Local recruitment: Assistant Attorney General - Water Rights

• Salary: $55.62 – $86.43 Hourly
• Location: Salt Lake County, UT
• Job Type: Full Time
• Job Number: 45315
• Agency: 080 Attorney General
• Unit: 8402 Natural Resources – Water
• Opening Date: 06/06/2025
• Closing Date: 6/16/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
• FLSA: Exempt
• Recruiter: Ally Aldrich
• # of Openings: 1
• Location: 1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84114
• Schedule Code: AG – Employees at the Attorney General’s Office.
• Background Check: You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
• Schedule Code Description: This is a full-time career service eligible position upon successful completion of a 12-month probationary period.
• Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package. See benefits tab below for details.
• Driver License Requirements: Employees hired for this recruitment will be subject to the Driver Eligibility standards found at the following link: https://adminrules.utah.gov/public/search/driver%20eligibility/Current%20Rules
• EEO Statement: The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, dial 711 or TTY: 800-346-4128.

Job Description

Assistant Attorney General – Division of Water Rights

The Utah Office of the Attorney General, Natural Resources Division, has an immediate opening for an attorney to represent the Utah State Engineer and the Division of Water Rights.

The position involves advising the Division of Water Rights and the Utah State Engineer on a variety of issues including matters of policy, legislation, rulemaking, interagency coordination, interstate support, and litigation support. The successful candidate will assist the Division in carrying out general stream adjudications, including resolving objections and other litigation in district court. The candidate will also assist the Division with its enforcement program, which includes handling enforcement proceedings before an administrative presiding officer and before the Utah district court.

The ideal candidate will have substantive knowledge of western water law, familiarity with other areas of natural resources law and policy, excellent written and oral advocacy skills, the ability to communicate ideas and information clearly and concisely, experience with administrative proceedings and litigation, and the ability to work well as part of a team. Experience with the Utah State Engineer’s Office is a plus.

Applicants with five or more years of experience are preferred. The successful candidate must be a member in good standing of the Utah State Bar or a member of another state bar with the ability to become a member of the Utah State Bar within a reasonable timeframe. Background checks are completed as a condition of employment. Travel may be required. This position is based in Salt Lake City.  

Responsibilities

• Provides consultation, makes recommendations, gives appropriate advice, and facilitates decisions.
• Represents the state or the agency in administrative enforcement actions and enforcement and other litigation in state and federal courts.
• Prepares cases by conducting legal research and gathering evidence.
• Determines discovery needs, and/or completes discovery and participates in decision making and strategy sessions in preparing cases for court and determining evidence to be used.
• Writes or drafts correspondence, reports, documents and/or other written materials.
• Receives, researches, and responds to incoming questions or complaints, provides information, explains policy and procedures, and/or facilitates a resolution.
• Represents the state or the agency in lawsuits, grievances, negotiations, complaints and/or other matters.
• Drafts working documents, prepares documents consisting of concise decisions based upon facts of case interpretations of law and compliance with state and federal standards.
• Conducts conferences with defendants and/or attorneys and negotiates settlements. 
• Conducts or represents the agency at formal or informal administrative hearings and/or trials.
• Drafts administrative rules and legislation.
• May be required to travel to various locations throughout the state and stay overnight.

Qualifications

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

• agency and/or organizational program(s) experience
• communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing, and read and understand information presented in writing
• read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures
• speak clearly, concisely and effectively, and listen to, and understand, information and ideas as presented verbally
• understand legal processes and procedures
• has direct experience with applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures
• knowledge of applicable civil and criminal justice laws
• understand and apply case and statutory law
• evaluate information against a set of applicable legal standards
• use logic to analyze or identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts associated with information or data to draw conclusions
• understand applicable laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, the democratic political process, and legislative history
• perform legal research using case law and appropriate techniques
• understand laws governing access to public and private records (Government Records Access and Management Act)
• understand laws governing public meetings (Open and Public Meetings Act)
• make a decision or solve a problem by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose quality solutions
• deal with people in a manner which shows respect, sensitivity, tact, and professionalism
• ability to work in a team setting and effectively interact with difficult people
• understand rules of evidence and civil and/or criminal procedure
• interpret and apply legal decisions and identify current and emerging trends in interpretation
• direct experience with the principles, theories, and practices of judicial or administrative law

Supplemental Information

• 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.
• Active membership in the Utah State Bar.
• Must be able to travel as required.
• Valid driver’s license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per UCA 53-3-202(1)(a).
• Salary is calculated based on initial Bar admittance year, less any years not practicing law, as outlined below. 

Employer: State of Utah

Address: 4315 S. 2700 W., Suite 2100, Taylorsville, Utah, 84129

Website: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/utah