The Role:

Montana is known for its abundant and diverse fish, wildlife, and park resources. Life here is all about experiencing the outdoors, year-round. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is looking for a motivated and highly qualified person to join its Legal Unit as a Deputy Chief Legal Counsel. The Deputy Chief Legal Counsel will work in the FWP Headquarters Office in Helena, the capital city of Montana. Helena has a large professional population and is central to many outdoor recreation opportunities, including a community trail system offering hiking, mountain biking and trail running. Helena is also centrally located to many of Montana’s famous outdoor opportunities, including many state parks, Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, and the nearby Bob Marshal Wilderness Area. If you love the outdoors, Helena is a perfect place to live.

The Deputy Chief Legal Counsel assists and supports the management and supervision of the Legal Unit as directed by the Chief Legal Counsel by assisting in the management of office workload, litigation, and continuing operations in general.  The Deputy Chief Legal Counsel will also assist, mentor, or train less-experienced staff attorneys in all aspects of the practice of law. The Deputy Chief Legal Counsel will provide day-to-day advice to all the Unit’s clients, but primarily to the Chief Legal Counsel, the Director, regional supervisors, division administrators, and the Fish and Wildlife Commissioners or Parks Board members.  The Deputy Chief Legal Counsel will also represent these clients in complex, high-profile litigation and in all courts and administrative proceedings. The Deputy Chief Legal Counsel may, dependent on management experience and the litigation caseload, assist the Chief Legal Counsel in the supervision or management of staff attorneys and support staff and the general administration of the Legal Unit. The Deputy will also communicate regularly with the Governor’s Office on matters of particular interest or high-profile litigation.

The ideal candidate will have direct experience in natural resource law, including but not limited to water law, state and federal environmental and natural resource law (i.e., MEPA, NEPA, ESA, etc.), federal Indian law, state and federal laws relating to fish and wildlife management and regulation (including funding and licensing), and public recreational access. The ideal candidate will also have experience in areas such as administrative law, personnel law, public records and open meeting law, contracts, real estate transactions of all types, including conservation easements, criminal law relating to fish and game violations, and inter-governmental affairs work.

If you are an experienced legal professional who enjoys working on issues critical to the hunters, anglers, and members of the public who are passionate about outdoor recreation and conservation, then this might be the ideal job for you. This position represents a unique opportunity to play a role in executing FWP’s mission to steward the abundant outdoor resources and opportunities in Montana.

The Process:

 You must apply for this position through the State of Montana Career site. Please remember to attach the required documents (Cover Letter and Resume) to your State of Montana application. A resume is not a substitute for the online State of Montana application. Applications missing the requested documents will be considered incomplete and may not progress further in the process. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. This position closes at 11:59 PM Mountain Time on February 23, 2026.

Identity of applicants who become finalists may be released to the public if the Department deems it necessary.  Employees who exceed 1,040 hours in a calendar year are also provided health, dental and life insurance. Other benefits include retirement, vacation leave, sick leave, and paid holidays.   This position may be covered by a VEBA (Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association). 

A successful applicant will be subject to a background investigation. 

The Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Four years of practical experience in progressively more difficult legal work, management experience preferred.
• Must be admitted to practice law in Montana and federal district courts or be eligible for admission. Applicants must present credentials before hire.

• Other combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

  Required for the first day of work:

• Direct experience in the subject matter areas of law outlined above.
• Thorough knowledge of civil and administrative rules of procedure, both state and federal.
• Thorough knowledge of legal research methods, including Lexis, statutes and rules, legislative history, and internet resources.
• Ability to analyze difficult legal issues, conduct appropriate research, and recommend or implement effective solutions.
• Experience with case management and case supervision.
• Exceptional time-management skills.
• Experience with state government structure, function, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Working knowledge of: Montana and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; Montana and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure; Montana and Federal Rules of Evidence; Uniform District Court Rules; and Rules of Professional Conduct.