Every August, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office welcomes a class of recent law-school graduates to serve as Assistant Attorneys General for the State of Missouri. These class members represent some of the brightest legal minds of their generation and are committed to providing the highest quality legal representation to the six million Missourians who call our State home.
Class members start with a week-long orientation where they receive onboarding training from experienced and award-winning attorneys, general counsels, and judges, and meet their individual section mentors for their first year of practice. Throughout their first year, Class members attend specialized trainings on how to conduct depositions, mediations, and the AGO Trial Academy.
Class positions are open to those licensed for less than one year, recent graduates, and current 3Ls. Openings are available in a variety of sections within the Civil and Criminal Divisions. The Civil Division sections include Financial Services (recovery of money owed to the state), Consumer Protection, Litigation (civil defense), Labor Division (workers’ compensation), Employment Trial (civil discrimination claims and suits involving law enforcement officers), and Governmental Affairs. The Criminal Justice Division sections include Criminal Appeals, Medicaid Fraud, Public Protection (special prosecutions, habeas, cold case, and sexually violent predator units). A list of these divisions can be found here.
Preferred experience/skills:
- Excellent legal writing
- Strong oral advocacy
- Commitment to public service
Depending on section placement, Class members will be able to gain courtroom and jury trial experience on either a regional or state-wide basis. If placed in a litigation section, they will be handling litigation from case initiation through appeal. There are opportunities in particular sections for practice in both state and federal courts. Some sections also offer administrative practices including workers’ compensation and appearances before state agencies, and some general counsel work for boards and commissions. Class members may defend state agencies and/or prosecute criminal cases ranging from misdemeanor fraud to homicide. Candidates should expect to become extremely proficient in motion and appellate practice as well as reviewing investigations.
What the Attorney General’s Office offers new Class members over other firms and agencies is:
- More experience and practice opportunities in a wide array of legal fields;
- Mentoring and guidance from experienced attorneys and colleagues;
- The opportunity to immediately work on cases that affect policy and have a statewide impact;
- Regular interactions with courts and state agencies, including state agency heads and general counsels;
- State and health retirement benefits, coverage of bar dues, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness;
If you are interested in serving as the People’s lawyer, advancing the interests of the State, protecting its citizens, and fighting for openness and justice, especially for those who have no voice, apply today.
Application link: https://agomo.applicantpro.com/jobs/2572245.html
How to Apply
On-campus interviews are conducted at all four Missouri law schools (University of Missouri – Columbia and Kansas City campuses, Washington University, and St. Louis University). Please contact your law school’s career development office for more details on upcoming application deadlines and interview dates. The office also collects applications from out-of-state students on its website at: Join Our team
For other questions about applying for a position in the incoming Class for the Attorney General’s Office, please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@ago.mo.gov. Should you need additional assistance, please call the office’s main line at 573-751-3321 and request to be directed to a recruitment director listed below.
