Address:  1600 W. Monroe St, Phoenix AZ 85007

Salary: $71,500 per year ($34.77 per hour) 

Grade: 22

Closing Date: Untill filled

Pursuant to Administrative Order (AO) 2024-148 of the Arizona Supreme Court, the Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program (ALAP) (effective September 1, 2024) enables qualifying employers such as the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) to hire Apprentice Attorneys, candidates who have taken and achieved a score of 260-269 on a Uniform Bar Exam in the previous 12 months and other requirements of AO 2024-148, and who otherwise meet the requirements of the position of Attorney, to engage in the 24-month ALAP.

The Apprentice Attorney 3 is an individual who, as an ALAP licensee, is considered to have passed the Uniform Bar Examination with admission pending the successful completion of the ALAP program. This position is a member of the ADOR Taxpayer Services Appeals & Protests Unit and is engaged in qualifying activities toward receiving a recommendation to be admitted to the practice of law without supervision at the end of the 24-month ALAP period by and while carrying out the function of the position, which provides legal advice and representation of ADOR in contested tax matters and appealable agency actions before the Office of Administrative Hearings. The attorney in this position will work with Transaction Privilege Tax, Luxury Tax, Withholding Tax, license revocation, voluntary disclosure agreements, closing agreements, and penalty review cases.

Supervision:
This position does not have direct reports.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program Activities

• Under the supervision of the supervising attorney (Appeals Administrator), completes all professional activities as required by the program and reviews activities in support of the training program goals
• Actively engages in structured monthly check-ins with the supervising attorney (Appeals Administrator) to include sharing in a self-reflection of one’s own work.
• Actively engages in informal weekly check-ins with the supervising attorney (Appeals Administrator) for mentorship and guidance as needed to support the training program goals.

Hearings

• Reviews protested cases and prepare cases for formal hearing, including preparation of pre-hearing case memoranda, preparation of witnesses, preparing copies of exhibits to be introduced at the hearing, etc.
• Represents ADOR before the Office of Administrative Hearings and in appeals to the Department's Director.
• Responds promptly, accurately, and effectively to telephone and e-mail inquiries and other communications with taxpayers throughout the protest phase.

Project Support

• Completes special projects as assigned by the Administrator, including the research of legal issues for advising the Administrator, Deputy Assistant Director, or General Counsel on legal matters.

Agency Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Remains current on all laws, regulations, policies, and best practices related to taxation through regular engagement in activities such as: self-directed research, conferring with other practitioners and technical experts; subscriptions to regulatory/legal/industry newsletters and briefs; membership industry associations and attendance at meetings/events; and or participation in training and others continuing education opportunities.
• Actively contributes to team and individual effectiveness through the following: -
  • Attends staff meetings and huddles of work unit or district; and may cascade and track information as indicated.
    
  • Completes all required training in a timely manner.
    
  • Participates in assigned work teams as appropriate.
    
  • May complete periodic metrics, projects, huddle boards and reports as requested.
    
  • Prepares for and actively participates in 1:1 coaching with supervisor.
    
• Maximizes work processes and deliverables through lean principles within the Arizona Management System (AMS); and provides recommendations for process improvement, and engages in continuous improvement efforts as assigned.

Miscellaneous
• Other duties as assigned

Education & Experience

• Doctor of Jurisprudence degree (J.D.) from an A.B.A. accredited law school.
  
• Satisfaction of the requirements and qualifications for admission to the practice of law under Arizona Supreme Court Rules 34 and 35(b)(6) and (8)
  
• Achieving a score of 260-269 on a Uniform Bar Exam in the previous 12 months.
• Within the 12 months following September 1, 2024, or the notification date of one’s Uniform Bar Exam score, securing employment with a qualified public law employer or securing the commitment of a qualified supervising attorney in a rural area for at least 30 hours of paid work per week.

Licenses & Certifications

Ability to become an active member of the State Bar of Arizona within 24 months of employment by the agency

Knowledge/Understanding

• Arizona Revised Statutes Title 42, administrative rules, Model City Tax Code, tax ruling, tax procedures and Departmental policies.
  
• Contested hearings and appeals to the Director
  
• Federal case law interpreting and applying various legal concepts.
  
• General principles of law which relate to and impact upon tax issues.

Skills

• Superb verbal, written, and listening communication skills
  
• Strong proficiency in the English language and with business, legal, and professional writing
  
• Effective organization and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work in high-pressure situations
  
• Strong interpersonal skills and demeanor
  
• Proficient in the use of a PC in a Windows environment; in the use of the Internet; in the use of MS Office Applications such as Outlook, Word and Excel,
• PowerPoint; and in the use of Google Suite applications such as GMail, Sheets, Docs, and Drive.

Abilities

• Ability to clear a comprehensive background and clearance process that includes an Arizona tax compliance verification, and a criminal background check through the FBI via level one fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety
  
• Ability to apply existing case law, statutes, and administrative rules to the facts; to research court cases, Arizona Revised Statutes, and Arizona
• Administrative Code; to write informative and persuasive briefs on complex issues of law and fact; and to prepare memoranda for case position, legal briefs, and outline of hearing presentations.
  
• Ability to present and argue cases before the Office of Administrative Hearings and the Hearing Office including the examination and cross-examination of witnesses; to coherently and persuasively summarize facts presented at hearing and set for the Department's position on the law as it applies to such facts; to conduct legal research and draft briefs and other legal memoranda; and to apply appropriate statutes, ordinances, rules, rulings and case law to appeal cases
  
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and also participate collaboratively as part of a team
  
• Ability to work in a confidential manner, ensuring information is shared with internal and external individuals in an appropriate manner
  
• Ability to understand and solve problems by applying advanced analytical skills to include collecting, integrating and analyzing all relevant data and information and reduced that information down to manageable components and/or charts, diagrams or graphs; identifying a number of solutions to complex problems integrating findings from several different disciplines, identifying and evaluating the various options developed and selects the most effective solution; drawing logical and objective conclusions from the data and validates them as the prime cause and contributing causes; identifying a number of solutions to the problem by identifying and evaluating the various options developed and selects the most effective solution.
• Willingness and ability to embody ADOR’s core values of Do the Right Thing, Commit to Excellence, and Care About One Another

Additional Job Demands

• In the course of performing the essential duties one must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
  
• No substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work.)
  

Experience with Transaction Privilege Tax, a plus

The final candidate will be required to abide by the the following pre-employment checks:
-Employment Verification and Reference Checks
-State and Federal Criminal Background Check, including fingerprinting
-Arizona Tax Filing Records Check
-If applicable, ASEDRA Authorized Driver Identification Check

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides a world class comprehensive benefits package including:
-Paid time off for holidays, sick days, annual leave, military leave, bereavement leave, and civic duty leave
-Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
-A robust and affordable insurance plan that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability options.
-Higher education discounts for State employees and tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per fiscal year, available to seek further career advancement or certification in Continuing Professional Education.
-Work-life balance and additional options for life betterment such as the Infant at Work Program, State Wellness Program, Public Transit Discounts, Alternate Work Schedules, and Telework opportunities.

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Top ranked Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) provides 100% employer matched contributions (enrollment eligibility will be effective after 27 weeks of State employment). ASRS provides a lifelong benefit based on years of service earned, or worked, and your ending salary. Learn more about ASRS at: https://www.azasrs.gov/content/new-and-prospective-members.

If you have any questions, need assistance, or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADOR Talent Team at talentgroup@azdor.gov.

*The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.