Assistant Attorney General – Constitutional Defense Division
The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office is a full-service law firm, representing the State in litigation, transactional matters, and investigations and providing day-to-day legal advice to a wide variety of state entities and officials. The Attorney General’s Office employs approximately 200 attorneys organized into 20 legal divisions within 6 sections.
About the Constitutional Defense Division:
Part of the Special Advocacy Section of the Attorney General’s Office, the Constitutional Defense Division (CDD) specializes in complex constitutional and election-related litigation. CDD complements the work of the Strategic Litigation Unit and the Office of the Solicitor General to protect the will of Tennesseans expressed through their elected government. Many of CDD’s cases involve novel issues, sweeping requests for relief, and fast-paced injunction and appellate proceedings. The Division strives for excellence in all aspects of its legal representation through high-quality work in a collaborative environment with a meaningful impact.
Responsibilities
Job Overview:
The duties and responsibilities of attorneys in CDD include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Developing case strategy with clients and supervisors;
- Collaborating with other attorneys, paralegals, and support staff within the office;
- Navigating and effectively employing oral, written, and electronic discovery;
- Pursuing effective motion practice through outstanding legal research and writing;
- Protecting the State’s interests on appeal; and
- Representing Tennessee with excellence in the courtroom and outside the office.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications. The ideal candidate must demonstrate:
- High capacity for analytical reasoning through outstanding research and writing;
- Familiarity with and interest in constitutional law and statutory interpretation;
- Strong academic performance; and
- Admitted to the Tennessee bar or eligible for admission and in good standing with current bar.
Preferred Qualifications. The ideal candidate will preferably demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Civil litigation experience, with a preference for experience in constitutional and civil rights litigation or complex commercial litigation;
- Judicial clerkship experience;
- Experience as a first-chair or lead attorney in evidentiary hearings or trial; or
- Electronic discovery experience.
Application Process
Please send your cover letter, resume, contact information for at least 3 references, law school transcript and legal writing sample to hrteam@ag.tn.gov.
