Oregon State Government

Initial Posting Date:

10/24/2025

Application Deadline:

11/16/2025

Agency:

Department of Justice

Salary Range:

$12,888 - $19,958

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Chief Counsel - Trial Division

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) seeks an attorney with legal acumen and leadership experience to serve as Chief Counsel of DOJ’s Trial Division. The position will be based in Salem or Portland. The Chief Counsel serves at the pleasure of the Attorney General, reporting directly to the Deputy Attorney General. The Chief Counsel also is a member of DOJ's Executive Staff, which consists of the top managers of each of DOJ's divisions, meets weekly, and serves as an advisory body to the Attorney General.

Our successful candidate will share the Attorney General’s strong commitment to justice and work proactively to defend Oregon’s values. An ideal candidate will think creatively about how to solve complex cases and systemic challenges, and bring a fresh, proactive perspective to traditional trial work. We are looking for someone who brings not only legal excellence, but also dedication to exceptional client service, leadership development, and capacity to uphold a global perspective of the Department’s mission, values, and goals. Our successful candidate will model the Attorney General’s core values and proactively implement his goals:

Values

• Customer service
• Problem solver
• Out of the boxer thinker
• Transparent
• Justice oriented

Goals

• Strengthen the foundation of the agency
• Keep children and communities safe
• Stand up for seniors, consumers and working families
• Defend Oregon’s values

The Trial Division engages in litigation in state and federal courts, representing the State of Oregon (agencies, officers, employees, etc.) The Trial Division’s responsibilities range from defending claims for money damages to asserting policy positions that are of vital importance to the state and include resisting efforts of convicted criminals to be released by way of habeas corpus and post-conviction proceedings. The Federal Oversight Unit, within the Trial Division, engages in litigation to advance Oregon’s values and the rule of law by defending against potential federal impacts on the state and its people. The Division employs approximately 66 attorneys and 159 total staff.

The Chief Counsel reports to the Deputy Attorney General and is a member of the DOJ Executive Staff. The Chief Counsel is responsible for the day-to-day operations and long-range planning and management of the Trial Division. For example, the Chief Counsel must:

• Develop strong professional relationships with the Governor’s Office and leadership throughout state government;
• Develop litigation strategies for some of the State’s most important or complex cases;
• Advise the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General on formulating the state's legal position on issues that present themselves in state government;
• Work with the other legal divisions to build effective communication and coordination on the development of the state's legal positions;
• Manage the personnel of the Division, including managers, Assistant Attorneys General, and support staff;
• Participate in the appointment of Division personnel;
• Participate in the preparation of the Division's budget and oversee its implementation;
• Formulate and implement internal management and work-processing systems to best process and monitor the Division's work; and
• Provide counsel to the Attorney General and Deputy on legal and administrative matters.

The duties described are representative of the assignments expected; actual duties may depend on the needs of the Division and on the talent, skills, experience, and interests of the successful applicant.

Questions may be addressed to Berri Leslie, Chief Operating Officer, at berri.leslie@doj.oregon.gov or Ben Gutman, Interim Deputy Attorney General, at benjamin.gutman@doj.oregon.gov

This position requires travel as needed. The incumbent must reside in the state of Oregon by the time of appointment.

State Management and Executive Service personnel are responsible for understanding the Oregon Department of Justice’s affirmative action goals and objectives and to develop and implement plans to meet them. In addition, all managers of the Department must recognize the value of individual and cultural differences, create work environments where individuals’ differences are valued, and consistently treat staff, colleagues, customers, stakeholders, and partners with dignity and respect.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Four years of management or other relevant experience, including management of practicing attorneys, AND possession of a Juris Doctor degree;
• Active membership in good standing with the Oregon State Bar or reciprocity in progress at the time of application.

AND

• Significant civil litigation experience, especially in complex or high-stakes matters;
• An understanding of Oregon law and government structure, complemented by an appreciation of the role of the Oregon Department of Justice in representing the state, its agencies, and its officials;
• The ability to formulate sound state legal policy in a broad range of substantive and procedural (and sometimes sensitive) areas;
• The ability to provide the highest quality legal work;
• The ability to provide leadership to a diverse staff of attorneys at all experience levels;
• Significant and relevant experience advising clients (government experience preferred);
• Willingness and availability to travel.

The position will be filled at the Legal Practice Attorney Administrator 2 level. This is a full-time, Executive Service position. Applicants most closely matching the requirements and needs of the position will be invited to interview.

The Oregon Department of Justice

The Oregon Department of Justice serves state government and promotes safe, healthy, and diverse communities throughout Oregon by providing superior legal services. Our employees are dedicated to upholding the rule of law and serving the people of Oregon and its government. The Department, with more than 400 lawyers, is the largest law office in Oregon and strives to be the gold standard of public law offices in the Northwest.

The Attorney General and the Department’s ten divisions are dedicated to:

• Providing ethical, sophisticated, and high-quality legal services to state government;
• Confronting fraudulent business practices and corporate wrongdoing to protect every Oregon consumer;
• Fighting crime and supporting victims and survivors;
• Advocating to protect and improve the lives of abused and vulnerable children;
• Supporting families through the collection of child support;
• Enforcing environmental and climate change protections to support a healthy planet;
• Seeking social justice and defending the civil and human rights of all Oregonians; and
• Pursuing justice and steadfastly upholding the rule of law.

Conduct Expectations

The role of the Oregon Department of Justice is to provide justice and uphold the rule of law. Employees of the Department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job and maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the Department.

What's In It For You

• Permanent, full-time employment in Portland or Salem;
• Excellent health insurance and very low premiums: 95-99% employer-paid medical, vision, and dental for you and your family;
• Pension and retirement programs;
• Vacation, sick leave, paid holidays in addition to special paid time off;
• Become a valued member of the state’s management team; and
• A public service-minded and mission-driven workplace where your contribution matters and is recognized.

You can learn more information about our benefits here.

Application Process

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Oregon Department of Justice is an equal opportunity employer, and as such, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability, and is committed to workplace diversity.

• Click “Apply” and complete the online application and all supplemental questions.
• Attach your resume.
• Attach your cover letter.
• In your cover letter, please tell us what attracts you to this position and motivates you as a leader.

ALL APPLICANTS: You will only have one opportunity to upload the required resume and cover letter. Drag and drop your resume into Workday when prompted to upload your resume. If you are concerned that one or both requested documents didn't attach to your application, if you need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have questions, or need assistance with the application process, please contact doj.recruitment@doj.oregon.gov. Any emailed materials will be associated on your behalf if received before the posting deadline.

CURRENT STATE EMPLOYEES: Log in to Workday using your state-issued login and apply via the Jobs Hub Worklet located on your home page. Using a private account disrupts the hiring process for all internal candidates. Prior to clicking "Apply", update your employee profile to reflect your Education, Skills, and Job History (including your current job).

For additional information regarding working for the Oregon Department of Justice and application assistance, click here.

Oregon Department of Justice

1162 Court St NE

Salem, OR 97301

DOJ.recruitment@doj.oregon.gov

Phone: (503) 947-4328

Fax: (503) 373-0367

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