UTah Attorney General's Office - Assistant Attorney General – Civil Rights
The Civil Rights Section of the Litigation Division of the Utah Attorney General's Office seeks an attorney to represent state employees, state agencies, school districts and universities in civil rights litigation.
The Civil Rights Section defends complex and cutting-edge civil rights litigation against state entities and employees. Its employees also collaborate with state agencies and educational institutions’ counsel, train state employees about the constitutional limits on their jobs, advise clients on changes to policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal civil rights mandates, and occasionally collaborate with state-level decision-makers when policies implicate constitutional concerns.
The successful applicant should anticipate litigating novel claims in areas such as the First Amendment, Title IX, state constitutional law claims, and qualified immunity. Typical caseloads may include defense of Universities and school districts in Title IX and ADA claims; defense of corrections officers in Eighth Amendment claims; defense of Utah Highway Patrol Troopers in Fourth Amendment excessive force and illegal search and seizure cases; and defense of other agencies and their employees in First Amendment, Equal Protection, and Due Process claims and other complex litigation matters.
The successful applicant must possess excellent written and oral advocacy skills and should have the experience and ability to immediately assume primary responsibility for litigating civil rights cases in federal court with minimal supervision. At least two years’ litigation experience or a combination of litigation experience and a judicial clerkship is required; five years' litigation experience is preferred, with at least some federal court experience. Knowledge of federal and state civil litigation, and the substantive and procedural elements of litigating federal constitutional claims brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act is also preferred.
Applicant must have the desire and ability to present complex cases to judges and to juries. Membership in good standing in the Utah State Bar, or qualification for practice pending admission to the Utah Bar under Utah Supreme Court Rule of Professional Practice14-809, is required. Some travel is required as incumbents will need to represent their clients in civil litigation and other legal proceedings throughout the state.
As part of this application process, you must upload your resume and a writing sample into your application profile.
For more information and to apply for the position, visit the Utah state jobs website at governmentjobs.com/careers/utah, and search “Assistant Attorney General”. The application deadline is Sunday, December 19th at 11:59 p.m.
The Attorney General’s Office is an equal opportunity employer. Security background checks are completed as a condition of employment.