Staff Attorney

Are you driven to apply your legal expertise in a pioneering environment? Do you envision yourself creating the legal framework for a vital new public service? Ready to launch a brand-new office as a key member of its founding team? Take the next step in your career and apply for our Staff Attorney position at the Utah Department of Commerce!

*Throughout the launch process, telework will not be available for this position. Once the office is up and running, at the discretion of the Director, up to 3 days of telework may be approved if eligibility requirements are met.  

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

The Office of the Homeowners' Association Ombudsman is a brand-new division within the Department of Commerce. In this position, you will work with the Director to establish the office and introduce it to the public. In this position, you will be asked to develop and maintain expertise in and understanding of issues and statutes impacting unit owners, lot owners, and their associations. 

Duties will include, but not be limited to, the following: 

• Analyzing complaints from lot owners, unit owners, or their associations. 

• Providing advisory opinions based on analysis in accordance with state law. 

• Assisting the Director in identifying trends and potential policy issues. 

• Occasionally assisting with trainings for industry stakeholders and the general public. 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

We are looking for a professional who can be described as: 

• Having initiative and being a self-starter. 

• Being a strategic thinker. 

• Professional and diplomatic. 

• Having excellent project management skills.

• Adaptable. 

• A team player who can collaborate with all levels of an organization. 

• Having the ability to explain complex legal concepts in easily understandable terms to diverse audiences. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor. 

• Active membership in the Utah State Bar in good standing.

PREFERRED

• 3+ years professional knowledge and or experience with community association law. 

• The willingness and ability to travel throughout Utah for trainings, as instructed by the Director.

• Experience drafting legal opinions.

• Experience with legal research.

• Experience communicating directly with clients.

• Experience simultaneously managing multiple work streams.

AGENCY

The Department of Commerce is the licensing and registration agency for Utah's professional and business community.  We provide oversight of business registrations, trademarks, Uniform Commercial Code filings, professional licensing, consumer protection, public utilities, securities, real estate, and residential mortgage lending.

You can learn more about our agency by visiting our website.

BENEFITS

This position is eligible for a rich benefits package, generous paid time off, and a great work-life balance. You can learn more about the offered benefits here.

• Health Insurance - Public Employee Health Program (PEHP):

  • 3 medical plan options. Choose a Traditional or High Deductible Health Plan. There is an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other medical insurance coverage.

  • 5 dental plan options, with an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other dental insurance coverage.

  • 4 vision plan options under EyeMed or OptiCare

• Retirement - Utah Retirement Systems (URS):

  • Employees who have any service credit with an employer covered by the Utah Retirement Systems prior to 7/1/2011 are in the Tier I Public Employees System.

  • Employees hired on or after 7/1/2011 and who have never been in the URS retirement system have two options for retirement in the Tier II System. 

    • Tier 2 Hybrid Retirement System. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary between both plans (pension and 401(k))

    • Tier 2 Defined Contribution Plan. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary to a 401(k) plan only.  

  • Employer contributions to your 401(k) are vested after four years.

• Paid Time Off:

  • Annual leave and sick leave are accrued at 4 hours per pay period each (4 hours annual, 4 hours sick).

  • Annual leave amounts increase with years of service. 

  • We have 12 paid holidays.

(Includes knowledge, skills, and abilities required upon entry into position and trainable after entry into position.)

• Knowledge of principles of community association law.

• Outstanding writing skills.

• Outstanding legal research and reasoning skills.

• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to show sensitivity, tact and professionalism.

• The ability to prepare and give effective public presentations and seminars.

• The ability to communicate effectively by telephone.

• The ability to communicate with difficult people.

• The ability to manage a heavy caseload, and assist in other activities as needed to help run a small state office.

• The ability to approach disputes free from bias and to arrive at fair conclusions supported by the rule of law.  

• The ability to diffuse interpersonal tension in controversial or contentious matters.

• As a part of the interview process, you may be asked to participate in a writing exercise.

• State of Utah Job: Legal / Enforcement Counsel III (#85012). 

• Please note, a position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.

• In this position, you are not required to respond to situations involving threats to public safety or perform duties that consist of actively preventing or detecting crime, or perform duties that primarily provide community protection, and you do not obtain warrants of arrest.

• Effective July 1, 2021, in-state work rules require all work to be performed while physically within the state’s borders.

• We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

• As a condition of employment with the Department of Commerce, employees shall receive compensatory time off in lieu of payment in cash for all overtime worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

• Valid driver's license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per Utah Code  § 53-3-202(1)(a).

• Work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) or similar activities.