Staff Attorney

State of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 66,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

The Utah Department of Commerce seeks a Staff Attorney to join the new Office of the Homeowners' Association Ombudsman in Salt Lake City. You will analyze advisory opinions, draft legal analyses, and help align actions with state law while supporting policy development.

The ideal candidate will have a JD, Utah Bar admission, and strong writing, research, and public-speaking abilities. Some travel within Utah may be required; telework up to 3 days may be approved.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree required.
• Active membership in the Utah State Bar in good standing.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze advisory opinion requests from HOA homeowners or associations.
• Draft advisory opinions based on analysis in accordance with state law.
• Assist the Director in identifying trends and potential policy issues.
• Assist with trainings and educational materials for homeowners, HOA boards, and the public.

Skills

Writing skills

Legal research

Interpersonal comms

Public speaking

Education

Juris Doctor

Bar admission Utah

Job description

Staff Attorney

FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Benefits Eligibility–This position is eligible for a full benefits package.
Salary – $48 - $54 Hourly Wage
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid
Application Deadline – 10/4/2026*

*This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Are you driven to apply your legal expertise in a pioneering environment? Are you looking for new ways to hone your legal skills? Interested in the intersection of law and policy? Take the next step in your career and apply for our Staff Attorney position at the Utah Department of Commerce!

*At the discretion of the Director, up to 3 days of telework may be approved if eligibility requirements are met.

The Office of the Homeowners' Association Ombudsman is a brand-new division within the Department of Commerce. The Office oversees the state HOA registry, issues advisory opinions addressing matters of state law, and provides education and training for the public. In this position, you will work with the Director in all three of these areas, and will be primarily responsible for managing the workflow associated with our legal advisory opinions.. In this position, you will be asked to develop and maintain expertise in and understanding of issues and statutes impacting unit owners, lot owners, and their associations.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities and day to day responsibilities of this positionwill include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Analyzing advisory opinion requestsfrom HOA homeowners or their associations.


• Drafting advisory opinions based on analysis in accordance with state law.


• Assisting the Director in identifying trends and potential policy issues.


• Assisting with trainings and other educational materials for homeowners, HOA boards,and the general public.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a professional who can be described as:

• Having initiative and being a self-starter.


• A strategic thinker.


• A curious learner.


• Professional and diplomatic.


• Having excellent project management skills.


• Adaptable.


• A team player who can collaborate with all levels of an organization.


• Having the ability to explain, both verbally and in writing, complex legal concepts in easily understandable terms to diverse audiences.

Qualifications

Minimum or \"day-one\" qualifications:

• Juris Doctor.


• Active membership in the Utah State Bar in good standing.

Preferred or trainable/on-the-job qualifications:

• 3+ years experience practicing law, or completion of a judicial clerkship.


• The willingness and ability to travel throughout Utah for trainings, conferences, or other events, as instructed by the Director.


• Experience drafting advisory opinions, judicial opinions, orders, agency determinations, or other neutral legal analyses.


• Experience with legal research.


• Experience communicating directly with clients.


• Experience simultaneously managing multiple work streams.


• Experience presenting to groups or speaking in public.

About the Role

Location –
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111
United States
Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
Drug Test Required – No
Schedule Code – AR - Employees who make statewide policy

Why You Should Join Our Team

In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah. Other benefits may include:

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.


• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.


• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.


• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

The Agency

The Department of Commerce is the licensing and registration agency for Utah's professional and business community. We provide oversight of business registrations, trademarks, Uniform Commercial Code filings, professional licensing, consumer protection, public utilities, securities, real estate, and residential mortgage lending. You can learn more about our agency by visiting our website.

Qualifications

(Includes knowledge, skills, and abilities required upon entry into position and trainable after entry into position.)

• Outstanding writing skills.


• Outstanding legal research and reasoning skills.


• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to show sensitivity, tact and professionalism.


• The ability to prepare and give effective public presentations and seminars.


• The ability to communicate effectively by telephone.


• The ability to communicate with difficult people.


• The ability to manage a heavy caseload, and assist in other activities as needed to help run a small state office.


• The ability to approach disputes free from bias and to arrive at fair conclusions supported by the rule of law.


• The ability to diffuse interpersonal tension in controversial or contentious matters.

Supplemental Information

• As a part of the interview process, you may be asked to participate in a writing exercise.


• State of Utah Job: Legal / Enforcement Counsel III (#85012).


• Please note, a position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.


• In this position, you are not required to respond to situations involving threats to public safety or perform duties that consist of actively preventing or detecting crime, or perform duties that primarily provide community protection, and you do not obtain warrants of arrest.


• Effective July 1, 2021, in-state work rules require all work to be performed while physically within the state’s borders.


• We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.


• As a condition of employment with the Department of Commerce, employees shall receive compensatory time off in lieu of payment in cash for all overtime worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).


• Valid driver's license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per Utah Code § 53-3-202(1)(a).


• Work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.) or similar activities.

EEO Statement

The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact [phone].