Assistant Attorney General - Direct Hire

We are hiring Assistant Attorney General - Direct Hire for one of our clients in Des Moines, IA.

Job Description:

This attorney will serve as lead counsel in major litigation on behalf of the State of Iowa in both state and federal courts. The work includes handling complex legal matters involving constitutional challenges, federal statutory claims, and high-stakes cases surrounding Medicaid, mental health, child welfare, and the Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO).

The position requires substantial litigation experience, outstanding research and writing skills, and the ability to manage and lead all aspects of trial practice. While the attorney will be part of a collaborative team, this role carries the expectation of serving as first-chair trial counsel in significant cases.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrated courtroom and trial leadership experience in both State and Federal Courts.
• Strong research, writing, and oral-advocacy skills.
• The ability to handle complex litigation independently while working within a team environment.

• A license to practice law in Iowa.

• This position offers a unique opportunity to litigate challenging and impactful cases on behalf of the State of Iowa.

• In addition to a collegial environment among those committed to public service, perks of working for the Office of the Attorney General include:
• Flexible work-from-home options
• Excellent work-life balance
• Outstanding benefits
• and no billable hour requirements.

• Applicants must have graduated from an accredited school of law to qualify for positions in this job classification.

• Performs entry-level professional legal work of a limited scope and variety within the Attorney General's Office; performs related work as required.
• The work examples and competencies listed below are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be the primary basis for position classification decisions.
• Work Examples Prepares tentative drafts, letters, opinions, memoranda, and legal documents for use by attorneys of a higher level in the preparation of opinions, legislative reports, briefs, contracts, and other papers or legal documents.
• Prepares cases for filing by drafting complaints, order to show cause, indictment, preliminary motions, and supporting affidavits and briefs.
• Prepares drafts of pleadings, motions, and interrogations in connection with cases in litigations.
• Assists attorneys of a higher level in court cases or administrative proceedings by interviewing and selecting appropriate witnesses, preparing them to give testimony, taking depositions, conducting direct examination, suggesting questions to be asked in cross-examination, and cross-examining witnesses in line with established line of questions.
• Assists in the preparation of drafts of finding of fact, conclusions of law, and orders based on the records.
• Conducts investigations of a limited scope to obtain facts, studies legal precedents and prepares recommendations for the review of a supervisor.
• Briefs and argues minor cases in the appellate courts, subject to close supervision.
• Competencies Required

• Law and Government - Laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• English Language - The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Personnel and Human Resources - Principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Customer Service - Principles and processes for providing customer services, including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluating customer satisfaction
• Law and Government - Understand and adhere to applicable laws, legal codes, administrative rules, and regulations.
• Oral Comprehension - Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Written Expression - Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Written Comprehension - Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Deductive Reasoning - Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning - Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions.

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

• Applicants must have graduated from an accredited school of law to qualify for positions in this job classification.
• Notes At the time of appointment, employees in this class are required to have been admitted to the Iowa State Bar and appropriate federal courts.

• At the time of appointment, employees in this class are required to have been admitted to the Iowa State Bar and appropriate federal courts.

• The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization.

• Candidate should be a US citizen - Mandatory