Assistant Attorney General - Environment

The State of Utah is seeking an Assistant Attorney General for the Environment Section to represent the Department of Environmental Quality in legal matters, including hearings and litigation. Candidates should have a strong interest in environmental law and communication skills, and must be eligible for the Utah State Bar. Responsibilities include legal research, case preparation, and negotiation, with a requirement for in-person attendance and potential travel.
The State of Utah is hiring an Assistant Attorney General for the Environment Section to represent the Department of Environmental Quality in various legal matters, including hearings and litigation. Candidates should have an interest in environmental law, strong communication skills, and be eligible for membership in the Utah State Bar. Responsibilities include legal research, case preparation, and negotiation. The position requires in-person attendance and may involve travel.
Assistant Attorney General - Environment

The Environment Section of the Environment, Health, and Human Services Division of the Utah Attorney General’s Office has an opening for an attorney to represent the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”).

The responsibilities for this position includes representing the DEQ in contested administrative hearings, civil litigation, appeals, rulemaking, government records, contracts, grants and general agency advice. The primary statutes administered by the DEQ are the Water Quality Act, the Air Conservation Act, the Radiation Control Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Solid and Hazardous Waste Act, and the Underground Storage Tank Act.

A demonstrated interest in environmental, energy, and natural resources laws is important. Prior knowledge, experience or coursework in environmental compliance matters is preferred. Strong aptitude for employing negotiations to achieve administrative or judicial settlement is essential. The ability to work with scientists, engineers, enforcement specialists, and other professionals on interdisciplinary case teams is highly desirable. Applicants must have excellent written and oral communication skills.

All applicants must be a member of or eligible for membership in the Utah State Bar and be admitted or eligible for admission to practice in State courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Along with your application, please submit a cover letter explaining your interest in the position, your resume, including significant accomplishments, work experience, class rank or G.P.A., contact telephone numbers, e-mail address, the names of three references, an unofficial transcript of law school grades, and a current and substantive writing sample. A security background check is required as a condition of employment. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. The Utah Office of the Attorney General is an equal opportunity employer.
• This posting will be open until filled and may close without notice.*

Responsibilities
• Prepares 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 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, and complaints.
• Drafts litigation 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, negotiate settlements, and testify in court.
• Conducts, or represents agency at, formal or informal hearings.
• 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)
• 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
• 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 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.
• 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).
• Salary is calculated based on initial Bar admittance year, less any years not practicing law, as outlined below.

Bar Year

Base Rate

Annual (Rounded)

2022-2024

$55.62

$115,690

2019-2021

$58.62

$121,930

2012-2018

$61.71

$128,357

2007-2011

$64.89

$134,971

2002-2006

$67.98

$141,398

1997-2001

$71.07

$147,826

1992-1996

$74.16

$154,253

1987-1991

$77.25

$160,680

1982-1986

$80.34

$167,107

1977-1981

$83.43

$173,534

1976-Prior

$86.43

$179,774