Assistant Attorney General- Child Protection

State of Maine; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 75,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Vacation leave

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Parental leave

Wellness benefits

Deferred compensation

Job summary

State of Maine in Portland is seeking an Assistant Attorney General to litigate DHHS child protection cases in the Portland District Court and surrounding courts. The role requires handling a high-volume caseload with multiple weekly court appearances and opportunities to participate in appellate writing.

The attorney will train DHHS staff, manage complex litigation, and work under the Division Chief. A Maine Bar admission with strong writing and litigation skills is essential.

Qualifications

• Must be members of the Maine Bar in good standing.
• Experienced litigators with excellent writing skills.
• Willing to travel regularly and to handle remote court proceedings.
• Strong skills in litigation, client communication, negotiation, time management, file management.

Responsibilities

• Litigate DHHS child protection cases in the Portland District Court and surrounding courts.
• Handle a high-volume caseload with expedited and intensive litigation and multiple court appearances weekly.
• Provide training for DHHS child welfare staff and perform related legal work as assigned by the Division Chief.
• Opportunity to develop as appellate writer for sophisticated briefs.

Education

Maine Bar admission

Tools

Litigation skills

Job description

Assistant Attorney General

Child Protection Division – ANTICIPATED VACANCY – Trial AAG (Portland Office)

Opening Date: August 20, 2026

Closing Date: September 4, 2026

Job Class Code: 0186

Grade: 1

Salary: $75,067.20 - $145,371.20/year* (Salary competitive and based upon qualifications)

*Pursuant to 5 M.R.S. § 196 the salary for this position has been set by the Office of the Attorney General

Position # 006000456

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Office of the Attorney General is seeking a highly skilled civil litigator to fill a full-time Assistant Attorney General position based in the Portland office. The primary responsibility of this Assistant Attorney General will be to litigate DHHS child protection cases in the Portland District Court with potential responsibilities in surrounding courts. Candidates must have well-developed skills in trial practice, motion practice, negotiation, professional communication, time optimization and case management.

This position will require a lawyer to handle a high-volume caseload of expedited and intensive litigation, requiring multiple court appearances each week. Multi-day trials are common. The cases often develop from urgent circumstances; requiring the attorney to effectively communicate with the client and develop a litigation strategy within days of the filing of pleadings. This position also performs regular training for DHHS child welfare staff, and other legal work in the child welfare field as assigned by the Division Chief.

Applicants who enjoy litigation and have superb legal writing skills are encouraged to apply, as this position may provide opportunities for sophisticated brief writing to those who are qualified and interested in developing as appellate writers.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must be members of the Maine Bar in good standing, who are experienced litigators, excellent writers, willing to travel regularly, able to develop proficiency with remote court proceedings, and have demonstrated that they conduct their professional work in a manner that is thorough, accurate, resourceful, collegial and effective. Skills must be highly developed in all aspects of litigation, client communication, negotiation, time optimization, file management, schedule organization, and use of law office technology. Applicants must adhere the highest standards of legal ethics and civility.

BENEFITS

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance– Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using13 paid holidays,12 days of sick leave, and3+ weeks of vacation leaveVacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays85%-95%of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find thepremium costsfor you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information aboutprogram requirements.
• Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State of Maine contributes13.29%of payto the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement– Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts– Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness– The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit theFederal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program– Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receivesix weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under theFamily and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation– Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in aMaineSaves457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• Learn about additional wellness benefitsfor State employees from theOffice of Employee Health and Wellness.

Maine State Government and the Office of the Attorney General are Equal Opportunity employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.