Assistant Solicitor General/Section Director - Federalism and Strategic Litigation

The Utah Office of the Attorney General has an immediate opening for an experienced attorney to serve as an Assistant Solicitor General and Director of the Federalism and Strategic Litigation Section. This section focuses on prosecuting and defending Utah’s federalism interests and other matters and issues involving the strategic interests of Utah and the Office of the Utah Attorney General. The section’s work may also involve amicus briefing in multi-state cases and assisting with other high stakes litigation matters.

The ideal candidate is an experienced attorney capable of handling all aspects of district court litigation, particularly preliminary injunction proceedings, discovery, and substantive briefing in complex matters. Applicants should possess excellent written and oral advocacy skills and should have the experience and ability to independently maintain a caseload. Membership in the Utah State Bar in good standing is required.

Responsibilities

• Leads the Federalism and Strategic Litigation Section
• Prepares cases by conducting legal research and gathering evidence.
• Provides consultation, makes recommendations, gives appropriate advice, and/or facilitates decisions.
• Determines discovery needs, and/or completes discovery; participates in decision making and strategy sessions in preparing cases for court and determining evidence to be used.
• Writes or drafts correspondence, reports, documents 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, government official, or the employing agency in lawsuits, grievances, negotiations, complaints and/or other matters.
• Drafts working documents; prepares documents consisting of concise decisions based upon facts of case interpretations of law and compliance with state and federal standards.
• Conducts conferences with defendants and/or attorneys, negotiates settlements, and testifies in court.
• Conducts, or represents the Office at formal or informal hearings and/or trials.
• May be required to travel to various court locations and stay overnight.

Qualifications

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

• Constitutional and administrative law and litigation
• 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
• legal processes and procedures
• applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures
• 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
• 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 a decision or solve a problem 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
• rules of evidence and civil and/or criminal procedure
• interpret and apply legal decisions and identify current and emerging trends in interpretation
• principles, theories, and practices of judicial or administrative law

Supplemental Information

• A Juris Doctor 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.
• Where statute mandates, active membership in the Utah State Bar.
• 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).
• Attorneys are hired at a salary consistent with their experience-level-peers. For the purpose of starting salary calculation, experience level is based on initial Bar admittance year, less any years not practicing law. Base salary ranges for each grade level are outlined below, and do not include $5,000 annual management increase for Section Directors or any applicable grade or loyalty increases for existing employees.
  Grade Level

  Bar Year

  Approximate Salary
  

  
  

  I

  2023-2025

  $121,500

  
  

  II

  2020-2022

  $127,700

  
  

  III

  2016-2019

  $134,300

  
  

  IV

  2006-2015

  $140,900 - $147,900

  
  

  IV

  1996-2005

  $147,900 - $161,000

  
  

  IV

  1995-Prior

  $161,000 - $175,000