Associate General Counsel

Arizona Department of Administration; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation and sick days

Parental Leave

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Wellness Program

Public transportation subsidy

Job summary

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, REHABILIATION & REENTRY seeks an Associate General Counsel (Attorney III) to lead daily operations of the General Counsel’s Office and provide timely, high-impact legal guidance to ADCRR divisions from the Phoenix office.

The role collaborates with the Governor’s Office, Attorney General, and external law firms on active and pending litigation, oversees the Policy Unit, and may support related legal functions such as E-discovery and publication review.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school is required.
• Arizona license to practice law is required.
• Background check successful completion is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Provides current legal knowledge and ensures responses are accurate and complete.
• Supervises the Policy Unit and ensures policies comply with laws, regulations, and directives.
• Drafts and revises Department Orders with subject matter experts and executives.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Policy development

Litigation management

Negotiation

Communication

Time management

Education

Juris Doctorate Degree

License to practice law in Arizona

Job description

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, REHABILIATION & REENTRY

Our mission is to enhance public safety across Arizona through modern, effective correctional practices and meaningful engagements. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) is committed to creating a safe, secure, and humane correctional system. With public safety top of mind, ADCRR and its more than 8,000 officers and professional staff are driven by a heart for public service and a commitment to deliver perfect effort each day. ADCRR is redefining itself as an agency whose daily work centers on transparency, accountability, and fairness.

ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL

(ATTORNEY III)

Job Location: Office of the General Counsel
701 East Jefferson Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85034
https://corrections.az.gov

Salary: $118,000.00
Grade: 2
Closing Date: 7/30/2026

Job Summary:

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR), under the direction of the Agency’s General Counsel, is seeking an Associate General Counsel to help lead the day-to-day operations of the General Counsel’s Office while delivering timely, high-impact legal guidance to ADCRR divisions. This role offers the chance to combine strong legal judgment with strategic stakeholder management, working closely with key partners including the Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, and external law firms involved in current and pending litigation affecting the Agency. In addition to providing legal oversight and consultation, the Associate General Counsel will oversee the Policy Unit and may also support and supervise related legal functions—such as the Legal Access Monitor, e-discovery, publication review, and other legal support units—ensuring the Agency’s legal work is coordinated, efficient, and aligned with ADCRR’s mission.

Job Duties:

• Provides current legal knowledge and verifies responses are legally complete, accurate, and procedurally appropriate


• Supervises the Policy Unit ensuring policies are reviewed, maintained, updated, and applicable to agency requirements, guidelines, laws, regulations, and directives


• Assists with the drafting and revising of Department Orders in collaboration with Subject Matter Experts, Executives, and end users


• Supports the General Counsel in responding to other divisions in providing information and/or legal advice


• Conducts legal research


• Revises policies on an ongoing and consistent basis


• Represents the Agency in litigation, including conferring with representing attorneys, attending mediations and settlement conferences, court hearings, and trial


• May be tasked with oversight of other areas within the General Counsel area on an as-needed basis


• Drives on State business


• Performs other duties appropriate to the assignment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations


• State and Federal administrative hearings and proceedings


• Legislative, judicial, and executive branches of Arizona State Government


• ADCRR policies and objectives


• Legal research methods

Skill in:

• Interpreting and applying Federal, State, and agency laws, rules, regulations, codes, and policies


• Technical drafting and writing of legal documents, pleadings, motions, and discoveries


• Present and monitor cases through various stages of legal representation


• Negotiation methods


• Legal research and fact-findings


• Analyzing and solving complex legal issues and problems


• Strong written and verbal communication


• Organization and time management

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain interpersonal relationships at all levels including the public


• Read, comprehend, and interpret laws, statutes, and rules


• Meet deadlines and adapt to changing priorities


• Exercise sound judgment and discretion in making ethical decisions and providing advice


• Apply legal principles and precedence to particular sets of facts


• Communicate effectively with external entities, stakeholders, and internal staff

Selective Preference(s):

• Prior leadership and supervisory experience


• Experience in performing legal administrative work as it relates to criminal justice or a law office environment.


• Experience in performing criminal or civil litigation and case management

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an Accredited Law School


• License to practice law in the State of Arizona


• Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a background investigation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

• Vacation and sick days with 10 paid holidays per year


• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)


• Robust and affordable insurance plan to include medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability options


• Exceptional retirement program


• Optional employee benefits such as deferred compensation plans, credit union membership, and a wellness program


• An incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.


• Current ADCRR Employees: Consult with your respective Human Resources Liaison if you are in a different retirement plan than the one indicated above.

Contact Us:

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling [phone]. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.