Legal Fellow

Arizona State University•Phoenix, AZ

5d•$110,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

In keeping with the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU seeks a Legal Fellow to grow in public service through a secondment to various organizations seeking such Fellows to provide legal services. The primary purpose of the position is to provide professional legal services at the secondment site. The position will leverage local and regional talent to support the mission and programs of the secondment site and improve the coordination and effectiveness of programs, services, and actions. Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU will provide training and education focused on the importance of public service lawyers to assist in the growth and development of participating Fellows. This position will be based with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and is best suited for an attorney with litigation experience, a background in water law, and a passion for protecting Arizona’s natural resources. The Environmental Protection Unit is seeking a civil litigation attorney with practice experience in energy and environmental law to assist with its growing docket of energy matters. These include intervening in major utility ratemaking proceedings and seeking reconsideration and judicial review of decisions of the Arizona Corporation Commission. The Unit anticipates that energy will continue to be a major focus of its work and needs to structure its staffing accordingly. The Special Assistant Attorney General will be supervised by the Environmental Protection Unit Chief and the Unit’s Director of Litigation and will work closely with the other attorneys and staff on litigation matters from inception through trial or settlement. The Special Assistant Attorney General will have considerable ownership over the development of legal matters they initiate or work on as part of a larger team of attorneys within the Unit or from other units within the Civil or Criminal Divisions. The Legal Fellow will be responsible for taking matters from inception through trial or through settlement. The selected candidate, licensed in Arizona, may appear in federal and state civil trial courts and in administrative hearings, working on teams with junior attorneys and support staff. The Legal Fellow will also mentor other, more junior attorneys on the team and supervise the work product of support staff.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
Admitted to practice law in Arizona, or willing to pursue admission within six months of hiring
Admission to, and good standing with, the Arizona State Bar is required (include on resume the date(s) of admission in Arizona and any other states).
Candidate must have an active Arizona State Bar license.
Five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved
Experience working on energy, environmental, natural resource, and/or climate change matters
Knowledge of the principles and techniques of legal analysis and practice in order to prepare pleadings, motions, briefs, litigation reports, and related documents
Knowledge of the content, application, and effects of the laws, court and administrative decisions, regulations, policies, and procedures that are administered or applied by the site
Knowledge of the principles and techniques of written and oral communication to speak and write with clarity and tact to provide guidance on complex legal issues, secure acceptance of recommendations, and prepare complex legal opinions
Must be willing to live and work in Arizona
Travel is required for this position.
Regular use of standard office equipment, including but not limited to: computer workstation/laptop (keyboard, monitor, mouse), printer, fax, calculator, copier, telephone, and associated computer/technology peripherals.
Receive and participate in regular review of completed tasks for the achievement of established objectives.
Attorney applicants are required to submit a writing sample with their resume.
All applicants under serious consideration for a fellowship with the Attorney General's Office are required to be fingerprinted by the Office and complete a criminal background check through State and Federal agencies.
A valid Arizona Driver’s License is required, along with consent to have your driving record run periodically.

Nice To Haves

litigation experience
background in water law
passion for protecting Arizona’s natural resources
practice experience in energy and environmental law
mentoring other, more junior attorneys on the team
supervise the work product of support staff
Undertake training to acquire knowledge on a wide subject matter of legal issues relevant to public service attorneys.

Responsibilities

Actively participate in any coursework and related activities of the fellow program.
Contribute to the networking and mentoring aspects of the fellows program on an ongoing basis.
Provides legal services, ensuring that services are consistent with the strategic goals and priorities of the organization.
Represents the organization and clients, drafts Government positions, and reviews proposed legislation, regulations, and instructions to help clients make sound, defensible decisions.
Reviews statutory authorities, other statutory provisions, and applicable case law.
Provides legal opinions and advice related to proposed instructions, rules, and regulations.
Interprets and considers interrelationships between relevant laws and legal guidance for program administration for potential incorporation into clients, operating procedures.
Prepares responses to questions and concerns related to legal questions or complex factual issues.
Recommends action to supervisors or senior attorneys on many matters regarding litigation.
Identifies and considers relevant facts, legal authorities, and theories.
Conducts extensive research to ensure that advice is based on relevant facts and law.
Anticipates consequences of advice and recommendations to ensure that clients, actions based on the attorney’s guidance are practical, effective, and legally sound.
Prepares discovery responses and drafts pleadings, motions, instruments, and briefs.
Negotiates with private parties with respect to matters that are not in litigation.
Determines methods of approach, arguments, and authorities to be relied upon in various types of proceedings.
Advises officials as to the desirability of accepting or rejecting offers of compromise in cases.
Prepares and reviews legal documents, including draft legislation, regulations implementing Arizona statutory authorities, contracts, grants, agreements, mortgages, leases, deeds, and other documents required for implementation of programs and activities.
Advises officials and other attorneys on difficult legal questions or factual issues.
Identifies and considers relevant facts, legal authorities, and theories.
Conducts extensive research to ensure that advice is based on a sound understanding of relevant facts and law.
Anticipates significant foreseeable consequences of advice and recommended actions to ensure that decisions made and actions taken are practical, effective, legally sound, and supportable.