Job-title file

Counsel IV

Provide legal advice, draft and review documents, and represent the agency in legal matters.

7 employees hold this title in Senate. Median total compensation for the role is $142,895, above the department median of $60,939.

Employees: 7
Total payroll: $1M
Role median: $142,895
Agency median: $60,939
Comparison: Above

Compare jurisdictions

Counsel beyond Minnesota

This role is reported in 6 jurisdictions. In Minnesota, the median of $122,029 ranks #3 of 6. See Counsel across all of Minnesota →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

New York City

$191,427 · 20

Massachusetts

$127,379 · 8

City of Boston

$121,785 · 5

New York Public Authorities

$98,609 · 7

Maine

$48,607 · 7

Median total compensation for comparable Counsel roles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Same department

Other job titles in Senate

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Kenneth Backhus

Counsel IV/Senate

2025 total comp

$172,129

Sub-department: Counsel
Base pay: $168,081
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,048
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $172,129
Hire date: 1994-11-17
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: Non-Employee
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: L11
Bargaining Unit Number: 223
Branch: Legislative
Branch Code: Legislative
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kenneth Backhus is a Counsel IV at Senate within Counsel. Hired in 1994, they have about 31 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $172,129. Their bargaining unit is Non-Employee.

Ann Lewis

Counsel IV/Senate

2025 total comp

$164,863

Sub-department: Counsel
Base pay: $164,863
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $164,863
Hire date: 1995-12-18
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: Non-Employee
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: L11
Bargaining Unit Number: 223
Branch: Legislative
Branch Code: Legislative
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Ann Lewis is a Counsel IV at Senate within Counsel. Their tenure dates to 1995, about 30 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $164,863. They are represented by Non-Employee.

Stephanie James

Counsel IV/Senate

2025 total comp

$144,043

Sub-department: Counsel
Base pay: $140,656
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,388
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $144,043
Hire date: 2011-02-24
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: Non-Employee
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: L11
Bargaining Unit Number: 223
Branch: Legislative
Branch Code: Legislative
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Stephanie James works as a Counsel IV for Senate within Counsel. Their tenure dates to 2011, about 14 years as a full-time employee. Stephanie earned $144,043 in 2025. Union affiliation: Non-Employee.

Nora Pollock

Counsel IV/Senate

2025 total comp

$142,895

Sub-department: Counsel
Base pay: $139,534
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,361
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $142,895
Hire date: 2011-08-17
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: Non-Employee
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: L11
Bargaining Unit Number: 223
Branch: Legislative
Branch Code: Legislative
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Nora Pollock works as a Counsel IV for Senate within Counsel. Hired in 2011, they have about 14 years of service as a full-time employee. Nora earned $142,895 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Non-Employee.

Joan White

Counsel IV/Senate

2025 total comp

$138,527

Sub-department: Counsel
Base pay: $98,044
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $40,483
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $138,527
Hire date: 1992-11-30
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: Non-Employee
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: L11
Bargaining Unit Number: 223
Branch: Legislative
Branch Code: Legislative
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Joan White works as a Counsel IV for Senate within Counsel. They have served since 1992 (about 33 years) as a full-time employee. Joan earned $138,527 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Non-Employee.

Eric Silvia

Counsel IV/Senate

2025 total comp

$132,787

Sub-department: Counsel
Base pay: $132,787
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,787
Hire date: 2012-01-17
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: Non-Employee
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: L11
Bargaining Unit Number: 223
Branch: Legislative
Branch Code: Legislative
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Senate, Eric Silvia serves as a Counsel IV within Counsel. Their tenure dates to 2012, about 13 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $132,787. Union affiliation: Non-Employee.

Michael Stanley

Counsel IV/Senate

2025 total comp

$122,029

Sub-department: Counsel
Base pay: $119,251
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,778
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $122,029
Hire date: 2017-01-17
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 12
Union / bargaining unit: Non-Employee
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: L11
Bargaining Unit Number: 223
Branch: Legislative
Branch Code: Legislative
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Michael Stanley holds the role of Counsel IV at Senate within Counsel. They have served since 2017 (about 8 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $122,029. Union affiliation: Non-Employee.