ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Arizona Attorney General's Office Child and Family Protection Division/Protective Services Section (PSS) is seeking an Assistant Attorney General to assume responsibility for representation and litigation on behalf of the Department of Child Safety (DCS).This position will assume responsibility for the litigation on behalf of and representation of the Department of Child Safety (DCS). PSS attorney responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing advice on child welfare law and representing DCS in dependency, termination of parental rights, guardianship, and adoption matters statewide at the trial court level. PSS attorneys must comply with laws, rules, and office policies and procedures applicable to the performance of the job and must perform additional tasks as assigned by supervising personnel.

Job Duties:

Draft and review various legal pleadings, motions, discovery, documents and correspondence necessary to litigate dependency terminations, parental rights, guardianship and adoptions cases and meet all applicable time frames and deadlines. Prepares for and attends hearings/trials related to casework. Prepares for and attends hearings/trials related to casework. Meet with client to prepare cases. Provides counsel and advice to client on substantive issues related to child welfare. Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge and understanding of applicable case law, statutes, rules and regulations of state and federal courts.
• Knowledge of legal techniques and the basic concepts of American Jurisprudence and of the formats utilized in the preparation of legal documents.
• Oral advocacy
• Effective legal written work product, writing ability
• Legal analysis and reasoning
• Provide solid client advice; uses good judgement regarding legal advice/recommendation
• Effective case presentation trial work
• Display appropriate courtroom demeanor
• Build client relationships
• Demonstrate negotiation skills and persuasive abilities
• Utilize a problem solving approach
• Litigate using innovative techniques
• Must be able to handle a high volume of work and stressful situations

Selective Preference(s):

A Juris Doctorate Degree and Admission to the State Bar of Arizona.

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.
• 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 hire 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. A job offer cannot be tendered until the candidate has successfully passed the initial background check. 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 taken into account.

Benefits:

The Attorney General's Office offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
Sick leave
Vacation with 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

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

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.

Contact Us:

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.