Senior Assistant Attorney General, Environment Section

DHRM; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Attorney General & Dept of Law is seeking a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Environment Section to provide high‑quality legal services related to natural resources and environmental regulation for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The role includes acting as lead counsel, advising state agencies, and monitoring evolving environmental law while handling complex litigation and advising on regulatory authority.

Qualifications

• Ability to quickly and effectively gain an understanding of complex legal matters and factual scenarios.
• Knowledge of state and federal court rules for civil litigation and administrative procedures.
• Ability to represent complex legal and political interests while building consensus.
• Knowledge of legal research procedures.
• Knowledge of briefs and appellate arguments preparation.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality legal services, both advice and litigation, to the Commonwealth’s natural resources agencies.
• Enforce environmental laws and ensure operations comply with applicable statutes.
• Serve as lead counsel in environmental matters before administrative and judicial forums.
• Advise on statutory and regulatory authority for natural resources agencies, boards, and authorities.
• Monitor developments in environmental regulation and related areas.

Skills

Legal analysis

Oral & written communication

Leadership in complex cases

Legal research

Regulatory understanding

Education

Virginia State Bar admission

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

NetDocuments

LawBase

Adobe Acrobat DC

Google Earth

Google Maps

Job description

Title: Senior Assistant Attorney General, Environment Section

State Role Title: Senior Assistant Attorney General

Hiring Range: $110,000-$130,000

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Attorney General & Dept of Law

Location: Office of the Attorney General

Agency Website: https://www.oag.state.va.us/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

• Provide high quality legal service, both advice and litigation, to the Commonwealth’s natural resources agencies.
• Ensure the Commonwealth’s natural resources agencies are operating within the confines of the laws of the Commonwealth, while also enforcing environmental laws broadly.
• Serve as lead counsel in environmental matters before administrative and judicial forums. This includes all aspects of litigation, including identifying issues, analyzing positions, conducting discovery, working with retained experts/consultants, witness examination and opening and closing statements at hearings, and preparation of briefs and other written legal pleadings.
• Serve as primary legal adviser to the Commonwealth’s natural resources agencies, boards, and authorities; analyze and advise on statutory and regulatory authority.
• Monitor, identify, and analyze state and federal developments in environmental regulatory areas. This includes staying informed on industry and regulatory developments and trends, through news reports, trade press, attendance at meetings and conferences of state, regional, and national groups and associations, and review of environmental regulatory issuances.
• Perform bill reviews during sessions of the General Assembly.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to quickly and effectively gain an understanding of complex legal matters and factual scenarios applicable to the Commonwealth’s natural resources agencies including the agencies’ substantive law and regulations; the Virginia Administrative Process Act, Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and Conflicts of Interest Act;
• Knowledge of state and federal court rules for civil litigation, state and federal rules of evidence, and state administrative law rules and procedures;
• Ability to represent complex legal and political interests while simultaneously building consensus and seeking favorable resolution of conflict;
• Knowledge of legal research procedures;
• Knowledge of the preparation of briefs and presentation of arguments for cases before state and federal courts;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to quickly assimilate oral and written data, to analyze facts, and draw logical conclusions;
• Ability to express legal interpretations or conclusions of law clearly and logically in oral and written form;
• Ability to maintain organized records;
• Ability to coordinate and function as a lead attorney or counsel in highly complex cases and transactions;
• Ability to organize work, establish priorities, and maintain good interpersonal relations and communications with other attorneys and support staff as well as effective working relationships with government officials, opposing counsel, and the general public;
• Computer literacy to include proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, NetDocuments, LawBase, Adobe Acrobat DC, Google Earth, and Google Maps.

Additional Considerations

• This position requires being a member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar.
• This position is greatly aided in admission to the bars for the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.