Attorney General's Office - Division Director - Consumer Protection

The Office of the Utah Attorney General has an immediate opening for the Director of its Consumer Protection Division to manage and assist a team of attorneys and staff in enforcing laws related to consumer protection, securities, professional licensing, and real estate.  

The Office’s division represents the State of Utah and the Utah Department of Commerce in civil actions before state and federal courts, as well as in administrative proceedings.  Our attorneys work with our client agency Department of Commerce and its subparts—the Divisions of Consumer Protection, Securities, Professional Licensing, Real Estate—in developing cases and executing litigation strategies.  We also work with state Offices of Attorneys General across the United States and federal agencies to enforce and litigate consumer protection laws with nationwide impact. 

Our Division’s mission is to make Utah’s marketplace safe and healthy by combating unlawful commercial activities and building trust in our economic landscape.  We are committed to serving the public, and we work collaboratively with our client agencies to protect Utah from deceptive, unprofessional, and unlicensed activities.   Our team is on the front line of Utah’s litigation over the opioid crisis, pharmaceutical drug pricing, addictive and harmful social media services, elder abuse, false advertising, Ponzi schemes, and other deceptive, unlicensed, and unconscionable trade practices within this state and across the nation.  

The Division Director will maintain a caseload, review and manage budget, supervise section directors and attorneys, aid and mentor attorneys, and collaborate with client agencies to maintain our team’s high standards.  We are looking for a colleague and leader who is a strong listener, writer, and communicator; is skilled in pre-trial discovery as well as trials; and has an enthusiasm for building and being part of a team.

• Manage and guide team of attorneys and staff.
• Represent and advise Department of Commerce and its Divisions of Consumer Protection, Securities, Professional Licensing, Real Estate, and Corporations and Commercial Code.
• Assist and collaborate with the Office leadership and other Division Directors.
• Conduct all levels of civil litigation from initial intake, through investigation, pleadings, expert and fact discovery, trial, appeal, and post-judgment.
• Mentor and train attorneys, clerks, paralegals, and staff. 
• Develop and enforce division policies and procedures.
• Evaluate and supervise team members.
• Handle high-profile and complex cases.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Negotiate resolution of complex, multi-party litigation.
• Communicate, write, and listen well.
• Draft legal briefs, contracts, and memoranda. 
• Advise clients and colleagues on complex issues of law and regulation related to at least consumer protection, securities, corporations,real estate, and professional licensing.
• Present on topics at conferences and panels.
• Learn new skills and practice areas as needed.  
• Potential travel to various events and courts in and outside of Utah.

• Find representing and litigating the public’s interest rewarding.
• Demonstrate inter-personal and management skills.
• Significant experience with complex civil litigation and client management.
• Significant experience managing and training attorneys and staff. 
• Ability to work independently and prioritize own tasks while overseeing and helping other attorneys and staff.
• Superb writing skills.
• Firm understanding of civil procedural and evidentiary rules.
• Commitment to meeting the highest work-product, professionalism, and ethical standards.
• Knowledge of modern technology in the practice of law.
• A Juris Doctorate is required. Candidate must be licensed to practice law in Utah or will be licensed in Utah quickly.
• Preference will be given to candidates with over ten years of relevant post-law school experience.

• This position is based in Salt Lake City and is not suitable for a candidate seeking remote work.
• Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated, and requires a candidate to engage in, for example, safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; but there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items; driving a car, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.
• A conditional offer of employment will be made pending satisfactory completion of a background investigation.
• Must be able to travel in and out of state approximately two-to-four times a year. 
• Valid driver license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway per Utah Code section 53-3-202(1)(a). 
• Active membership in the Utah State Bar is required.
• Base salary is calculated based on initial Bar admittance year, less any years not practicing law, as outlined below. Base salary listed below does not include $10,000 annual management increase for Division Directors or any applicable grade or loyalty increases for existing employees.

  Bar Year	Base Rate	Annual (Rounded)
  2022-2024	$55.62	$115,690
  2019-2021	$58.62	$121,930
  2012-2018	$61.71	$128,357
  2007-2011	$64.89	$134,971
  2002-2006	$67.98	$141,398
  1997-2001	$71.07	$147,826
  1992-1996	$74.16	$154,253
  1987-1991	$77.25	$160,680
  1982-1986	$80.34	$167,107
  1977-1981	$83.43	$173,534
  1976-Prior	$86.43	$179,774