Assistant Attorney General (Tax and Finance Section)

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This recruitment has been reopened to develop a larger pool of candidates. If you have already applied, your application remains under consideration.

General Counsel Division, Tax and Finance Section

The Oregon Department of Justice invites applications for an Assistant Attorney General position in the General Counsel Division’s Tax and Finance Section.  This is a litigation position, based in Salem with opportunities for remote work.  The attorneys in this section represent the Department of Revenue in cases before the Oregon Tax Court.  They also provide written advice on complex statutory interpretation issues, supporting the Department’s work in administering Oregon’s tax laws.  The position offers a diverse and stimulating tax-related practice advising and representing the state’s taxing authority on emerging state and federal tax issues.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to become one of the Department of Revenue’s principal legal strategists, crafting tax arguments with precision and defending the agency’s interests in the Oregon Tax Court, occasionally elevating disputes to the Oregon Supreme Court and federal courts.  Beyond managing a litigation practice, this position requires substantial research and analysis across the full spectrum of state tax laws that guide Department of Revenue policy and practice.  Apart from the core duty of representing the Department of Revenue, the attorney in this position will provide strategic guidance to other state agencies on complex tax matters.  At times, the attorney in this position may be assigned other clients and responsibilities, with some contract and grant reviews that require diligence and nuanced legal interpretation.

True to its name, the Tax & Finance Section is one team operating in two distinct but related domains.  While both domains include representing state agencies before administrative bodies, attorneys in the Tax side primarily provide written advice to the Department of Revenue and litigate in trial and appellate courts.  Our tax work spans a rich spectrum: property tax, personal income tax, corporate income and excise taxes, corporate activity tax, and an array of other state and local revenue mechanisms.  The section’s tax attorneys wrestle daily with thorny statutory and constitutional issues, parse pending legislation, and shape agency rulemaking.  Our counterparts in the Finance side assist state agencies in drafting and approving contracts, grants, and other financing agreements.

Questions about this position should be directed to Kristen Gallino, Attorney-in-Charge, Tax and Finance Section, at kristen.gallino@doj.oregon.gov.

Required:

• Active membership and in good standing with the Oregon State Bar by the time of appointment;

• At least two (2) years of practice experience, including litigation practice experience;

• Superior analytical, advocacy, research, verbal communication, and writing skills.

• Strong work ethic;

• Excellent client counseling skills;

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with lawyers, non-lawyers, policy makers and stakeholders;

• Experience analyzing ambiguous statutes under Oregon’s interpretive framework, with the ability to provide well-reasoned legal advice and analysis that slices through legal complexities with precision;

• Aptitude for listening carefully and reading deeply. This role demands more than mere comprehension: it requires the ability to analyze how the law will be applied to the facts of our cases, communicate with scholarly accuracy and unmistakable clarity to a broad audience of lawyers and non-lawyers alike;

• Demonstrated willingness and ability to work with clients effectively, cooperatively, and on tight timelines in a moderate-volume practice;

• Demonstrated willingness and ability to work independently and manage a busy and ever-changing list of assignments while keeping managers and clients informed of the status of projects; and

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and contributing to an inclusive working environment where diverse individual experiences and perspectives are valued and supported.

Desired Experience:

• At least two (2) years of litigation practice experience and two years of tax related practice experience;

• Ability to efficiently and thoroughly understand complex statutes and case law, provide well-reasoned legal advice to clients regarding state and federal law and communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively;

• Demonstrated effectiveness as an advocate for clients in administrative, trial or appellate litigation;

• Demonstrated commitment to public service.

Applicants most closely matching the requirements and needs of the position will be invited to interview.   This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

Application Process:

• Follow the "Apply" link above.  Current State of Oregon applicants are asked to use their state-issued log-in to access and apply in Workday.  Using an external account disrupts the hiring process. 

• Attach your resume.

• Attach your cover letter.

• Attach your writing sample.

This OAJA-represented position will be filled at either the Assistant Attorney General or Senior Assistant Attorney General level, salary range $8,842.00 - $17,168.00 per month, depending primarily on years of legal practice experience and other factors. Employees who are Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) participating members will have their base salary increased by 6.95% and pay a 6% employee contribution to PERS; the salary range noted reflects base salary only.  For a partial list of our benefits, you can learn here.

ALL APPLICANTS: You will only have one opportunity to upload the required resume, cover letter, and any other required documents. Drag and drop all into Workday when prompted to upload your resume.  If you are concerned that one or both requested documents didn't attach to your application, if you need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have questions, or need assistance with the application process, please contact Oregon.govdoj.recruitment@doj.oregon.gov.  Any materials emailed will be associated on your behalf if received before the posting deadline.

CURRENT STATE EMPLOYEES: Login to Workday using your state-issued login and apply via the Jobs Hub Worklet located on your home page.  Using a private account disrupts the hiring process for all internal candidates. Prior to clicking "Apply", update your employee profile to reflect your Education, Skills, and Job History (including your current job).

Working for the Department of Justice

Assistant Attorneys General, on behalf of the Attorney General, represent the State of Oregon and state-elected and appointed officials, agencies, boards and commissions in most civil and many criminal proceedings.   The Department offers a broad range of opportunities for attorneys to work on significant and complex issues that face our state and make a difference to the citizens of Oregon while providing unparalleled career satisfaction and professional prospects.

Conduct Expectations 

The role of the Oregon Department of Justice is to provide justice and uphold the rule of law. Employees of the Department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the Department.

The Department of Justice

The Mission of the Oregon Department of Justice is to serve state government and to support safe and healthy communities throughout Oregon by providing essential justice services.   It's over 1,400 employees in nine divisions, including more than 300 lawyers, are dedicated to the rule of law and serving the people of Oregon and its government.

The Attorney General and our nine divisions are dedicated to: 

• Providing ethical, independent and high quality legal services to state government;

• Safeguarding consumers from fraud and unfair business practices;

• Fighting crime and helping crime victims; 

• Advocating for vulnerable children;

• Supporting families through the collection of child support;

• Enforcing environmental protections; 

• Defending the civil rights of all Oregonians;

• Pursuing justice and upholding the rule of law. 

Diversity is a core value of the Department of Justice and the department’s General Counsel Division.   We are working to build and maintain a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment.   Every employee expands our diversity through varied experiences and perspectives, and by contributing to the range of ways to understand and communicate with one another, identify challenges, and work cooperatively.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.  The Department of Justice is an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability, and is committed to workplace diversity.

For additional information regarding working for the Department of Justice and application assistance, click HERE.

Oregon Department of Justice
1162 Court St NE
Salem OR, 97301
DOJ.recruitment@doj.oregon.gov

Phone: (503) 947-4328
Fax: (503) 373-0367