GENERAL COUNSEL, ADVOCACY
General Counsel, Advocacy falls in New Jersey's unclassified service: an appointing authority hires for it directly, without a civil service exam.
Qualifying takes a doctoral degree and 5 years of relevant experience.
How to get hired
- General Counsel, Advocacy is an unclassified title. It is filled by appointment rather than by examination, and it sits outside civil service tenure protection.
- Openings are made directly by the appointing authority, usually a department head, board, or elected official.
- Salary for unclassified roles is often set individually, so the published range is a guide rather than a fixed grade.
Read the official specification at NJ Civil Service Commission.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the administrative direction of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman, shall formulate policy and render legal services in accordance with the legislative mandate to advocate for elderly adults and other long-term care consumers. Such advocacy services shall include the formulation of agency policy, the provision of legal advice, the attending to and dealing with all litigation, controversies, and legal matters in which the office may be a party or in which its rights and interests may be involved, and representing the office in all proceedings or actions of any kind which may be brought from or against it in any court of this State. The General Counsel and other attorneys of the office shall be independent of any supervision or control by the Attorney General or by the Department of Law and Public Safety, or by any division or office thereof; may supervise attorneys and other staff; does related duties as required.
Examples of work
Renders appropriate day-to-day oral and written legal advice and provides representation to the Executive Officer concerning matters of a legal nature in which the office may be a party or in which its rights and interests may be involved. Represents the office in all litigation, controversies, and legal matters in which the office may have an interest, be a party, or may be involved. Represents the office in all proceedings or actions brought against it in any court of this state. Provides legal counsel and represents long-term care consumers in legal proceedings, including filing for hearings to protect residents' services and rights. Provides support and educates staff scheduled to appear before the Office of Administrative Law and provides in-person appearances and advocacy as necessary and appropriate. Ensures that agency programs and any proposed state policy initiatives comply with state and federal statutes and rules. Provides legal advice and opinions regarding proposed or recently enacted legislation and laws concerning the policies and procedures for adults, disabled people, and Medicaid and Medicare recipients residing in a long-term care facility. Interprets and explains the impact of state and federal laws on long-term care, affecting agency programs and existing or proposed policies. Provides technical assistance and drafts proposals to other state agencies relative to the laws, rules, guidance, and regulations affecting long-term care. Analyzes and interprets changes in state and federal law, policies, and procedures related to long-term care, particularly those that impact the actions of other state agencies or are proposed by external entities. Monitors legislation and policy initiatives and formulates proposals for changes and implementation in alignment with the agency's mission. Represents the Ombudsman on policy-making or advisory committees and task forces. Prepares testimony and talking points for the Ombudsman or staff to present at legislative or administrative forums. Reviews and assists in negotiating and ensuring compliance with all agency contract documents such as lease documents, grant agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, and data management contracts. Advises staff on long-term care policy issues and contributes to drafting, amending, and maintaining the agency's policy and procedural manual with input from management and staff. Analyzes the need for new or amended laws, rules, and regulations on an ongoing basis. Drafts new or amended laws and legislation and reviews and recommends policies for their implementation to the Ombudsman or other state agencies. Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates. Directs and coordinates the activities of attorneys and other personnel. Represents the Ombudsman at conferences, meetings, ad hoc committees, task forces, and special committees as directed. Serves as a liaison to other state agencies or organizations including the Attorney General's Office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree.
Experience
Five (5) years of experience in the practice of law in a public or private agency, which shall have included legal experience with elderly adults and other long-term care consumers.
License
Admission to practice law in the State of New Jersey. Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the practices, policies, and procedures utilized and applied in the direction, conduct, control, and guidance of a department or agency. Knowledge of the laws, acts, regulations, and statutes of the State of New Jersey that pertain to the operations and programs of the department or agency. Knowledge of management techniques. Knowledge of state and federal laws related to long-term care programs, familiarity with best practices for agency programs, and awareness of publicly-funded initiatives that support long-term care services, including Medicaid and Medicare. Knowledge of long-term care facilities, services, and support delivery systems for older adults in New Jersey. Knowledge of the state, administrative, and federal court systems. Knowledge of the regulations for residential long-term care providers and home and community- based systems for delivery of care. Knowledge of federal laws related to long-term care, including Title 18 and 19 of the Social Security Act, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Older Americans Act (OAA), the Ombudsman Federal Rule (45 CFR PART 1321 and 1324), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), grant agreements, and program-related service delivery systems. Knowledge of the state and federal laws, and regulations related to long-term care services and facilities. Knowledge of Medicaid and Medicare laws and regulations, its component parts, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicare Advantage Plans, and the NJ Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports System (MLTSS). Ability to formulate policies and confer with other officials regarding program recommendations. Ability to provide administrative direction, legal advice, and guidance on policies related to long-term care, Medicaid, and Medicare. Ability to investigate the effects of the administration's statutes, rules, and regulations and report findings to the commissioner's office. Ability to prepare and/or supervise the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative administrative and other related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement programs and projects within a unit. Ability to prepare detailed correspondence. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.