Assistant Counsel – Officer III

The Administrative Services Division of the Arizona Supreme Court is seeking an experienced attorney with a thorough understanding of administrative law, Arizona court rules and procedures, and federal law applicable to state government operations.

The Assistant Counsel is part of a Legal Services team dedicated to supporting the Chief Justice’s strategic agenda and the administrative management of the Arizona court system by providing the highest quality in-house counsel services to the Administrative Director of the courts and the staff of assigned divisions of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

This position will recommend, draft, and review administrative orders, court rules, administrative code provisions, policies and procedures to assure legality and clarity; advise Executive Management, court staff, and judicial department boards and committees regarding legal issues related to their duties; maintain legally correct standard form contracts; provide training and assistance concerning preparation of contracts and reviews; and approve contracts, grant agreements, and intergovernmental agreements.

This position will also identify the need for legislation; coordinate with the Office of the Attorney General where legal representation is needed for litigation; represent the Supreme Court in relation to the state departments and agencies and other entities doing business with the courts; and respond as requested by Arizona judges and court staff to legal issues regarding the application of law, court rules and administrative code provisions to court operations.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid-telework schedule once the employee has completed three (3) months of employment and has sufficiently proved their ability to perform assigned tasks.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program qualified employer.

Salary

• Up to $100,000 annualized, DOE

Qualifications

This position requires:

• A juris doctorate from an ABA accredited law school, membership in the State Bar of Arizona or eligible for licensure through the Government Law Admission Program, and at least three years of experience as a member of the bar employed or retained by a large public or private organization. Other relevant experience may be considered to fulfill the three-year requirement.
• Thorough understanding of the application of the Arizona Constitution, Arizona Revised Statutes, the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration, Arizona Rules of Court, Supreme Court administrative orders, Arizona common law, and federal law applicable to the state government operations.
• Excellent legal research and writing, oral and written advocacy, project management, group process, statutory, court rule, policy and contract drafting, basic computer, planning, and organizational skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of fundamental legal principles and their application, particularly legal principles affecting the operation of government, specifically the court system.
• The ability to distinguish legal issues and advice from policy issues and advice; to analyze difficult and complex legal problems and to apply legal principles and precedents to particular sets of facts; to clearly identify and explain inconsistency with law and its significance and propose corrective options; to organize ideas and present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically in written and oral form; and to analyze and draft highly complex contracts, reports, legislation, rules, legal memoranda and policy proposals.

The preferred candidate will have at least ten years’ experience as a member of the bar, employed in court administration, or performing in-house counsel duties.

Travel level: up to 5%.

Other Information

This position is eligible for an employee referral incentive payment of $1,000.00 (conditions apply).
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Only applicants whose backgrounds most closely meet the needs of the position may be invited to interview. Requests for a special accommodation to participate in the interview process should be made at the time you are contacted to schedule an interview. The Selection Process may include first and/or second-round panel interviews. This is a Regular, Full-time, Exempt position.

Benefits

The Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Accrued vacation pay and sick leave
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
• By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. The Court may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Retirement

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

The Arizona Supreme Court is an EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.