About the office
The Attorney General serves as the chief legal officer of the State. The Attorney General is mandated by our constitution and elected to a four-year term by the people of Arizona.
The Attorney General’s Office represents and provides legal advice to most State agencies; enforces consumer protection and civil rights laws; and prosecutes criminals charged with complex financial crimes and certain conspiracies involving illegal drugs. In addition, all appeals statewide from felony convictions are handled by this Office.
The Attorney General’s Office brings and defends lawsuits on behalf of the State and prepares formal legal opinions requested by State officers, legislators, or county attorneys on issues of law.
The Attorney General’s Office has jurisdiction over Arizona's Consumer Fraud Act, white collar crime, organized crime, public corruption, environmental laws, civil rights laws, and crimes committed in more than one county. Additionally, this Office prosecutes cases normally handled by county attorneys when they have a conflict.
The Attorney General’s Office is the largest law office in the State, with approximately 400 attorneys and 1,000 employees. The Office is divided into Criminal; Public Advocacy; Civil Rights; Child and Family Protection; Civil; Finance; Solicitor General; Executive Office; and Employee Services.
The Criminal Division is made up of Capital Litigation; Criminal Appeals; Criminal Prosecutions; Financial Remedies; Victim Services; and Special Investigations. The Division represents the State in death penalty proceedings. It also investigates and prosecutes drug traffickers, trafficking organizations, money launderers, criminal enterprises, white-collar crime, financial crimes, and cases dealing with the fraud, abuse and neglect of persons receiving AHCCCS benefits. It provides support to local and federal law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona.
The Public Advocacy Division is made up of Consumer Protection and Environmental Enforcement. The Division pursues those who prey upon the public and threaten the economic and environmental well-being of Arizonans. The Consumer Protection Section enforces consumer protection laws and educates consumers on how to avoid becoming victims of fraud. The Environmental Enforcement Section prosecutes criminal activity and civil violations related to Arizona's environmental laws and serious industrial injuries. The Division’s attorneys provide legal advice to the State’s Banking, Real Estate, and Insurance Departments.
The mission of the Civil Rights Division is to enforce civil rights laws, increase public awareness of civil rights, and provide dispute resolution services. The Division’s major duty is to enforce state and federal statutes that prohibit discrimination in employment, voting, public accommodations, disability, and housing by investigating and litigating civil rights complaints. In addition, the Division provides conflict resolution services and mediation programs statewide, including many court and agency programs. The Division not only is responsive to complaints it receives, but actively addresses discriminatory activity by providing education awareness. It also conducts surveys and inquiries in efforts to eliminate discrimination and publishes reports to highlight civil rights issues in the State.
The Child and Family Protection Division is responsible for providing legal services to all programs and business operations of the Department of Economic Security (DES) (www.azdes.gov), but as such, cannot give legal advice or provide representation to the public. The Division provides these services through three sections:
• T he Protective Services Section (PSS) represents Child Protective Services in 15 counties statewide. PSS represents DES in all dependency, severance, and guardianship proceedings (including appeals) brought for the protection of abused and neglected children. To report child abuse, contact DES at 1.888.767.2445 or www.azdes.gov.
• The Child Support Enforcement Section (CSE) represents DES’s Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE). DCSE is responsible for the statewide operation of the Title IV-D child support program. This includes establishing paternity and obtaining and enforcing support orders. CSE provides representation in 10 counties (excluding Cochise, Gila, La Paz, Navajo and Pinal). The Attorney General does not represent individual parties in child support matters, but only represents DCSE. However, any member of the public can apply for services from DCSE. To inquire about child support payments 24 hours a day, contact 602.252.4045 or 1.800.882.4151 (outside Maricopa County). Be sure to have your ATLAS case number.
• The Civil and Criminal Litigation and Advice Section (CLA) provides legal advice and representation in administrative hearings and in state and federal courts to a myriad of programs within DES other than Protective Services and Child Support Enforcement. Some of these programs are the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Adult Protective Services, Procurement, Unemployment Insurance, Welfare Programs (food stamps and child care assistance), and licensing of foster homes and child welfare agencies. To report suspected welfare fraud, call 1.800.251.2436. To report suspected adult abuse, call 1.877.767.2385.
For additional resources, see Children and Families and Seniors.
The Civil Division is comprised of Education and Health; Employment Law; Liability Management ; Licensing and Enforcement; Natural Resources; Tax, Bankruptcy and Collection; and Transportation. The Division provides comprehensive legal services for its many clients across State government in lawsuits concerning employment discrimination, personal injuries, licensing, property damage, and constitutional law issues. It also brings actions to collect taxes and debts owed to the State and defends against liability lawsuits.
The Finance Division provides legal advice, litigation, budgetary, contract, accounting and financial control services and advice to the Office and to the executive and judicial branches of State government. The Division centralizes all financial functions of the Office by combining expertise on public monies, procurement, and agency authority. The integration of legal and non-legal financial expertise ensures the highest standards for coordination of financial service and consistency of advice to clients. The Finance Division is made up of Administrative Law, Financial Services, and Information Services:
• The Administrative Law Section (ALS) represents over 60 State agencies, boards, and commissions in matters concerning public monies, procurement, finance, open meetings, public records, and general agency advice. Clients include the Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Department of Administration, Courts, Department of Gaming, State Lottery, State Retirement, Department of Commerce, Department of Corrections, Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Housing, to name a few. ALS also reviews State contracts and administrative rules.
• The Financial Services Section manages all financial and business operational services within the Office.
• The Information Services Section maintains, supports, plans, and installs all computer automation and network equipment and attends to user needs.
The Solicitor General assists in appellate cases, including supervision of all civil appeals; oversees preparation of legal opinions; administers and enforces State election laws; provides independent advice to State agencies and boards in administrative proceedings in which Assistant Attorneys General appear as advocates; reviews constitutional challenges to State laws; and works on special projects as requested by the Attorney General. With regard to civil appeals, the Solicitor General’s Office authorizes all appeals and special actions; reviews drafts of all civil appellate pleadings; arranges moot courts; reviews and coordinates amicus curiae requests; and directly handles certain cases.
The Executive Office is led by the Attorney General, Chief of Staff and Chief Deputy who provide the Office with overall policy and management. The Executive Office staff includes a Director of Community Outreach and Education, Director of Legislative Affairs, and Director of Communications. The Executive Office is the focal point for policy development, external communications, emergencies, and issues that are sensitive or have broad impact.
The Employee Services Office is made up of Human Resources; Facilities Management and Planning; and Library and Research Services. The Employee Services Office provides quality internal support and administrative services that meet the ever-changing business requirements of the Attorney General’s Office. It also ensures the efficient use of resources consistent with law, agency mission, and customer needs.
