Associate Attorney Civil Rights Jobs in Delaware

Introduction

\r\n\r\nDelaware's Attorney General, the State's chief law enforcement officer, has a broad responsibility to combat crime, uphold civil rights, safeguard families, fight fraud, and protect consumers in the First State.\r\nIn meeting this mission, Attorney General Kathy Jennings is supported by teams of talented lawyers and staff in the Criminal, Civil, Family, Fraud and Consumer Protection, and Civil Rights and Public Trust Divisions. Each of the more than 500 staff who work in the Office of the Attorney General are dedicated to serving all Delawareans with integrity and passion.\r\nDeputy Attorneys General, with critical support from criminal special investigators, victim service specialists, paraprofessionals, and administrative staff, prosecute criminal cases, enforce consumer laws, provide counsel to state agencies, ensure the public's access to open government, protect the abused, and much more.\r\n

Summary Statement

The Delaware Department of Justice is looking for an exceptional attorney\r\nand leader to head the Consumer Protection Unit ("CPU"), one of DOJ's most\r\nvisible and public facing units, as its next Director. The CPU Director leads a\r\ntalented team of attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and staff who show up\r\nevery day to protect Delawareans from deceptive and unfair practices by those\r\nwho would exploit them. You will\r\ninvestigate and litigate major cases (both local and national in scope), shape\r\nenforcement priorities alongside the Attorney General, craft the legislative\r\npriorities to bring before the General Assembly and innovate creative and\r\nstrategic ways to make Delaware a safer place for consumers.\r\nThe Consumer Protection Unit serves as a critical safeguard to\r\nprotect Delawareans from unfair, deceptive, and illegal practices in the\r\nmarketplace - through enforcement, mediation, advocacy, education,\r\nregistration, and outreach. CPU has enforcement authority over more than 40\r\ndifferent state and federal laws, with a focus on the Consumer Fraud Act and\r\nthe Deceptive Trade Practices Act. CPU prosecutes civil and\r\nadministrative cases and also conducts multistate investigations in\r\ncoordination with other states' attorney general offices.\r\nIf you are a seasoned litigator with a passion for public service\r\nand the desire to take on the challenge of leading a dynamic, mission-driven team,\r\nplease consider applying!\r\n\t\t\t\t ***Initial Application Review Date: May 21, 2026***\r\n

