Department of Justice with respect to strategic decisions in appellate cases, the Rules of Appellate Procedure and written and oral advocacy.
This attorney will review and edit appellate briefs to be filed on behalf of the State with an eye toward ensuring the consistency and quality of briefs submitted by the State in appellate courts. Many of the appeals that this attorney will address will involve complex issues of legal doctrine and appellate strategy and tactics.
Trial work
This attorney will serve as trial counsel in connection with certain exceptional cases when it is likely that the action will present an important legal issue for the State on appeal or otherwise involves matters of great significance to the State.
Training
This attorney will be available to consult with and provide guidance and training for other attorneys with respect to appellate and trial proceedings. This training will include conducting and participating in rehearsals or oral arguments (moot courts).
Management of Appellate Docket
This attorney will assist the Solicitor General in monitoring the docket of appellate cases being handled by the Attorney General’s Office. This attorney will also be involved in analysis of appellate trends and assist in the tracking and coordination of appeals.
Criminal appeals
Handles criminal briefs on appeal by the defendant to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. The attorney reviews the trial transcript, researches applicable law and files the brief in accordance with the Rules of Appellate Procedure. If decisions made by the Court of Appeals are appealed, the attorney follows the matter through to final disposition by the Supreme Court. If a case is selected for oral argument by the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court, the attorney represents the State at the oral argument.
Qualifications
Licensed to practice law by the North Carolina State Bar and four years of progressively responsible professional legal experience. NOTE: GS 114-2 and 114-6 make it the duty of the Attorney General of NC to represent the State of North Carolina in all litigation unless another statute specifically states otherwise.
Management preferences: Our preference would be someone who has completed a clerkship on a federal appellate court or state supreme court, and has at least 3-5 years of relevant practice experience.
Application Process
Please apply by following this link: Attorney IV, Solicitor General (60010391) | Job Details tab | Career Pages (governmentjobs.com)
