Introduction The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) within the Department of Health Services (DHS) is recruiting to fill an Attorney position. DHS strives to protect and promote the health and safety of all people of Wisconsin through the efforts of a dedicated workforce. DHS works to ensure access to individuals, families, and communities to achieve positive health outcomes in the areas of abuse prevention, mental health, public health, family care, long-term care, and much more.
This position is headquartered at our central office at 1 W. Wilson Street in Madison. The position has the ability to work remotely up to 4 days per week but will be required to report to the Madison office at least 1 day per week. This schedule may vary based on training or operational need.
As an employee of the state of Wisconsin, you'll have access to an amazing benefits package , including:
- 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time; limitations may apply for leave time usage in the first six months.
- Top rated health plan options starting at $42/month for single plans and $104/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service.
- Exceptional pension plan with a 6.95% employer match in 2025 with lifetime retirement payment. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!
- Several flex spending accounts: medical, dependent care, commuter, parking and High Deductible Health Savings .
- Well Wisconsin Wellness Program
- A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.
Position Summary In this role, you will be responsible for the provision of legal advice, counsel and representation to the department's divisions. Cases relate to a mix of substantive areas, outlined below, and include a combination of advice and counsel as well as representation in litigation and hearings.
Additionally, this position:
- Represents the Department's position in matters related to the Department's Wis. Stat. Chapter 980 , including occasionally as a non-party in related litigation.
- Provides advice and counsel to the Department's seven facilities, particularly Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center.
- Represents the Department in matters before the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, and the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission involving the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), disability accommodations, claims of discrimination based on protected class, and hiring and reclassification/reallocation decisions.
- Works closely with human resources and management and provides legal advice on hiring, disciplinary actions/terminations, and a variety of employment laws including the FMLA, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and state civil service laws.
- Oversees the department-wide civil rights compliance program including compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations and department policies and procedures, oversight of related administrative directives and requirements related to servicing those with limited English proficiency.
Salary Information The starting salary is between $48.00 and $56.37 per hour (approximately $99,800 and $117,200 per year), plus excellent benefits. A 12-month probationary period is required.
This position is classified as an Attorney Confidential and is in pay schedule and range 71/01. Pay for current or former state employees will be set based on the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction.
Job Details - All applicants who may be appointed will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled.
- To work remotely, employees must have access to both a private workspace and secure high-speed internet.
- Mileage reimbursement to the employee's headquarter location is not provided.
- For positions that allow remote working flexibility, working outside of Wisconsin or in bordering cities will not be allowed except in extremely limited circumstances due to the need to report to an office location in Wisconsin on short notice.
- DHS does not sponsor work visas for this position, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire.
Qualifications Minimally qualified applicants will have all of the following:
- Licensure to practice law in the State of Wisconsin or licensed in another state with the ability to become licensed in Wisconsin within 60 days of appointment.
- Experience researching, analyzing, and interpreting laws and regulations.
- Experience conducting legal research and drafting legal documents (e.g., pleadings, briefs, legal opinions, etc.).
- Experience providing legal advice and representation on complex legal issues (e.g., issues involving unique facts, multiple parties, multiple jurisdictions, large amounts of money, or lengthy litigations, etc.).
- Experience in litigation or administrative hearings.
Well-qualified applicants will also have one or more of the following:
- Experience with employment law (e.g., FMLA, ADA, Wisconsin Fair Employment Law, harassment, retaliation claims, etc.).
- Experience advising on hiring, employee discipline, or internal employee investigations.
- Experience with laws relating to mental health treatment, particularly criminal and/or civil commitments for mental health treatment.
- Experience with civil rights laws.
Your letter of qualifications is limited to 2 pages. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here .
How To Apply Applying is easy! Click "Apply for Job" to start the application process. Sign into your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application.
Helpful Information:
- Once an application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click "Save" to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline.
- You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.
- Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts according to the qualifications above.
- Please monitor your email for communications related this position.
- Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered.
- If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs .
- For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions . For questions about the position, to request a copy of the full position description, or for other employment inquiries, please contact Shannon Kavorik in Human Resources at [email protected]
DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.
Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on Veterans' hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran's Affairs, click here .
Deadline to Apply The deadline to apply is July 28th at 11:59 pm.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is only available Monday through Friday 7:45 am - 4:30 pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
