The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has the general charge, supervision, and direction of the State’s legal business, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major agencies, various boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of State Government. The OAG also protects the public by civil enforcement of antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, and securities laws and regulations and by the prosecution of organized crime, Medicaid fraud, environmental crimes, insurance fraud, state tax evasion, and other statutorily assigned matters. As Maryland’s 47th Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown leads the Office with a critical focus on equity, justice, and fairness.
The OAG is seeking an experienced, highly skilled, and mission‑driven attorney to serve as the Counsel for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS), Legal Services Division. This is a critical leadership role overseeing a dedicated team of approximately 60 employees, including 30 attorneys who perform essential, life‑saving trial work to protect vulnerable children and adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Baltimore City handles one of the largest volumes of child welfare cases in Maryland, and the Principal Counsel is responsible for ensuring the highest quality legal representation for the agency. The attorneys carry significant caseloads, and the impact of their work cannot be overstated, and effective advocacy directly influences the safety, stability, and well‑being of some of the most vulnerable individuals in the City.
The Principal Counsel provides direct supervision to two Deputy Principal Counsel the BCDSS Legal Services Program Manager, who oversees all non‑attorney support staff. The Deputies supervise three BCDSS supervising attorneys, who in turn supervise the BCDSS staff attorneys. While the Principal Counsel and Deputies are OAG employees, the supervising attorneys and staff attorneys are employees of BCDSS, making this a unique and collaborative legal services model.
This position serves as chief legal advisor to the BCDSS Director; Deputy Directors for Child Welfare, Adult Services, and Family Investment; Assistant Deputy Directors; Assistant Directors; and members of the Senior Leadership Team. The Principal Counsel also provides guidance to frontline social workers and mid‑level administrators on case‑specific legal issues, litigation strategy, and the interpretation of relevant statutes and regulations.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned attorney with strong leadership abilities, deep commitment to public service, and a passion for protecting vulnerable populations. The work is challenging, meaningful, and directly connected to the safety and well‑being of Baltimore City residents.
Classification: Assistant Attorney General VII
Telework: Hybrid Work – Two in-office days weekly.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have at least ten years of substantive legal experience in child welfare, family law, administrative law, or related areas involving vulnerable populations, along with significant trial experience in high‑volume, high‑stakes matters such as CINA and adult protective services cases. The role requires demonstrated leadership in supervising attorneys and legal teams, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to advise senior agency leaders on complex legal and policy issues. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of Maryland’s child welfare and adult services laws, the judgment to provide clear guidance under pressure, and the ability to collaborate effectively with attorneys, social workers, and administrators. A commitment to public service, professionalism, emotional intelligence, and the ability to manage both strategic and day‑to‑day legal operations are essential, and prior leadership experience within a social services legal environment or experience with trauma‑informed practice is highly desirable. Maryland Bar admission or ability to waive in is required.
Application Process
Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and a list of three professional references, including at least one current or former supervisor with their online application https://mdagcareers.ttcportals.com/jobs/17617505-principal-counsel-department-of-human-services-baltimore-city-department-of-social-services?bid=21259.
