Senior Paralegal (Legal Assistant II) - Employment Law Defense Unit

Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!

The Colorado Department of Law's Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is launching a new Employment Law Defense Unit and seeks an experienced litigation paralegal to join its founding team. This position offers the opportunity to support complex and consequential employment cases involving state agencies, institutions of higher education, and public employees while helping establish the systems and culture of a new Unit. 

Working closely with the First Assistant Attorney General and Unit attorneys, the Senior Paralegal will manage deadlines and case information, support discovery and document production, prepare filings and case materials, coordinate with clients and court personnel, and help attorneys prepare for depositions, hearings, and trials. The role also requires working independently to organize case materials, identify procedural needs, and support attorneys across all stages of litigation.

This role is best suited for a paralegal who takes ownership of work, exercises sound judgment, is highly organized and detail-oriented, and enjoys working collaboratively on meaningful public-service litigation.

WHO WE ARE
 
The Office of the Attorney General/Department of Law is the "People's Lawyer." The Attorney General, Phil Weiser, was elected by the people of Colorado and is the State's chief lawyer and law enforcement official. Our vision for the Department of Law is: "Together, we serve Colorado and its people, advancing the rule of law, protecting our democracy and promoting justice for all." Our core values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, drive our actions and demonstrate our focus on being principled public servants who are innovative and better together.

Learn more about the Colorado Attorney General’s Office here.The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section

The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section represents state agencies, institutions of higher education, and state officials and employees in civil litigation and employment matters. Its attorneys handle a broad range of complex and high-impact matters in state and federal courts and administrative forums, provide strategic legal advice to clients throughout state government, and work collaboratively across specialized units to deliver consistent, practical, and high-quality legal services.

The Employment Law Defense Unit

The Employment Law Defense Unit is a newly created team dedicated to defending state agencies, institutions of higher education, and public employees in state and federal employment litigation. The Unit will provide centralized ownership, strategy, and accountability for this growing practice area while collaborating closely with attorneys in the Employment Practices and Civil Rights, Tort Litigation, Cross-Unit Litigation, Higher Education, and other units throughout the office.

The Unit's work will include claims arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, whistleblower statutes, 42 U.S.C. Sections 1981, 1983, and 1985, and related contract, constitutional, and tort theories. The Unit will handle matters from pre-suit assessment and early case strategy through discovery, dispositive motions, trial, appeal, and settlement.

At launch, the Unit will consist of the First AAG, two Assistant Attorneys General, a paralegal, and a shared administrative assistant, with the potential to expand in the future. The Unit will also coordinate with affiliated attorneys and professional staff in other units who handle or support employment matters.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Senior Paralegal will provide advanced litigation support across the Unit's docket and will play a meaningful role in developing efficient, consistent, and high-quality practices for the new Unit. Responsibilities will include:

Manage Cases, Deadlines, and Filings

• Open, maintain, and close case files; organize pleadings, discovery, correspondence, evidence, and attorney work product in the Department's case-management and document systems.
• Track court deadlines, litigation calendars, assignments, and case milestones and proactively identify upcoming needs for attorneys and litigation teams.
• Prepare, proofread, cite-check, format, e-file, and serve pleadings, motions, briefs, notices, subpoenas, and other litigation documents in state and federal courts.
• Draft routine correspondence, notices, case summaries, chronologies, tables of contents and authorities, and other legal documents under attorney supervision.
• Communicate professionally with client agencies, court personnel, opposing counsel, witnesses, vendors, and other Department staff to obtain information, coordinate logistics, and keep matters moving.
• Apply consistent organizational practices for case records and evaluate incoming materials for completeness when matters are transitioned from other units.

Support Discovery and Factual Development

• Assist with litigation holds, document collection, initial disclosures, written discovery, subpoenas, public-records coordination, and other information-gathering tasks.
• Organize, review, index, and track documents and electronically stored information; coordinate productions; and support attorney review in Relativity or other e-discovery platforms.
• Help prepare discovery requests and responses, privilege logs, document summaries, deposition materials, and factual or damages analyses.
• Conduct legal and factual research, verify citations and procedural requirements, and compile information from legal references, records, and other sources.
• Coordinate with clients and litigation teams to identify custodians, locate responsive information, and confirm that collections and productions are complete.
• Assist with developing case-specific approaches to organizing factual information and identifying gaps or follow-up needs for attorney review.

Prepare for Depositions, Hearings, and Trials

• Schedule and coordinate depositions, witness interviews, mediations, hearings, and trials, including arrangements with clients, witnesses, experts, vendors, and court personnel.
• Prepare exhibit lists, witness materials, deposition and hearing binders, trial notebooks, demonstratives, and electronic exhibit presentations.
• Assist attorneys with witness preparation, deposition summaries, transcript and exhibit management, courtroom technology, and on-site hearing or trial support.
• Support settlement documentation, approval processes, execution, and other case-closing requirements.
• Support expert-related logistics, including scheduling, document coordination, and administrative requirements.
• Assist with preparation of records on appeal and related filings when assigned.

