Description:
Job Summary:The Arizona Attorney General's Office (AGO) is hiring an attorney with demonstrated passion for environmental protection and climate action. The fellowship term is 2 years.
Attorney General Kris Mayes has made protecting Arizona's environment and natural resources, as well as protecting public health and safety, one of the top priorities in her first term. The AGO is establishing a new section within its civil litigation division to pursue challenging, cutting-edge, environmental matters. This new section will work closely with the civil litigation division chief, environmental investigators, and the Attorney General to prosecute priority actions to the fullest extent of the law where warranted.
The Environmental Fellow will be overseen by the Environmental Protection Unit Chief and will have considerable ownership over the development of legal matters the new section pursues. Environmental Fellows, licensed in Arizona, may appear in court or in administrative proceedings and will receive mentorship from the Unit Chief.
The Environmental Fellow position is a two-year fellowship sponsored by the New York University School of Law State Energy & Environmental Impact Center (State Impact Center). The fellowship may be extended, contingent on funding.
Why You Should Apply:
- Work closely with the Attorney General and other key AGO decision makers early in your career
- Address novel and relatively untested areas of Arizona environmental, natural resource, and climate change law
- Gain valuable experience shepherding legal matters from inception to completion
- Competitive pay and benefits, and a desirable work-life balance
Requirements:
- J.D. from ABA-accredited law school (exceptional class of 2024 graduates will be considered)
- Admitted to practice law in Arizona, or willing to pursue admission upon hiring
- Experience working on environmental, natural resource, and/or climate change matters
- Must be willing to live and to work in Arizona
Desired Background:
- 3+ years of professional experience as an attorney
- Demonstrated ability to work in small teams
- Demonstrated legal writing ability and/or clerkship experience
- Strong attention to detail
- Self-starter and deadline driven
- Passionate about environmental issues and holding major polluters accountable
This position will be funded by the New York University School of Law, and the NYU School of Law will pay the salary of the Fellow and provide employee benefits. Salary for this position will be based on experience and qualifications.
Job Duties:
- Provides legal representation including advice and representation in complex cases in State and Federal court.
- Prepares legal documents, including but not limited to briefs, pleadings, and memoranda.
- Investigates; interviews clients; reviews documents and evidence; conducts legal research; conducts discovery; reviews and analyzes cases for trial; appears in court
- Responds to inquiries from law enforcement and the general public.
- Attends meeting and trainings as necessary.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
- Knowledge and understanding of applicable statutes, case law and court rules;
- Knowledge of legal techniques and the basic concepts of American Jurisprudence and of the formats utilized in the preparation of legal documents;
- Knowledge of the practical factors that impact litigation decisions and goals, including plaintiff responses, opposing counsel strategies and judicial perspectives, and victim/witness considerations;
- Knowledge of financial considerations for the state;
- Knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through lengthy and varied experience in legal practice, especially in complex litigation;
- Knowledge of ethical standards applicable to lawyers and public employees.
- Skill in persuasive oral and written communication pertaining to case presentation through various stages of representation, including litigation through trial and appeal if required;
- Prepare legal documents memoranda and correspondence efficiently;
- Skills include legal and factual issue
- Trial skills and negotiating skills.
- Skilled in interpersonal relationships as applied to interaction with court personnel, agency personnel, victims, and government agencies.
- Ability to identify issues, analyze and articulate legal arguments, assess evidence and communicate it to the client;
- Ability to effectively plan, organize, direct and monitor complex investigations/cases.
- Ability to coordinate activities with a variety of law enforcement agencies, governmental and non-governmental agencies.
- Ability to apply analytical and problem-solving methods to systems and programs.
- Ability to encourage teamwork through collaboration and communication.
- Ability to manage significant volume of high exposure cases;
- Ability to effectively utilize skills of subordinate staff;
- Ability to display courteous and professional behavior;
- Ability to appropriately apply professional ethical rules in daily practice;
- Ability to exercise good judgment in making strategic decisions in cases and in providing legal advice to clients;