Title: Deputy Chief, Assistant Attorney General

Unit: Litigation

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Schedule: Full-time

Position Summary:

The Attorney General and the Litigation Unit represent the State, its agencies, officials, and employees in civil matters filed in state and federal courts. The Litigation Unit has the responsibility of defending the state against suits and claims. It also defends state officials and employees when they are sued in civil rights cases for actions taken in the course and scope of their employment. While they are performing their official duties, it is not uncommon for lawsuits to be filed against public servants in their individual capacity. This Unit has the capacity and expertise to defend these servants without cost to the official or agency. The Litigation Unit has the responsibility to handle and direct the major class action litigation filed against institutions and agencies. The Unit represents state judicial officers, District Attorneys, Legislators, and the executive branch of state government when sued in both their official and individual capacities.

The successful candidate will have outstanding legal judgment and be able to effectively and professionally research, prepare, analyze and understand complex information and legal issues. This position will supervise other attorneys and support staff within the Unit.  The successful candidate must maintain the integrity of the Attorney General’s Office as well as the confidentiality of information as required by the Oklahoma Attorney General.

Essential Functions:

• Advise the Litigation Deputy on personnel, overall management planning, litigative program development, budget, and other matters; and participate in the decisional process relating to these subjects
• Effectively supervise and direct the work of all attorneys and support staff including performing evaluations and providing appropriate guidance, review and constructive feedback

• Oversee the preparation and filing of civil actions in the appropriate court, engagement of civil discovery, responses and preparation of motions and other court filings, attend hearings, negotiate settlements, and take matters to trial as needed
• Exhibit excellent verbal and written communication and sound legal judgment
• Effectively research, prepare, analyze and understand complex information and legal issues
• Maintain a professional attitude and assure office and client relationships are strong and positive
• Travel within and outside the state
• Other duties as assigned

All applicants must agree in writing to complete, and satisfactorily pass, a background investigation.

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must be licensed attorneys in the State of Oklahoma with at least fifteen (15) years of significant civil litigation trial experience. Strong writing, research, oral advocacy, and proofreading/editing skills, as well as superior attention to detail, are required.  Preference may be given to those with experience in complex civil litigation in state and federal court on matters related to representation of the State and its officials.  Applicants must be well respected by the legal community and peers.

All applicants must be admitted or eligible for admission to practice in the United States District Courts for the Western, Eastern, and Northern Districts of Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General is an equal employment employer and does not make hiring decisions on the basis of race, sex/gender, color, age, national origin, genetic information, religion, or disability, so long as the disability does not render the person unable to perform the essential functions of the position for which employed with a reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodations are needed to apply for this position, please contact OAG Human Resources at (405) 521-3921 or HR@oag.ok.gov. All employees of the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General are “at will” employees.