SPECIAL ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL-SENIOR LITIGATION COUNSEL (FELLOWSHIP)

Job Summary:
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is hiring an attorney with litigation experience, a background in water law, and a passion for protecting Arizona’s natural resources for a two-year fellowship.

Attorney General Kris Mayes has made protecting Arizona’s environment and natural resources, as well as protecting public health and safety, one of the top priorities in her first term. The Arizona AGO is setting 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. The new section will work closely with the civil division chief, environmental investigators, and the Attorney General to prosecute priority actions to the fullest extent of the law where warranted.

The Senior Litigation Fellow will be responsible for taking matters from inception through trial or through settlement. The selected candidate, licensed in Arizona, may appear in federal and state civil trial court and in administrative hearings, working on teams with junior attorneys and support staff. The Senior Litigation Fellow will also mentor other, more junior attorneys on the team and supervise the work product of support staff .

This Senior Litigation Fellow position is a two-year fellowship position sponsored by the New York University School of Law State Energy & Environmental Impact Center (State Impact Center). The fellowship may be extended, contingent on funding.

Why You Should Apply:
● Work closely with the Attorney General and other key AGO decision makers early in your career
● 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
● Competitive pay and benefits, and a desirable work-life balance

Requirements:
● J.D. from ABA-accredited law school
● Admitted to practice law in Arizona, or willing to pursue admission within six months of hiring
● Experience working on environmental, natural resource, and/or climate change matters
● 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 writing ability
● Strong attention to detail
● Self-starter and deadline driven
● Passionate about environmental issues and holding major polluters accountable

This position will be funded by the New York University School of Law, and the NYU School of Law will pay the salary of the Fellows and provide employee benefits. Salary for this position will be based on experience and qualifications.

The successful candidates 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 benefits for this fellowship, please visit NYU’s website at: https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/professional-research-staff/benefits-guide-2024.html

For more information regarding the fellowship program, please visit NYU’s website at: https://stateimpactcenter.org/about/fellows-program/

Annual Salary Range is $125,000.00 to $145,000.00 (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; interviews clients; 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, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
• 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 financial considerations for the state;
• Knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through lengthy and varied experience in legal practice, especially in complex litigation;
• Knowledge of ethical standards applicable to lawyers and public employees.
• Skill in persuasive oral and written communication pertaining to case presentation through various stages of representation, including litigation through trial and appeal if required;
• Prepare legal documents memoranda and correspondence efficiently;
• Skills include legal and factual issue
• Trial skills and negotiating skills.
• Skilled in interpersonal relationships as applied to interaction with court personnel, agency personnel, victims, and government agencies.
• Ability to identify issues, analyze and articulate legal arguments, assess evidence and communicate it to the client;
• 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 apply analytical and problem-solving methods to systems and programs.
• Ability to encourage 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 clients;

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.

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

Benefits:
For information regarding benefits for this fellowship, please visit NYU’s website at: https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/professional-research-staff/benefits-guide-2024.html

Retirement:
For information regarding benefits for this fellowship, please visit NYU’s website at: https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/professional-research-staff/benefits-guide-2024.html

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.
Arizona Attorney General’s Office