Assistant Attorney General - Regulatory / Environmental

The Environment Section of the Environment, Health, and Human Services Division of the Utah Attorney General’s Office has one opening for an attorney to represent the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) in a variety of complex regulatory and environmental roles involving technical and scientific fields.  

Applicants should have a minimum of four (4) years of full-time law practice experience. Applicants must also be a member of or eligible for membership in the Utah State Bar and be admitted or eligible for admission to practice in the State and Federal courts of Utah. The ideal applicant will have environmental, technical, and scientific experience and will be capable of significant case and client management.   Demonstrated written and oral communication and legal analysis skills, and a desire to learn new practice areas, are essential qualities of all applicants. Applicants should also be able to work successfully with scientists, engineers, enforcement specialists, and other technical professionals on interdisciplinary case teams.    

DEQ’s programs (Utah Code Title 19) include EPA primacy and state-based environmental programs (Water Quality, Air Quality, Solid and Hazardous Waste, Drinking Water, Petroleum Storage Tanks, Site Investigation and Remediation) as well as Agreement State Programs (Uranium Recovery, Low-Level Radioactive Waste, Radioactive Materials) through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under the Atomic Energy Act, in addition to other programs.  DEQ’s primary functions include permitting and enforcement, with associated administrative, civil, and appellate litigation.

This position presents an excellent opportunity to join the Environment Section, a collegial and collaborative team working to support DEQ’s statutory programs and functions to protect Utah’s land, air, and water. The Environment Section provides DEQ with full-service regulatory support for all DEQ programs and functions, including civil, administrative, and appellate litigation roles involving technical and scientific fields. The Environment Section is co-located with DEQ in Salt Lake City, Utah, but the position includes the option for a flexible, hybrid work environment.

Along with an application, applicants should submit a cover letter explaining their interest in the position, their resume, including significant accomplishments, work experience, class rank and 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 for all applicants 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 remain open until filled and may close without notice.*

• Providing counsel to one or more DEQ Division’s based on experience, interest, and need.
• Supporting DEQ’s administrative enforcement functions by conducting legal research and analysis, identifying and evaluating evidence, interviewing witnesses, coordinating with DEQ enforcement personnel to draft administrative notices and orders, negotiating resolutions, and preparing stipulated compliance orders.
• Supporting DEQ’s permitting functions, including assisting DEQ with contested permitting matters, including representing DEQ in internal permit appeals (administrative litigation) and subsequent state court appellate review of final DEQ permitting orders.
• Assisting DEQ and its boards in preparing, revising, and improving administrative rules, including preparing for potential appeals, under the Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
• Limited travel, including overnight stays, may be required.

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

• A minimum of four (4) years of full-time law practice.
• Familiarity with, or a proven desire and aptitude to learn, technical and scientific environmental fields regulated by DEQ, including regulatory and administrative law.
• Fundamental understanding of agency and 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 procedures.
• Speak clearly, concisely, and effectively; listen and understand information and ideas presented verbally.
• 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.
• Understanding of laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, the democratic political process, and legislative history.
• Perform legal research using case law and appropriate techniques and technology.
• Apply laws governing access to public and private records, including the 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.
• Engage with others in a manner that shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism.
• Interpret and apply legal decisions and identify current and emerging trends in interpretation.
• Understand and apply principles, theories, and practices of judicial and administrative law.

• 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). 
• 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 Level	Bar Year	Approximate Salary
  II	2020-2022	$127,700
  III	2016-2019	$134,300
  IV	2015-Prior	$140,900 - $180,000   (Depending on Experience)