Essential Functions

The Director is responsible for strategically\r\nleading, managing, and directing all functions of CPU, a statewide unit\r\nconsisting of Deputy Attorneys General, paralegals, special investigators, a\r\ntechnologist, and administrative staff. This is a significant leadership\r\nopportunity within the Department of Justice that offers an opportunity to work\r\nclosely with DOJ senior leadership on major policy priorities for the Attorney\r\nGeneral and help shape the consumer protection landscape in Delaware. \r\nThe Director oversees CPU's broad\r\nportfolio, enforcing more than three dozen civil consumer laws and regulations\r\nin a variety of subject matters, including consumer fraud, deceptive trade\r\npractices, antitrust, privacy, data security, charitable solicitations,\r\nmanufactured housing, debt management, health spa, and telemarketing. CPU\r\nbrings major enforcement actions in state and federal court against companies\r\nengaged in deceptive practices, as well as administrative prosecutions and\r\nenforcement of cease-and-desist orders issued by the Director.\r\nThe Director is responsible for\r\nthe performance, culture, and strategic direction of CPU. The Director must be\r\nan effective manager of people, an experienced legal professional, a credible\r\npublic voice on consumer protection issues, and a strategic partner to the\r\nAttorney General and her leadership team on enforcement priorities, legislative\r\nmatters, and intergovernmental coordination.\r\nAs Director, you will report directly to the Division Director and serve\r\nas a strategic partner to the Attorney General and her leadership team. Your\r\nresponsibilities will fall into four interconnected areas:\r\nEnforcement\r\n\r\n Oversee all local and national consumer\r\n protection enforcement through investigative and prosecution phases, while\r\n maintaining an active personal caseload\r\n Approve and direct major investigations;\r\n determine when to escalate to formal proceedings; authorize and lead\r\n consumer protection litigation\r\n Ensure that complaint patterns surfaced\r\n through mediation are appropriately escalated to enforcement review\r\n Coordinate with multistate enforcement\r\n coalitions, including NAAG task forces, and with federal partners\r\n\r\nManagement\r\n\r\n Lead a statewide unit of Deputy Attorneys\r\n General, paralegals, special investigators, a technologist, and\r\n administrative staff\r\n Work closely with the Chief Special\r\n Investigator and Assistant Unit Head on legal, administrative, and HR\r\n matters\r\n Set performance expectations, conduct\r\n evaluations, and drive accountability across the Unit\r\n Manage hiring, performance management,\r\n and employee relations in collaboration with Human Resources\r\n Oversee the Consumer Protection Fund\r\n Build and sustain a Unit culture that is\r\n professional, mission-driven, equitable, and responsive\r\n\r\nPolicy \r\n\r\n Serve as DOJ's primary liaison to the\r\n Delaware General Assembly on consumer protection legislation\r\n Advise the Attorney General on\r\n legislative priorities and provide testimony before legislative committees\r\n Ensure that enforcement priorities align\r\n with the Attorney General's consumer protection agenda and DOJ's strategic\r\n priorities\r\n Alert executive leadership to emerging\r\n issues and trends\r\n\r\nCommunications & Outreach\r\n\r\n Draft and review press releases, public\r\n statements, and consumer publications\r\n Handle and assign media inquiries, public\r\n speaking requests, and consumer education initiatives\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Director also performs related\r\nduties and responsibilities as assigned.\r\n\r\nDeputy Attorneys General in CPU,\r\nincluding the Director,are responsible for all phases of litigation and\r\nother enforcement actions, including working with special investigators,\r\ndrafting and filing pleadings, conducting discovery, negotiating settlements,\r\nand trying cases in all Delaware courts before juries, judges, and administrative\r\nhearing officers. CPU DAGs also provide consumer education to the public\r\nand work with other state and governmental agencies to address consumer\r\nprotection issues.\r\n

Job Requirements

Candidates\r\nmust have very strong organizational skills, be able to work independently and\r\nmeet deadlines, and have a solid understanding of all\r\nfacets of complex civil litigation. The strongest candidates will also have significant\r\nmanagement experience, at least five years of complex civil litigation\r\nexperience, strong writing and presentation skills, and\r\nat least basic familiarity with financial reporting and accounting. We seek\r\nan individual with a strong commitment to working in the public interest. Delaware Bar admission or a willingness to\r\nsit for the next Delaware Bar exam required.\r\n

Additional Posting Information

\r\n\r\n This posting may close on or before 7/10/2026 upon filling the vacant position.\r\n Please be sure to upload a recent copy of your resume, as you complete the application process for this posting.\r\n This position is exempt from the State of Delaware Merit System.\r\n This\r\n position may be eligible for telework for up to three day per week.\r\n\r\n\r\n

Conditions of Hire

\r\n Employment is contingent upon satisfactory background checks.\r\n Direct deposit of paychecks is required as a condition of hire.\r\n Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.\r\n This position is a classification organized under an exclusive bargaining representative (labor organization) that has been elected by employees as their representative for collective bargaining and other applicable terms and conditions of employment, in accordance with Title 29, Chapter 59 and Title 19, Chapter 13 and 16. This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement based on its individual terms.\r\n\r\n

Benefits

Department of JusticeBenefits Include:\r\n\r\n May be eligible Loan forgiveness (State and Federal).\r\n State of Delaware healthcare plan.\r\n State of Delaware pension plan.\r\n Over 4 weeks of vacation per year.\r\n 3 weeks of paid sick leave per year.\r\n 12 weeks of paid parental leave.\r\n\r\nTo learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website athttps://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/\r\n

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance.\r\nThe State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.\r\n