Description

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is hiring an attorney with litigation experience and a background in environmental and water law to join the Environmental Protection Unit in the Civil Division as a Special Assistant Attorney General – Litigation Director.

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 (EPU), attorneys and staff, including the Litigation Director, are expected to work closely with the Civil Litigation Division (CLD) Chief, attorneys in the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section (CPA), environmental investigators, and the Attorney General to prosecute priority actions to the fullest extent of the law where warranted.

The Litigation Director will be responsible for taking matters from inception through trial or settlement and for supervising litigation matters in the Unit, including the litigation decision making and work products of less experienced attorneys in the Unit. For all litigation matters, the Litigation Director will directly supervise Unit attorneys, providing guidance and mentoring, and annual performance evaluations with recommendations to the Unit Chief. As such, the Litigation Director must have experience in the supervision of litigation attorneys and staff.

This Litigation Director position is sponsored annually by Arizona State University School of Law (ASU Law) with the expectation of renewal upon satisfactory job evaluations and continued funding.

Why You Should Apply:

• Use your trial and legal skills to pursue creative, precedent-setting environmental impact litigation on behalf of the people of Arizona.
• Work closely with the Attorney General and other key AGO decision makers.
• Address novel and relatively untested areas of Arizona environmental, natural resource, and climate change law.
• Gain valuable experience shepherding legal matters from inception to completion.
• Advance supervision skills by overseeing the work and performance of motivated junior attorneys.
• Enjoy Competitive pay and benefits and a desirable work-life balance.

Desired Background:

• 5+ years of professional experience as a practicing attorney with preferably three years being devoted primarily to civil jury trial litigation practice
• Demonstrated ability to work in small teams
• Demonstrated legal writing ability
• Strong attention to detail
• Self-starter and deadline driven
• Passionate about environmental issues

This position is funded by ASU Law who 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 $120,000 to $133,000 (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.

Job Duties:

• Provides legal representation including advice and representation in complex cases in State and Federal court.
• Prepares legal documents, including but not limited to briefs, pleadings, and memoranda.
• Investigates; reviews documents and evidence; conducts legal research; conducts discovery; reviews and analyzes cases for trial; appears in court.
• Supervises the litigation work of junior attorneys by reviewing and approving legal analysis and strategy decisions, draft briefs, pleadings, and memoranda; assisting in settlement negotiations; and obtaining executive approval of case initiation and resolution decisions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

KNOWLDEGE

• 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, skills and abilities acquired through varied experience in civil litigation jury trial practice including complex litigation;
• Knowledge of ethical standards applicable to lawyers and public employees.

SKILLS

• Skill in persuasive oral and written communication in case presentation through various stages of litigation, including jury trial and appeal if required;
• Ability to prepare legal documents memoranda and correspondence efficiently;
• Knowledge and skills related to all phases of a civil case, including trial by jury and settlement negotiation;
• Skilled in interpersonal relationships as applied to interaction with court personnel, agency personnel, victims, and government agencies.

ABILITIES

• Ability to identify issues, analyze and articulate legal arguments, assess evidence and communicate with colleagues and executive management;
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, direct and monitor complex investigations/cases;
• Ability to apply analytical and problem-solving methods to systems and programs;
• Ability to supervise litigation decisions and work product of junior attorneys, providing mentoring and guidance encouraging teamwork through collaboration and communication;
• Ability to manage significant volume of high exposure cases;
• 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 and in providing legal advice to executive management.

Selective Preference(s):

Dedication and interest in public service.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• 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 is required (include on resume the date(s) of admission in Arizona and any other states). Candidate must have an active Arizona State Bar license.
• 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.

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 Fellows are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The selected 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. The candidate is also eligible to participate in a retirement plan. 

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

Retirement:

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

Contact Us:

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.

Requirements

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school
• Admitted to practice law in Arizona and in good standing
• Demonstrable litigation experience, appearing in federal or state civil trial court, working on teams with junior attorneys and support staff
• Experience supervising attorneys and staff and directing litigation strategy for an organization or a unit of an organization
• Experience working on environmental, natural resource, and/or climate change matters
• Must be willing to live and to work in Arizona