Attorney General's Office - Section Director - Securities & Real Estate

The Office of the Utah Attorney General has an immediate opening for a Section Director to manage and assist attorneys in enforcing laws related to securities and commodities trading and real estate licensing for the Utah Department of Commerce’s Divisions of Securities and Real Estate. This includes bringing civil actions before state and federal courts as well as in administrative proceedings.  

Our Division’s mission is to make Utah’s marketplace safe and healthy by combating unlawful commercial activities and building trust in our economic landscape.  We are committed to serving the public, and we work collaboratively with our client agencies to protect Utah from deceptive, unprofessional, and unlicensed activities.   

The Section Director will work under the management of the Division Director and alongside the Division’s other section directors.  The Section Director will manage their own caseload; oversee other attorneys’ workflow; assist and mentor attorneys and staff; and collaborate with client agencies to maintain our team’s high standards and meet our goals.  We are looking for a colleague who is a strong listener, writer, and communicator; is skilled in pre-trial discovery as well as trials; and has an enthusiasm for building and being part of a team.

• Manage and guide team of approximately five attorneys and staff.
• Represent and advise the Department of Commerce and its Divisions of Securities and Real Estate.
• Assist and collaborate with the Division Director.
• Conduct all levels of civil litigation from initial intake, through investigation, pleadings, expert and fact discovery, trial, appeal, and post-judgment.
• Mentor and train attorneys, clerks, paralegals, and staff. 
• Assist in developing Division policies and procedures.
• Evaluate and supervise team members.
• Handle high-profile and complex cases.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Communicate, write, and listen well.
• Advise clients and colleagues on complex issues of law and regulation related to at least Securities and Real Estate.
• Learn new skills and practice areas as needed.  
• Potentially travel to various court locations and stay overnight in and outside of Utah.

• Find representing and litigating the public’s interest rewarding.
• Demonstrate inter-personal and management skills.
• Experience with civil litigation and client management.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize own tasks while overseeing and assisting other attorneys and staff.
• Superb writing skills.
• Firm understanding of civil procedural and 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 five years of relevant post-law school experience.

• This position is based in Salt Lake City and is not suitable for a candidate seeking full-time remote work.
• Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, 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 required.
• 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 is calculated based on initial Bar admittance year, less any years not practicing law, as outlined below. The chart below does not include $5,000 annual management increase for Section Directors or any applicable grade or loyalty increases for existing employees.

  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