UNIT CHIEF COUNSEL

State of Arizona; Tucson (AZ); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick leave

Vacation with 10 paid holidays

Health and dental insurance

Retirement plan

Life insurance and long-term-disabilty

Optional benefits

Job summary

The State of Arizona Attorney General’s Office is seeking a Unit Chief Counsel in Tucson to lead the Liability Management Section. You will supervise unit attorneys and staff, assign cases, mentor colleagues, and coordinate with Risk Management to provide legal services to state agencies and employees.

Some travel within and outside Arizona is required. This senior role emphasizes strategic judgment, management of personnel matters, and collaboration with Outside Counsel to advance agency

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge and experience in civil litigation, including pretrial and trial practice.
• Knowledge of statutes, case law, and court rules.
• Ability to manage high-volume, high-exposure cases.
• Ability to mentor and supervise attorneys and staff.
• Travel within and outside Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Analyze legal issues; perform effective legal research and articulate the State's position in motions, briefs, and court.
• Directly supervise the work of unit attorneys and staff, including assigning cases and evaluating performance.
• Assist in personnel and disciplinary matters and monitor attorney workloads.
• Prepare reports and attend case evaluation meetings, depositions, and related proceedings.
• Read and analyze recent court decisions and rule changes affecting areas of practice.

Skills

Legal research

Oral advocacy

Legal writing

Mentoring

Supervising staff

Travel ability

Ethical standards

Education

Juris Doctorate

Licensed to practice in Arizona

Job description

ATTORNEY GENERAL (DEPT OF LAW)

UNIT CHIEF COUNSEL

Job Location:

Address: 416 W. Congress
Tucson, AZ 85701

Posting Details:

Salary: $144,375

Grade: 1

Closing Date: 10/30/26

Job Summary:

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office State Government Division/Liability Management Section is seeking a Unit Chief Counsel. This position will provide legal representation to state agencies and state employees in matters in which the Risk Management Division of ADOA provides coverage. This representation includes advice in complex civil litigation in State and Federal courts. The Unit Chief works closely with Risk Management, and must anticipate, and respond, to the client's needs. In addition to providing legal services, the Unit Chief serves as the team manager of the Unit, and mentor to the attorneys in it. The Unit Chief assists in the assignment of claims and lawsuits and monitors the performance of the attorneys and support staff in the Unit. The Unit Chief must demonstrate good judgment in the job functions, and is responsible for personnel matters within the Unit. The Unit Chief acts to further the policies of the Office and Section within the Unit. The Unit Chief works closely with Outside Counsel. The Unit Chief acts to further the policies of the Office and Section within the Unit. Travel within and out of the State of Arizona.

*This position may offer the ability to work remotely two days a week, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

Job Duties:

Analyze legal issues; perform effective legal research and articulately present the State's position in motions and briefs and in court. Directly supervises the work of unit attorneys and staff, which includes assigning cases, supervising and providing advice and mentoring, as well as evaluating work performance. Assist in the resolution of personnel and disciplinary issues. Review and assign new matters; monitor attorney workloads. Prepare Quarterly Reports, Rule 14 memoranda and other administrative reports. Prepare for and attend case evaluation meetings, depositions, medications, focus groups, etc. Read and analyze recent court decisions and rule changes affecting areas of practice. Attend office meetings, Continuing Legal Education, misc. administrative matters.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge and understanding of applicable statutes, case law and court rules;
• Extensive knowledge and experience in civil litigation, including pretrial and trial practice;
• Knowledge of legal techniques and the basic concepts of American Jurisprudence and of the formats utilized in the preparation of legal documents;
• Knowledge of the practical factors that impact litigation decisions and goals, including plaintiff responses, opposing counsel strategies and judicial perspectives, and victim/witness considerations;
• Knowledge of financial considerations for the state;
• Knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through lengthy and varied experience in legal practice, especially in complex litigation;
• Knowledge of ethical standards applicable to lawyers and public employees.
• Skill in persuasive oral and written communication pertaining to case presentation through various stages of representation, including litigation through trial and appeal if required;
• Prepare legal documents memoranda and correspondence efficiently;
• Skills include legal and factual issue analysis, legal research, legal writing, oral presentation, and negotiation.
• Ability to identify issues, analyze and articulate legal arguments, assess evidence and communicate it to the client;
• Ability to manage significant volume of high exposure cases;
• Ability to mentor and supervise attorneys and staff;
• Ability to effectively utilize skills of subordinate staff;
• Ability to display courteous and professional behavior;
• Ability to train and supervise subordinate lawyers;
• Ability to exercise good judgment in making strategic decisions in cases and in providing legal advice to clients;
• Ability to appropriately apply professional ethical rules in daily practice;
• Ability to travel within and outside Arizona, including overnight stays;
• Ability to handle a high volume of work and stressful situations.

Selective Preference(s):

• Juris Doctorate
• Licensed to practice in Arizona

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Travel is required for this position. A valid Arizona Driver’s License is required, along with consent to have your driving record run periodically.
• Admission to, and good standing with, the Arizona State Bar is required (include on resume the date(s) of admission in Arizona and any other states). Candidate must have an active Arizona State Bar license.
• Attorney applicants are required to submit a writing sample with their resume/application profile. The writing sample should contain an analysis of some substantive legal issue and provide insight concerning your ability to think and to explain and advocate for a particular position.
• All applicants under serious consideration for hire with the Attorney General's Office are required to be fingerprinted by the Office and complete a criminal background check through State and Federal agencies. A job offer cannot be tendered until the candidate has successfully passed the initial background check. Your record does not automatically constitute a bar to employment. Factors such as, but not limited to, age at time of offense and age of offense, as well as the relationship between the offense and the job for which you apply will be taken into account.

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:

The Attorney General's Office offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Sick leave
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance.

Retirement:

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

Contact Us:

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources at [phone] or email us at [e-mail].
During all phases of the selection process, people with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting the AG’s Human Resources Office at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail]. The Arizona Office of the Attorney General does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age in its programs, activities or in its hiring and employment practices. The following division has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Operations Division, 2005 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone].
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.