Attorney General's Office - Division Director - Public Protection and Fraud

The Office of the Utah Attorney General has an immediate opening for the director of its Public Protection & Fraud Division to lead a team of twenty-four attorneys and staff in counseling a sophisticated government agency and enforcing laws related to consumer protection, securities, professional licensing, and real estate.

The Office’s division represents the State of Utah and the Utah Department of Commerce in civil actions before state and federal courts, as well as in administrative proceedings. Our attorneys work to help our client, Department of Commerce, its almost 350 employees, and its subparts—the Divisions of Consumer Protection, Securities, Professional Licensing, Real Estate, Corporations and Commercial Code, and the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy—with their legal needs, mission, and enforcement actions. We also work with state Offices of Attorneys General across the United States and federal agencies to enforce and litigate consumer protection and securities actions.

Our Division’s mission is to be excellent counselors to our clients and protect Utahns by combating deception, fraud, misconduct, and unlicensed activities for the purpose of building trust in our economy and government. We are committed to serving the public interest, and we work collaboratively with our client agencies to that end.

Our team operates in the fast-paced, meaningful, and challenging world of affirmative enforcement, and works shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal and state partners. We litigate to stop the opioid crisis; challenge abusive insulin prices; halt Ticketmaster from using hidden fees and deceptive sales practices; change social media companies’ practices; drive Pornhub to bring down non-consensual and child pornography; help discipline professionals who transgress the limits of their licenses; combat abuse against elders and other vulnerable people; discontinue false advertising; and quash Ponzi schemes.

The Public Protection & Fraud division director will oversee other attorneys’ workflow, mentor others, and collaborate with client agencies to maintain our team’s high standards and meet mutual goals. We are looking for a colleague and leader with strong emotional intelligence and who is a fantastic listener, writer, and communicator; is skilled in administrative and court-based litigation; and has the skill and enthusiasm to lead a team.

Responsibilities

• Act as inside and litigation counsel for Department of Commerce and its Divisions of Consumer Protection, Securities, Professional Licensing, Real Estate, Corporations and Commercial Code, and the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy.
• Manage and guide team of attorneys and staff who represent the same clients and litigate in court and administrative forums.
• Assist and collaborate with the Office leadership and other division directors.
• Conduct all levels of civil litigation from initial intake, through investigation, administrative proceedings, pleadings, expert and fact discovery, trial, appeal, and post-judgment.
• Mentor and train attorneys, clerks, paralegals, and staff.
• Develop and enforce division policies and procedures.
• Evaluate, supervise, and mentor team members.
• Handle high-profile and complex cases.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Negotiate resolution of complex, multi-party litigation.
• Communicate, write, and listen well.
• Draft legal briefs, contracts, and memoranda.
• Advise clients and colleagues on complex issues of law and regulation related to at least consumer protection, securities, corporations, real estate, and professional licensing.
• Present on topics at conferences and panels.
• Learn new skills and practice areas as needed.
• Potential travel to various events and courts in and outside of Utah.

Qualifications

• Find representing and litigating the public’s interest rewarding.
• A curiosity to learn a wide-ranging variety of different topic areas and teams.
• Demonstrate interpersonal and management skills.
• Significant experience with management, client relations, and complex civil litigation in courts and administrative forums.
• Significant experience managing and training attorneys and staff.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize own tasks while overseeing and helping other attorneys and staff.
• Superb writing skills.
• Firm understanding of procedural rules for civil litigation in courts and administrative forums including evidentiary rules.
• Commitment to meeting the highest work-product, professionalism, and ethical standards.
• Knowledge of modern technology in the practice of law.
• A Juris Doctorate is required.
• Preference will be given to candidates with over ten years of relevant post-law school experience.

Supplemental Information

• This position is based in Salt Lake City and is primarily an in-office position.
• Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lit, heated, and ventilated, and requires a candidate to engage in, for example, safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; but there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items; driving a car, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.
• A conditional offer of employment will be made pending satisfactory completion of a background investigation.
• Must be able to travel as needed.
• Valid driver license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per Utah Code section?53-3-202(1)(a).
• Base salary ranges for each grade level are outlined below. This chart does not include the management increase applied for Division Directors ($10,000 annual) 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

  2015-Prior

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