INTERNAL Managing Attorney IV / 61012513

Salary: $94,146.00 - $136,476.00 Annually
Location : Richland County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number: 194327
Agency: Department of Social Services
Division: Office of General Counsel
Opening Date: 10/20/2026
Closing Date: 10/28/2026 10:28 AM Eastern
Residency Requirement: No
Class Code:: AE40
Position Number::
Normal Work Schedule:: Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)
Pay Grade: GEN13
Hiring Range - Min.: $94,146.00
Hiring Range - Max.: $136,476.00
Agency Specific Application Procedures:: All applicants must apply online. All correspondence from DSS Human Resources will be made through electronic mail, unless otherwise indicated.
Veteran Preference Statement: South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.

Job Responsibilities
This is a South Carolina Department of Social Services Internal Position. Only current South Carolina Department of Social Services employees are eligible for this position.

Job Duties:

• The Attorney IV, under general supervision, provides professional legal services and representation for assigned county offices and regional adoption offices, including representation in Family Court on issues relative to child protection, foster care, adoption, adult protection and economic services. Manages one of the largest teams of DSS Family Court litigation attorneys in the State to achieve case progression and timely permanency for children.

• Provides management and leadership for a large and high-volume metro-area legal office with a team of attorneys and paralegals, including oversight of paralegals and attorneys to achieve effective office performance. Provides oversight regarding office protocol and information systems. Provides leadership in developing effective interoffice collaboration and relationships with human services staff and community partners. Serves as a liaison and problem-solves issues with court personnel, human services staff, other program areas and the Legal Department. Responsible for ensuring proper utilization of all office systems; administrative duties of the office; overseeing the office staff; and coordination and monitoring legal activities. Communicates with human services leaders and staff. Implements logistics solutions between legal staff and human services staff. Monitors the status of pending matters. Follows up on Permanency Planning and Termination of Parental Rights hearings, keeps attorneys and human services staff informed of progress.

• Manages work flow for timeliness and statutory compliance. Monitors Title IV-E activity ensuring the legal department has timely and adequately complied with laws, policy, and statutes in timely delivering the required Orders to Judges and all other parties and case managers within twenty (20) days of the decision.

• Represents the agency in all matters pertaining to emergency or non-emergency removal of children and vulnerable adults, termination of parental rights, inspection warrants, in-home protective services, permanency planning, judicial review of children or adults receiving services and any appeals resulting from such actions. Timely prepares, files, and serves or ensures the timely preparation, filing and service of all pleadings, motions, Orders, notices, rules to show cause and other court documents related to representation of the agency.

• Effectively trains support staff in the use of office systems, maintenance, protocols, scheduling, and docketing procedures. Utilizes LCMS and CAPSS and monitors progress. Tracks Court Information Summaries, scheduling, supply management, office staffing, and human resources functions for all administrative support staff, paralegals and attorneys; assigns follow-up duties to ensure timely compliance.

• Assumes circuit-wide and county-wide responsibility for ensuring good working relationship and communications between county legal office(s) and other system stakeholders. Ensures that an effective system of regular and ongoing legal trainings for human services staff is carried out.

• Utilizes and ensures the utilization of the Legal Case Management System (LCMS) for legal operations and documentation of legal activity in cases. Ensures LCMS compliance, obtains and provides feedback for improvement of LCMS. Ensures that new employees receive appropriate and timely training in LCMS.

• Ensures that personal identifying information (Pll) is properly used, accessed, gathered, shared and disposed. Protects the Agency networks and applications by safeguarding systems, equipment and data.

• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

A Juris Doctor Degree or its equivalent from an accredited law school and eight (8) years experience as a practicing attorney or three (3) years of experience as a DSS attorney.

Necessary Special Requirement: Must be a member of the SC BAR.
SPECIAL NOTICE: Resumes may be submitted in lieu of filling out the work experience of the online application. The following sections are required for consideration: personal information, preferences, agency-wide questions and job specific supplemental questions.
Additional Comments

This application for employment with the SC Department of Social Services must be completed in its entirety. A resume may be included; but shall not be substituted in lieu of the completion of this application in part or in whole. "See Resume" is not acceptable information for the completion of any part of the requirements of this application. If such is submitted, this employment application will be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded as eligible for consideration to hiring managers.

Must possess a valid driver's license. The employee must be able to communicate effectively (written and orally) and write legibly. May be required to work after hours and/or some overnight travel and must be able to lift approximately 15-20 lbs.

If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs

Division: Office of General Counsel / Richland County
Benefits for State Employees
The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
01

Have you ever been terminated or forced to resign from any job? If yes, please explain.
02

I understand that supplemental questions are considered part of the official application. Any misrepresentation will result in disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. If there are periods of time when you were not employed, you must also list those periods on your employment application. A resume cannot be submitted for completed work history and education sections of the employment application. The employment application may be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded. I have read and acknowledge the above.

• Yes
• No

03

I understand that by completion and submission of this application, that if I possess educational credentials that qualify me for the available position(s) and in the event I am offered a position with the SC Department of Social Services, I will be required to provide a certified official transcript within two (2) weeks of employment.

• Yes
• No

04

If you selected "Yes" that you are a veteran in the Agency-Wide Questions, are you able to provide a Member 4, Service 2-Copy, or NGB22 DD-214?

• Yes
• No

05

Have you ever been employed by the State of South Carolina? If yes, please provide the state agency/agencies.
06

How did you hear about this job opportunity?

• HR Recruiter
• DSS Employee
• DSS Internship
• Careers Website
• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• SCWORKS
• College/University Job Portal
• Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
• Radio/TV/Billboard
• Other

07

Have you completed an internship with the SC Department of Social Services?

• Yes
• No

08

Which of the following best describes your highest level of completed education?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate
• None of the above

09

Do you have a Juris Doctorate Degree?

• Yes
• No

10

Are you a member of the South Carolina Bar? If (Yes), please provide South Carolina Bar admission, date(s) and year(s).
11

Do you have at least eight (8) years of experience as a Practicing Attorney?

• Yes
• No

12

Do you have at least three (3) years of experience as a DSS Attorney?

• Yes
• No

Required Question