Counsel

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

Vacation with holidays and retirement

Sick leave

Job summary

Arizona Governor's Office is seeking a Counsel to join the General Counsel’s Office. The role focuses on providing legal guidance on ethics, compliance, public records, and records retention, with leadership responsibilities across a portfolio of matters.

The successful candidate will conduct legal research, draft analyses, and advise on policy and legal risk. The position offers potential remote work up to two days per week at the Chief Legal Officer’s discretion.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to foster trust and respect with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent writing skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to turn around thorough analysis and high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Excellent discretion and judgment, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent legal research and analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Counsel will report to the Chief Legal Officer and be responsible for exercising strong judgment to determine information that should be elevated to senior leadership and effectively communicate it to stakeholders.
• Conducting legal research and analysis, formulating legal advice, and exercising independent judgment on day-to-day decisions for a portfolio of policy areas.
• Advising on public records and record retention law and policy, including leading the office’s public records team and records retention work.
• Taking initiative and clearly communicating with colleagues and stakeholders to move projects forward.
• Ensuring that filings and legal correspondence are of high quality and aligned with the Office’s policies.
• Developing policies and providing trainings for staff on ethics and conflict of interest statutes and rules.

Skills

Communication

Writing

Organization

Diversity & Collaboration

Discretion & Judgment

Legal Research

Education

Juris Doctorate

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

ARIZONA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

COUNSEL

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and this position may remain opened until filled.

Applicants must reside within reasonable commuting distance to Phoenix.

Applicants for this position must submit a Cover Letter and Resume.

Job Location

1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Annual Salary

$110,000 - $130,000

This position will remain open until business needs are met.

Job Summary

The Governor’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is looking for a highly motivated lawyer with excellent research, writing, leadership, communication, and organizational skills to fill the role of Counsel.

This position will primarily provide legal advice and develop guidance on issues related to ethics, compliance, public records, and records retention.

Counsel in the OGC participate in a dynamic and collaborative public‑sector practice that is critical to the operation of the Governor’s Office and to the major legal issues and policy decisions affecting the State of Arizona.

This position offers the potential to work remotely up to two days a week at the discretion of the Chief Legal Officer.

Job Duties

Counsel will report to the Chief Legal Officer and be responsible for:

• Exercising strong judgment to determine information that should be elevated to the Chief Legal Officer and executive leadership, and effectively and efficiently communicating the information to a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders
• Conducting legal research and analysis, formulating legal advice, and exercising independent judgment on day‑to‑day decisions for a portfolio of policy areas and legal matters
• Advising on public records and record retention law and policy, including leading the office’s public records team and records retention work
• Taking initiative and clearly communicating with relevant colleagues and stakeholders to move people to action and keep projects on track
• Ensuring that all filings and legal correspondence are of high quality and consistent with the Office’s policies and positions
• Developing policies and providing trainings for staff on ethics and conflict of interest statutes and rules

Job Skills & Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to foster trust and respect, including creating friendly and collaborative working relationships with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders
• Excellent writing skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to turn around thorough analysis and excellent work product on tight deadlines
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects at once in a high‑stakes and fast‑paced environment
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Excellent discretion and judgment, and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Excellent legal research and analysis skills

Job Preference(s)

• Experience in State government or representing executive agencies is a plus
• Experience with public records or ethics compliance also a plus
• Management experience also preferred

Job Requirements

• License to practice law in the State of Arizona (or ability to obtain the same as soon as possible after accepting the position)
• At least four years of experience with a compliance practice, administrative law, or litigation
• Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate from an ABA‑accredited law school
• Strong commitment to the mission and priorities of the Administration
• 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.

Benefits

• Optional employee benefits include short‑term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
• Life insurance and long‑term disability insurance
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Sick leave

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave programhere. 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)
• Note that enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

Contact Us

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Ariel Gonzalez at [e-mail] for assistance.