Assistant Attorney General - Office of Energy Development

Full Job Description

This Assistant Attorney General position is a working level position with preference given to candidates with at least eighteen months or more of legal experience. This position requires excellent written and oral advocacy skills.

The Assistant Attorney General will represent the Office of Energy Development (“OED”). Incumbents assigned to this job will represent and advise OED in all matters, including contracts, grants, statute and rule writing, statute and rule interpretation, administrative actions, litigation, and perform other duties as assigned.

Experience in natural resources law, administrative law, property law, energy law, and litigation are preferred.

Travel is required as incumbents may need to represent clients in meetings and legal proceedings throughout the State. Incumbents must practice law as an active member of the Utah State Bar in good standing.

Requirements

• 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 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 agency at formal or informal hearings and/or trials.
• Drafts administrative rules and legislation.
• 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)

• agency and/or organizational program(s) experience
• 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
• understand legal processes and procedures
• has direct experience with applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures
• knowledge of applicable civil and criminal justice laws
• understand and apply case and statutory law
• evaluate information against a set of applicable legal standards
• use logic to analyze or identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts associated with information or data to draw conclusions
• understand applicable laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, the democratic political process, and legislative history
• perform legal research using case law and appropriate techniques
• understand laws governing access to public and private records (Government Records Access and Management Act)
• understand laws governing public meetings (Open and Public Meetings 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 respect, sensitivity, tact, and professionalism
• ability to work in a team setting and effectively interact with difficult people
• provide consultation and/or expert advice or testimony
• understand rules of evidence and civil and/or criminal procedure
• interpret and apply legal decisions and identify current and emerging trends in interpretation
• direct experience with the principles, theories, and practices of judicial or administrative law

Additional 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.
• 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.

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 LevelBar YearApproximate SalaryI2023-2025$121,500II2020-2022$127,700III2016-2019$134,300IV2015-Prior$140,900 - $180,000 (Depending on Experience)