Posting Date: October 20, 2025
Closing Date: November 3, 2025
Job Title: Principal Counsel
Position Type: Regular, Full-Time
Salary: This position offers a salary range of $126,914 - $179,430, with potential for advancement up to $198,107 over time, based on longevity and increased responsibilities. Initial salary offers are determined by qualifications, experience, equity, and available budget, and will not exceed $179,430.
Location: Office of the Attorney General, 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Telework: A hybrid remote telework and in-office schedule option is available per applicable policies and procedures.
DESCRIPTION: The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has the general charge, supervision, and direction of the State’s legal business, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major agencies, various boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of State Government. The OAG also protects the public by civil enforcement of antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, and securities laws and regulations and by the prosecution of organized crime, Medicaid fraud, environmental crimes, insurance fraud, state tax evasion, and other statutorily assigned matters. As Maryland’s 47th Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown leads the Office with a critical focus on equity, justice, and fairness.
The Office of the Attorney General is seeking a highly experienced and strategic attorney to serve as Principal Counsel to the Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DoSEM)—a newly established agency charged with advancing equitable access to opportunity and improving economic outcomes for small businesses in Maryland. DoSEM is not a traditional service agency; it is a catalyst for systemic change. Its work focuses on outcomes such as access to business opportunities, wealth building, and policy reforms that expand long term prosperity. The department will benchmark best practices, advise agencies, and independently assess performance to deliver better, data-informed results statewide.
As Principal Counsel, the selected attorney will serve as DoSEM’s primary legal advisor, providing high-level guidance on a wide range of legal and policy matters. This includes advising on the implementation and administration of socioeconomic programs, disparity studies, procurement, civil rights compliance, human resources, and interagency coordination. The Principal Counsel will also oversee the legal review of contracts, interagency agreements, grants, and statutorily required reports and plans, including those related to Title VI, MBE/DBE programs, and EEO compliance.
The role requires a deep understanding of constitutional law, administrative law, and public sector governance. The Principal Counsel will conduct legal research and analysis, prepare formal legal opinions and briefing materials for senior leadership, and represent DoSEM in negotiations, administrative proceedings, and litigation. The attorney will also monitor and interpret state and federal legislative and regulatory developments that may impact the agency’s operations and strategic initiatives.
In addition, the Principal Counsel will collaborate with attorneys across state and federal agencies, the central office of the Attorney General, and other legal entities on matters involving litigation, appeals, and legal opinions. The attorney will also provide proactive legal guidance on risk mitigation strategies related to proposed policy initiatives and play a key role in shaping institutional policies, procedures, and compliance frameworks.
The Principal Counsel will lead and develop a team of Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) and support staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing legal team aligned with the Department’s mission and values.
This is a high-impact leadership role for a senior attorney with a strong commitment to equity, innovation, and public service.
EXPERIENCE: The ideal candidate will have at least ten years of legal experience, with a strong track record of advising on socioeconomic policy, procurement, and civil rights law. They will demonstrate exceptional legal judgment, a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving, and a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape affecting public sector agencies. A commitment to advancing equity, innovation, and effective governance is essential.
The successful candidate will possess outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly and effectively convey complex legal concepts to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and non-legal stakeholders. This role also requires significant experience providing legal counsel at a senior level. A history of supervising attorneys or managing legal teams in adynamic, high-stakes environment is strongly preferred. Membership in the Maryland Bar, or eligibility for admission by waiver, is required.
SUBMISSION: Interested persons should submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and list of three references, all in PDF format, by November 3, 2025 to Leonard Howie, III, Deputy Attorney General via Chinequa Powell, Executive Assistant at [email protected]. Please write “Principal Counsel – DoSEM” in the subject line of the email.
EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR REGULAR POSITIONS: The successful candidate will be eligible for subsidized health benefits (medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage) and life insurance; leave, including annual (vacation), personal, sick, and paid parental leave; and will be eligible for participation in a contributory defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after ten years. State employees are eligible to participate in two supplemental retirement plans: the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and the 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan. The State also offers a free mass transit benefit for local bus and express bus services.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: The OAG is an equal opportunity employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, religion or belief, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, pregnancy, family or parental status, veteran status, genetic information, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING: The Office of the Attorney General views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving professional excellence and fostering and maintaining a culture where every employee can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the best pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We honor, respect, and celebrate all differences, both visible and invisible, and are committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting individuals who have historically been underrepresented in the practice of law and professional careers.