Agency Counsel

About the position Attorney roles at the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) give you the chance to practice law in service of real people, real workplaces, and real impact across the state. At DLI, you help promote safe workplaces, fair treatment, and a strong Montana workforce while advising the regulators who license professionals and resolve disputes. You become a trusted partner to boards, programs, and decision-makers whose choices affect workers, employers, and communities every day. MISSION STATEMENT: Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity. It's about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open, team-based, supportive, and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLI here. If you care about public service, practical problem solving, and using your law degree to move the needle for an entire state, you’ll fit right in. As Agency Counsel, for the transactions team, you will: This team is ideal if you like rulemaking, policy, and building durable legal frameworks that help programs run smoothly. WHAT YOU BRING You don’t have to know everything on day one, but you do need strong core skills and a growth mindset. WHY YOU MIGHT LOVE THIS JOB Your work has visible impact on workers, employers, and licensed professionals across Montana. You get a diverse, interesting mix of matters instead of a single narrow niche. You join a mission driven agency that values data, continuous improvement, and a culture of individual responsibility. You build a career in public service while living and practicing in Montana. If you’re ready to use your law degree to serve the public, shape policy, and grow as a lawyer, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Draft and review administrative rules for DLI and its attached boards.
• Support boards in their quasi judicial functions and regulatory responsibilities.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and enforce contracts.
• Conduct policy research, legislative drafting, and state/federal compliance reviews.
• Provide day to day legal counsel to DLI boards and programs.
• Occasionally represent DLI or its boards in administrative or court litigation.

Requirements

• Communication and collaboration. You can translate complex law into clear, concise writing and plain language explanations for courts, legislators, board members, agency staff, and the public. You build productive relationships and approach conflict with a problem solving mindset.
• Legal analysis and problem solving. You are comfortable spotting and researching complex issues, then turning your work into practical, defensible advice and action plans. You like working with others to craft strategies that fit the Department’s mission and statutory authority.
• Regulatory and procedural expertise. You either have or are ready to build a working knowledge of administrative, litigation, and legislative procedures. You can interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, regulations, and case law to real world agency decisions.
• Board advising and regulatory judgment. You’re interested in helping regulatory boards set and enforce standards that protect the public without placing unnecessary burdens on Montana’s professionals and businesses.
• This position requires a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and admittance to the Montana Bar and Federal District Courts.

Benefits

• Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
• 38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
• Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
• Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP - click here to learn more.
• Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more.
• Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73%25 - 9.07%25 of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. – Click here to learn more.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- click here to learn more!
• Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
• State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.
• This position may be eligible for a statutory 2%25 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1, 2026.
• This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)

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