Assistant Attorney General - Public Safety

The Highways & Utilities Division of the Utah Attorney General’s Office has an immediate opening for an attorney to provide general legal assistance and representation to the Department of Public Safety in civil litigation and administrative proceedings. This is a full-time, career service position with benefits. The position is co-located with the client at the Calvin Rampton Building, 4501 South 2700 West, Taylorsville, UT.

This position requires a minimum of five years of experience, with some prosecution background or law enforcement experience preferred.

Work will include advising and representing various DPS entities in both administrative and judicial venues, specifically including Peace Officer Standards and Training. This position requires excellent written and oral advocacy skills. Applicants must be able to provide general counsel advice to government agency clients. Knowledge of GRAMA and public ethics law is helpful. Applicants must have the experience and ability to immediately take over an existing caseload. Membership in the Utah State Bar in good standing is required.

Applicants should clearly describe in a cover letter their experience advising or representing a public agency and any history working with law enforcement agencies.

Responsibilities

• Prepares administrative enforcement cases by conducting legal research and gathering evidence.
• Provides consultation, makes recommendations, gives appropriate advice, and/or facilitates decisions.
• Determine needs in discovery, and/or complete discovery and address other needs to respond to discovery requests.
• Writes or drafts correspondence, reports, documents, administrative rules, and/or other written materials.
• Receives, researches, and responds to incoming questions or complaints; provides information, explains policy and procedures, and/or facilitates a resolution.
• Represents the state or the employing agency in lawsuits, grievances, and complaints.
• Interacts with regulatory agencies to resolve inquiries.
• Represents clients at formal or informal hearings, or administers administrative hearing processes.
• May be required to travel to various locations and stay overnight.

Qualifications

(includes knowledge, skills, and abilities required upon entry into position and trainable after entry in position)

• communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing; read and understand information presented in writing
• read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures
• speak clearly, concisely and effectively; listen to, and understand, information and ideas as presented verbally
• knowledge of legal processes and procedures
• knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures
• knowledge of civil and criminal justice laws
• understand and apply case and statutory law
• evaluate information against a set of standards
• use logic to analyze or identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts associated with information or data to draw conclusions
• knowledge of state and local government structure, laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, the democratic political process, and legislative history
• perform legal research using case law and appropriate techniques
• laws governing access to public and private records (Government Records Access and Management Act)
• make decisions and solve problems by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose quality solutions
• deal with people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism
• provide consultation and/or expert advice or testimony
• knowledge of Rules of Evidence
• interpret and apply legal decisions and identify current and emerging trends in interpretation
• knowledge of principles, theories and practices of government law and representation of government agencies

Supplemental Information

• A Juris Doctorate is required.
• Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated, e.g., safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying light items; driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.
• A conditional offer of employment will be made pending a satisfactory completion of a background investigation.
• Must be able to travel as required.
• Valid driver license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per UCA 53-3-202(1)(a).
• Active membership in the Utah State Bar required.
• Attorneys are hired at a salary consistent with their experience-level-peers in non-supervisory positions. For the purpose of starting salary calculation, experience level is based on initial Bar admittance year, less any years not practicing law. Annual salary ranges for each grade level are outlined below:
  Grade Level

  Bar Year

  Approximate Salary

  
  

  I

  2023-2025

  $121,500

  
  

  II

  2020-2022

  $127,700

  
  

  III

  2016-2019

  $134,300

  
  

  IV

  2015-Prior

  $140,900 - $180,000
  (Depending on Experience)