DEPT OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS

Address: Central Office/Legal Bureau
100 N. 15th Ave Suite 103
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Salary: $90,000 - 100,500 

Grade: 26

Closing Date: June 10, 2026

The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) is seeking a Deputy General Counsel (Administrative Counsel) responsible for serving as the Department's liaison with court and legal system stakeholders statewide, supervising the Youth Hearing Officer and Youth Records Unit; monitoring court hearings for committed youth and resolving court concerns; providing educational presentations for ADJC youth, employees, and stakeholders; and providing legal advice to executive leadership.

ADJC’s Deputy General Counsel reports to the General Counsel and serves the Department’s liaison with the legal system partners, including judicial officers, attorneys, and the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). In addition, this position is responsible for monitoring all legal matters impacting ADJC youth, through regular virtual or in-person court attendance, to ensure the court has timely, accurate information about the youth’s treatment progress as well as Department processes, policy, statutory framework, and jurisdictional issues. This position also provides training and presentations for ADJC youth, employees, and stakeholders on a regular and ongoing basis, and represents the Department at stakeholder meetings, workgroups, advisory panels, and conferences pertaining to juvenile delinquency matters. The Deputy General Counsel supervises the Youth Hearing Officer, who administers due process proceedings for youth, including warrants, parole revocation hearings, discharges, and appeals. In addition, the Deputy General Counsel supervises the Records Unit, ensuring compliance with state and federal law and policy. The Deputy General backs up the General Counsel and also provides legal advice to executive leadership.

Knowledge required:
- Ethical standards and obligations for executive branch attorneys
- Legal research, analysis, and advice
- Juvenile dependency and delinquency law
- Criminal and Constitutional law
- Juvenile court process, hearings, procedures, and rules
- State and federal laws impacting committed youth
- Policy and legislation writing and analysis
- Appellate procedure

Skills required:
- Legal research, analysis, writing, and advice-
- Verbal and written communication with internal and external stakeholders
- Coordination and collaboration with a wide variety of entities including executive leadership, courts, case
managers, and system stakeholders
- Policy and regulatory research, writing, and analysis
- Comprehensive and concise writing
- Systems analysis and problem solving
- Meeting facilitation
- Negotiation
- Contract drafting and review
- Public speaking
- Project Management

Abilities required:
- Legal analysis
- Written and verbal communication
- Research
- Analysis
- Collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Negotiation
- Facilitation
- Supervision
- Team-building

Attorneys with a minimum of one year of experience practicing Arizona delinquency or dependency law, correctional law, criminal litigation, or advising an Arizona executive branch agency.

Law degree (J.D., LI.B., or LLM); currently licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona; in active status and good standing with the State Bar of Arizona.

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a comprehensive background investigation and pre-employment screenings.

Current State of Arizona employees: In order to be considered for this position, it requires acceptable performance history as demonstrated by not have been issued a letter of suspension or have been involuntarily demoted within one year preceding this job posting close date, and have an overall rating of “meets expectations” or higher on the most recent employee performance evaluation.

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function on the job. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license records checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked or suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.010).

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 an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
-Affordable medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short-term disability plans
-Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
-10 paid holidays per year
-Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
-Sick time accrued at 3:42 hours bi-weekly
-Deferred Compensation Program
-Wellness Plans

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

This position participates in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
- New membership begins the 27th week of employment
- Immediately vested in retirement contributions
- Defined Benefit
Attention current State of Arizona employees: Please contact our Human Resources Office at employment@azdjc.gov if you are in a different retirement plan than the one indicated above.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602)542-9261. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.