Assistant Attorney General - Environmental Litigation and Regulatory

Assistant Attorney General - Environmental Litigation and Regulatory

The Environment Section of the Environment, Health, and Human Services Division of the Utah Attorney General’s Office has one opening for an attorney to represent the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) in a “first chair” civil litigator role. The primary focus of this role is on civil, administrative, and appellate litigation and a secondary focus on regulatory matters. Significant prior litigation experience in state and federal courts, including motion practice, discovery, depositions, presentation of evidence, and related experience is required.

Administrative and appellate litigation, regulatory experience, including environmental law, and a technical or scientific background are preferred but not required.

Applicants should have a minimum of five (5) years of civil litigation experience. Applicants must also be a member of or eligible for membership in the Utah State Bar and be admitted or eligible for admission to practice in the state and federal courts of Utah. Excellent written and oral communication and legal research skills are essential, and a demonstrated interest or prior experience in environmental, energy, and natural resources law is a plus.

Applicants should also be able to work with scientists, engineers, enforcement specialists, and other professionals on interdisciplinary case teams.

DEQ’s programs (Utah Code Title 19) include EPA primacy and state-based environmental programs (Water Quality, Air Quality, Solid and Hazardous Waste, Drinking Water, Petroleum Storage Tanks, Site Investigation and Remediation) as well as Agreement State Programs (Uranium Recovery, Low‑Level Radioactive Waste, Radioactive Materials) through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under the Atomic Energy Act, in addition to other programs. DEQ’s primary functions include permitting and enforcement, with associated administrative, civil, and appellate litigation.

This position presents an excellent opportunity to join the Environment Section, a collegial and collaborative team working to support DEQ’s statutory programs and functions to protect Utah’s land, air, and water. The Environment Section is responsible for staffing all DEQ litigation, in addition to full‑service regulatory support for all DEQ programs and functions. The Environment Section is co‑located with DEQ in Salt Lake City, Utah, but the position includes the option for a flexible, hybrid work environment.

Along with an application, applicants should submit a cover letter explaining their interest in the position, their resume, including significant, relevant accomplishments, work experience, class rank and G.P.A., contact telephone numbers, e‑mail address, the names of three references, an unofficial transcript of law school grades, and a current and substantive writing sample. A security background check is required for all applicants as a condition of employment.

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. The Utah Office of the Attorney General is an equal opportunity employer.

* This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice.*

• Supporting DEQ’s civil enforcement functions by conducting legal research and analysis, identifying and evaluating evidence, interviewing witnesses, working closely with DEQ enforcement personnel to draft administrative notices and orders, civil complaints, negotiating resolutions, and preparing stipulated compliance orders.
• Assisting DEQ with the assessment and recovery of civil penalties, through litigation or settlement.
• Filing civil actions to enforce final administrative orders and representing DEQ in reviews of administrative actions by trial de novo in district court under the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Assisting DEQ in conducting joint enforcement activities with EPA in situations where DEQ and EPA have shared and overlapping enforcement jurisdiction.
• Assisting DEQ with contested permitting matters, including representing DEQ in internal permit appeals (administrative litigation) and subsequent state court appellate review of final DEQ permitting orders.
• Assisting DEQ in…