Office of the Attorney General - Assistant Attorney General - Utah State Board of Education

The Office of the Attorney General, Education Division, is seeking an attorney to provide legal services to the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind (USDB), the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and supporting staff. This position is located at USBE’s building in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Public education legal work is diverse in subject matter and often time-sensitive. The successful candidate should have excellent written and advocacy skills, first-rate legal acumen, a willingness to learn diverse areas of law, the ability to effectively communicate information and ideas, and excellent interpersonal skills. Litigation experience is preferred, but not required.

A minimum of four years of education law or closely related experience is preferred (state or federal clerkships may help satisfy this requirement). Litigation, compliance, or other in-house experience may be considered. Membership in the Utah State Bar and qualification for admission to the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah are required. The position is a career service position upon successful completion of a one-year probationary period. The salary is commensurate with experience in conjunction with the career service matrix.

Example of Duties

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Provide legal services to USBE, USBE leadership, USDB, the Superintendent and various USBE departments on a wide range of issues related to K-12 public education. Legal analysis of state/federal legal compliance, contracts and procurement, education policy, employment issues, and some related litigation.

  • Conduct legal review of, and assist in drafting, rules and policies considered for adoption by USBE.

  • Attend USBE monthly board and committee meetings, as well as superintendency meetings and department meetings.

  • Work closely with the Superintendent and USBE’s leadership team.

  • Litigate matters, both independently and in association with other Assistant Attorneys General or outside legal counsel.

  • Represent USBE at formal and informal hearings or trials, negotiations, mediations, and other matters.

  • Conduct legal research and investigations as necessary.

  • Research, advise, and respond to incoming inquiries and complaints from schools, stakeholders, and the public; provide information, explain policy and procedures, and/or facilitate resolutions.

  • Provide legal review, analysis, and counsel on a wide range of issues to minimize risks typically associated with public education.

Typical Qualifications

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

  • Ability to communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing; read and understand information presented in writing

  • Knowledgeable access to, understanding, interpretation and application of case and statutory laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures

  • Speak clearly, concisely and effectively; listen to, and understand, information and ideas as presented verbally

  • Possess and maintain a working knowledge of pertinent legal processes and procedures

  • Ability to 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 regarding laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, the democratic political process, and legislative history

  • Perform legal research using case law and appropriate techniques

  • Familiarity with laws governing access to public and private records (Government Records Access and Management Act)

  • Skilled decision making and problem solving by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose quality solutions

  • Address client matters and client representatives in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism

  • Provide consultation and/or expert advice or testimony

  • Working knowledge of rules of evidence and civil and/or criminal procedure

  • Ability to interpret and apply legal decisions and identify current and emerging trends in interpretation

  • Skilled in 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.

  • Where statute mandates, active membership in the Utah State Bar.

  • Must be able to travel as required.

  • Valid driver license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per UCA 53-3-202(1)(a).

For more info and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/utah/jobs/3241635/assistant-attorney-general-education-utah-state-board-of-education?keywords=assistant%20attorney%20general&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

Job OpportunitiesBeth Kennedy