Closing Date: 11th April, 2024
Description:
The Utah Office of the Attorney General, Natural Resources Division, has an immediate opening for an attorney to represent the Utah Division of Water Rights in the general stream adjudications that are underway in district courts throughout the State.The position involves advising the Division of Water Rights on general adjudication matters and working on existing water right adjudication cases including federal reserved water right issues and matters, and performing other related tasks.
The ideal applicant will have knowledge of water law and practice, excellent written and oral advocacy skills, the ability to communicate ideas and information clearly and concisely, and the ability to work well with others as part of a team.
The successful candidate must be a member in good standing of the Utah State Bar Association. Background checks are completed as a condition of employment. Travel may be required to represent the State Engineer's interests in proceeding through the States.
Example of Duties:
- Prepares cases by conducting legal research and gathering evidence.
- Provides consultation, makes recommendations, gives appropriate advice, and/or facilitates decisions.
- Determine needs in discovery, and/or completes discovery; 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 employing agency in lawsuits, grievances, and complaints.
- Drafts litigation 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, negotiate settlements, and testify in court.
- Conducts, or represents agency at, formal or informal hearings.
- May be required to travel to various court locations and stay overnight.
Typical Qualifications:
(includes knowledge, skills, and abilities required upon entry into position and trainable after entry into position)
- agency and/or organizational program(s)
- communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing; read and understand information presented in writing
- read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures
- speak clearly, concisely and effectively; listen to, and understand, information and ideas as presented verbally
- legal processes and procedures
- applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures
- civil and criminal justice laws
- understand and apply case and statutory law
- evaluate information against a set of standards
- use logic to analyze or identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts associated with information or data to draw conclusions
- laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, the democratic political process, and legislative history
- perform legal research using case law and appropriate techniques
- laws governing access to public and private records (Government Records Access and Management 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 sensitivity, tact, and professionalism
- provide consultation and/or expert advice or testimony
- rules of evidence
- interpret and apply legal decisions and identify current and emerging trends in interpretation
- 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).