ATTORNEY GENERAL (DEPT OF LAW)

Address:  2005 N CENTRAL AVE, PHOENIX, AZ  85004

Salary: $90,000-$112,000 (DOE)  

Closing Date: OPEN UNTIL FILLED

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is hiring an attorney with practice experience and a passion for environmental protection to join the Environmental Protection Unit in the Civil Division as a Special Assistant Attorney General.

Attorney General Kris Mayes has made protecting Arizona’s environment and natural resources and Arizonans’ access to sustainable water supplies top priorities in her first term. In 2024, the Arizona AGO set up a new section within its civil division to pursue challenging, cutting-edge, environmental matters based on the Attorney General’s independent authority to protect Arizona’s natural resources. Under the direction of the Chief of the Environmental Protection Unit, Unit attorneys and staff work closely with the Civil Litigation Division Chief, attorneys in the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section, civil and environmental investigators, and the Attorney General to prosecute priority actions to the fullest extent of the law where warranted.

The Special Assistant Attorney General will be overseen by the Environmental Protection Unit Chief and will work closely with the Unit’s other attorneys and other consumer protection attorneys and staff. The Special Assistant Attorney General will have ownership over the development of legal matters they initiate or work on as part of a larger team of attorneys within the Unit or from other units within the Civil Litigation Division.

This position is a one-year position sponsored by Arizona State University School of Law (ASU Law) with the expectation of renewal for a second year upon satisfactory job evaluations and for subsequent renewal on a yearly basis contingent on both satisfactory job performance and continued funding.

Why You Should Apply:
● Work closely with the Attorney General and other key AGO decision makers on cutting edge litigation.
● Address novel and untested areas of Arizona environmental, natural resource, and climate change law.
● Gain valuable experience in jury trial preparation and case management and court room experience while shepherding legal matters from inception to completion.
● Competitive pay and benefits with a desirable work-life balance.

Requirements:
● J.D. from ABA-accredited law school
● Admitted to practice law in Arizona or currently pursuing admission
● Passion for litigation of environmental, natural resource, and/or climate change cases
● Must be willing to live and to work in Arizona

Desired Background:
● 3+ years of professional experience as an attorney
● Demonstrated ability to work in small teams
● Demonstrated legal research and writing ability and litigation skills or other courtroom experience
● Strong attention to detail
● Self-starter and deadline driven
● Passionate about environmental issues
This position will be funded by ASU Law and ASU Law will pay the salary of the Fellow and provide employee benefits. Salary for this position will be based on experience and qualifications. The Annual Salary Range for this position is $90,000 to $112,000 (DOE) .

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.

• Provides legal representation including advice and representation in cases in State and Federal court relating to energy/environmental and related consumer protection cases.
• Responsible for the preparation of cases for jury trial including the drafting of legal documents, including but not limited to briefs, pleadings, discovery, and memoranda.
• Investigates; reviews documents and evidence; conducts legal research; conducts discovery; reviews and analyzes cases for trial; appears in court.
• Responds to inquiries from law enforcement and the general public.
• Attends meeting and trainings as necessary.

KNOWLEDGE
• Knowledge and understanding of applicable statutes, case law and court rules;
• Knowledge of legal techniques and the basic concepts of American Jurisprudence and of the formats utilized in the preparation of legal documents;
• Knowledge of the practical factors that impact litigation decisions and goals, including plaintiff responses, opposing counsel strategies and judicial perspectives, and victim/witness considerations;
• Knowledge of ethical standards applicable to lawyers and public employees;
• Knowledge and experience in persuasive oral and written communication pertaining to case presentation through various stages of litigation;
• Experience preparing legal documents memoranda and correspondence efficiently;
• Knowledge and experience in the development of jury trial and negotiating skills.

SKILLS
• Skilled in interpersonal relationships as applied to interaction with court personnel, agency personnel, victims, and government agencies.

ABILITIES
• Ability to identify legal issues, analyze and articulate legal arguments, assess evidence and communicate it to executive management and leadership in the Office of the Arizona Attorney General;
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, direct and monitor complex investigations/cases;
• Ability to coordinate activities with a variety of law enforcement agencies, governmental and non-governmental agencies;
• Ability to encourage teamwork through collaboration and communication;
• Ability to effectively utilize skills of subordinate staff;
• Ability to display courteous and professional behavior;
• Ability to appropriately apply professional ethical rules in daily practice;
• Ability to exercise good judgment in making strategic decisions in cases.

Dedication and interest in public service.

• Travel is required for this position. A valid Arizona Driver’s License is required, along with consent to have your driving record run periodically.
• Admission to, and good standing with, the Arizona State Bar, or willingness to pursue such admission, is required. Where the candidate has an active Arizona State Bar license, the candidate’s date of admission should be included in their application.
• Attorney applicants are required to submit a writing sample with their resume/application profile. The writing sample should contain an analysis of some substantive legal issue and provide insight concerning your ability to think and to explain and advocate for a particular position.
• All applicants under serious consideration for a fellowship with the Attorney General's Office are required to be fingerprinted by the Office and complete a criminal background check through State and Federal agencies. Your record does not automatically constitute a bar to employment. Factors such as, but not limited to, age at time of offense and age of offense, as well as the relationship between the offense and the job for which you apply will be considered.

Note: Please include a one-page cover letter describing your interest in and qualification for the position.

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).

For information regarding the medical benefits for this position, please visit ASU’s website at: https://cfo.asu.edu/medical-plans 

For information regarding retirement benefits for this position, please visit: https://cfo.asu.edu/retirement-enrollment 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources at (602) 542-8056 or email us at humanresources@azag.gov.

During all phases of the selection process, people with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting the AG’s Human Resources Office at (602) 542-8056 or via e-mail at HumanResources@azag.gov. The Arizona Office of the Attorney General does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age in its programs, activities or in its hiring and employment practices. The following division has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Operations Division, 2005 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: (602) 542-8056, Fax: (602) 542-8000.
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.