SPECIAL ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL-SENIOR LITIGATION COUNSEL (FELLOWSHIP)

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is seeking an attorney with litigation experience and an interest in administrative law, including environmental and natural resource matters. The attorney will work in the Special Litigation Section of the Solicitor General’s Office.

Attorney General Kris Mayes – through her Solicitor General’s Office’s Special Litigation Section – has been actively involved in litigation to hold the federal government accountable. Many of those efforts are directed at combatting attempts to dismantle the administrative state. The attorneys in the Special Litigation Section work on a wide variety of matters in this area, in coordination with attorneys from many other states. Attorneys in the Special Litigation Section also work on a very wide variety of other matters directly impacting Arizonans, including the drafting of Attorney General opinions and litigation of complex constitutional issues.

Accordingly, the Senior Litigation Fellow will be responsible for a wide variety of matters. In particular the Fellow will work directly on many national, multi-state litigation matters. The Fellow may also work on other matters in the Special Litigation Section. The Fellow may appear in trial or appellate courts in Arizona and elsewhere. The Senior Litigation Fellow will also mentor other, more junior attorneys on the team and supervise the work product of support staff.

This Senior Litigation Fellow position is a two-year fellowship position sponsored by the New York University School of Law State Energy & Environmental Impact Center (State Impact Center). The fellowship may be extended, contingent on funding. The non-partisan State Impact Center supports state attorneys general in defending and promoting clean energy, climate, and environmental laws and policies. More information about the State Impact Center can be found at https://stateimpactcenter.org/ The fellow will work solely under the direction of the AGO during the fellowship.

Why you Should Apply:
• Work closely with the Attorney General and other key AGO decision makers.
• Work on matters of statewide and national public importance.
• Gain valuable experience shepherding legal matters from inception to completion.

Requirements:
• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school
• Admission to, and good standing with, the Arizona State Bar is required (include on resume the date(s) of admission in Arizona and any other states). Candidate must have an active Arizona State Bar license or be willing to pursue admission immediately after being hired.
• Must be willing to live and to work in Arizona
• See below for additional pre-employment requirements

Desired Background:
• 6+ years of professional experience as an attorney
• Demonstrated ability to work in small teams
• Demonstrated legal writing ability
• Strong attention to detail
• Self-starter and deadline driven

This position will be funded by the New York University School of Law, and the NYU School of Law will pay the salary of the Fellows and provide employee benefits. Salary for this position will be based on experience and qualifications. For more information regarding this fellowship program, please visit NYU’s website at: https://stateimpactcenter.org/about/fellows-program .

Annual Salary Range is $110,000 to $145,000 (DOE)

This position may be eligible for Remote Work up to two days a week based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

Duties

• Provides legal representation including advice and representation in complex cases in State and Federal court.
• Prepares legal documents, including but not limited to briefs, pleadings, and memoranda.
• Coordinates with attorneys and staff in other parts of the Attorney General’s Office, other parts of state government, and outside stakeholders.
• Attends meetings and trainings as necessary.

Salary

• $110,000 to $145,000 (DOE)

Qualifications

KNOWLDEGE
• Knowledge and understanding of applicable statutes, case law and court rules;
• Knowledge of legal techniques and the basic concepts of American Jurisprudence and of the formats utilized in the preparation of legal documents;
• Knowledge of the practical factors that impact litigation decisions and goals, including plaintiff responses, opposing counsel strategies and judicial perspectives, and victim/witness considerations;
• Knowledge of financial considerations for the state;
• Knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through lengthy and varied experience in legal practice, especially in complex litigation;
• Knowledge of ethical standards applicable to lawyers and public employees.

SKILLS
• Skill in persuasive oral and written communication pertaining to case presentation through various stages of representation, including litigation through trial and appeal if required;
• Prepare legal documents memoranda and correspondence efficiently;
• Trial skills and negotiating skills;
• Skilled in interpersonal relationships as applied to interaction with court personnel, agency personnel, and government agencies.

ABILITIES
• Ability to identify issues, analyze and articulate legal arguments, assess evidence and communicate it to the client;
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, direct and monitor complex investigations/cases;
• Ability to coordinate activities with a variety of governmental and non-governmental agencies;
• Ability to apply analytical and problem-solving methods to systems and programs;
• Ability to encourage teamwork through collaboration and communication;
• Ability to manage significant volume of high exposure cases;
• Ability to effectively utilize skills of subordinate staff;
• Ability to display courteous and professional behavior;
• Ability to appropriately apply professional ethical rules in daily practice;
• Ability to exercise good judgment in making strategic decisions in cases and in providing legal advice to clients.

Selective Preference(s)

Dedication and interest in public service.

Other Information

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Travel is required for this position. A valid Arizona Driver’s License is required, along with consent to have your driving record run periodically.
• Admission to, and good standing with, the Arizona State Bar is required (include on resume the date(s) of admission in Arizona and any other states). Candidate must have an active Arizona State Bar license or be willing to pursue admission immediately after being hired.
• Attorney applicants are required to submit a writing sample with their resume/application profile. The writing sample should contain an analysis of some substantive legal issue and provide insight concerning your ability to think and to explain and advocate for a particular position.
• All applicants under serious consideration for a fellowship with the Attorney General's Office are required to be fingerprinted by the Office and complete a criminal background check through State and Federal agencies. Your record does not automatically constitute a bar to employment. Factors such as, but not limited to, age at time of offense and age of offense, as well as the relationship between the offense and the job for which you apply will be considered.

Note: Please include a one-page cover letter describing your interest in and qualification for the position.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All fellows are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

How to Apply

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources at (602) 542-8056 or email us at humanresources@azag.gov.

During all phases of the selection process, people with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting the AG’s Human Resources Office at (602) 542-8056 or via e-mail at HumanResources@azag.gov. The Arizona Office of the Attorney General does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age in its programs, activities or in its hiring and employment practices. The following division has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Operations Division, 2005 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: (602) 542-8056, Fax: (602) 542-8000.

Benefits

The selected candidate will be eligible for subsidized health benefits (medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage) and life insurance; leave, including annual (vacation), personal, sick, and paid parental leave. The candidate is also eligible to participate in a retirement plan. For more information about benefits for this fellowship, please visit NYU’s website at: https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/administrators-professionals/benefits-guide-2025.html

Retirement

Refer to the benefits section.