Help Build and Improve the Unit

• Help develop and maintain intake procedures, checklists, templates, playbooks, filing protocols, and knowledge-management resources for employment litigation.
• Track case information and assist with reports and metrics concerning workload, deadlines, outcomes, and litigation trends.
• Identify process improvements and technology solutions that strengthen quality control, efficiency, and communication.
• Collaborate with attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and litigation-support professionals across the Department and contribute to a respectful, inclusive, and accountable team culture.
• Participate in professional development and training relevant to employment litigation, discovery, trial support, and legal technology.
• Recommend updates to workflows and templates based on recurring needs and assist with implementing approved improvements.

This recruitment may be used to fill other positions within the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section at the Department of Law.

Salary note: Although a salary range is listed, salary will be set commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. 

Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
 

Residency Requirement:

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. 

Class Code & Classification Description:

H5E2XX

LEGAL ASSISTANT II

Minimum Qualifications and Substitutions: Please document all relevant experience in detail on your application. Experience will not be inferred or assumed. Any part-time experience listed will be prorated. 

Education/Licensure/ Certification/Experience: 
Paralegal certificate obtained through either an American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal studies program or an accredited institution 
One (1) year of paralegal experience

Substitutions
Two (2) years of work experience in a paralegal capacity which included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources will substitute for the required certificate
A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school may substitute for the required certificate

Note: Candidates possessing a foreign degree must submit a translation (evaluation) of their degree from an accredited institution, such as The National Association of Credential Evaluations Services in order to be given credit for the degree.

Preferred Qualifications:  In addition to the minimum qualifications, if you possess any of the following specifically include the details on your application. This information will be used to assess your qualifications and may be used to determine a top group of applicants.

• Three (3)+ years of paralegal experience with clearly demonstrated litigation-support responsibilities.
• Substantial experience supporting civil litigation in state or federal court, particularly employment, civil-rights, public-sector, or other complex litigation.

• Experience supporting multiple attorneys or litigation teams on a substantial and deadline-intensive docket.
• Experience with written discovery, document collection and production, subpoenas, privilege logs, depositions, dispositive motions, hearings, or trials.
• Experience with ProLaw or a similar case-management system and Relativity or another e-discovery platform.
• Experience with state and federal electronic-filing systems, court rules, citation checking, and preparation of tables of contents and authorities.
• Experience preparing exhibits, witnesses, trial notebooks, and electronic presentations for depositions, mediations, hearings, or trials.
• Experience working with governmental entities, public institutions, or sophisticated organizational clients.
• Experience developing templates, checklists, workflows, reports, or other tools that improve litigation quality and efficiency.

We are seeking a dedicated public servant who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and can provide reliable, proactive support on a complex litigation docket. The strongest candidates will demonstrate sound judgment, initiative, excellent organization and communication, comfort with legal technology, and the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality.

Required Competencies

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, proofreading, and document-management skills.
• Ability to research, analyze, organize, and compile legal and factual information.
• Strong time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple matters, hard deadlines, and shifting priorities.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of assignments, ask appropriate questions, and collaborate effectively as part of a litigation team.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability and willingness to learn and use case-management, e-discovery, electronic-filing, and trial-presentation technology.

Conditions of Employment: 

• Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
• Colorado Department of Law participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.  
• This position offers flexible work arrangements. Flexible work arrangements may change at any time based on business needs.  

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must establish an account with governmentjobs.com and complete the online application.

Required Application Materials: Applicant may redact information that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.    

1. A completed State of Colorado Application: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the application provided is fully completed and clearly describes their education, training and experience as it relates to this position.  Applications left blank or marked “See Resume” will not be considered.
2. Current Resume: A detailed resume outlining your background, skills and experiences including previously held positions and academic background, is required at the time of application. This document will be used to assess candidates during the comparative analysis process.
3. Cover Letter: A detailed cover letter stating why you are interested in this position and what skills you possess that would make you a strong applicant for this position. This document will be used to assess candidates during the comparative analysis process. 

Veteran’s Preference: In order to be considered for veteran’s preference you must attach a copy of your DD214 forms as well as any documentation required to prove disability or marital status.

Your application will be reviewed by a qualified Human Resources Specialist to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. If your application does not demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements, you will be notified that you will not proceed in the selection process for this position. If your application is rejected and you have questions, you may contact Vanessa Rhea at [email protected]. 

The Office of the Attorney General offers challenging, interesting, and meaningful work. We are an equal opportunity employer and believe that a diverse workforce adds quality and perspective to the services we provide to the public. Candidates with diverse qualities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Assessment Information:

Colorado Revised Statutes require that all state employees be hired and promoted through comparative analysis of merit and fitness. Upon meeting the minimum qualifications, the next phase of the process is typically a structured application/resume review by a panel of subject matter experts against the job duties and/or preferred qualifications in this job announcement to determine technical competence, depth and breadth of experience and potential job fit.  

• Technical Competence – Technical experience as it relates to the duties outlined in this job announcement. 
• Depth and Breadth of Experience – Experience that covers multiple areas outlined in this job announcement and demonstrates the level of responsibility assigned. 
• Job Fit – Experience will be evaluated to determine how well experience aligns with and meets the business needs of this position.  Current experience is preferred. 
  
  

It is imperative that the “Work Experience” section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work product, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants as the materials may be used to identify a top group for additional assessment or establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed, and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at [email protected] within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the Department’s action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.

WHY WORK FOR US
 
We Embrace Flexibility
We aim to produce outstanding work product for our clients, be efficient with our time, and support each other as team members – which also means we embrace flexible working arrangements when and where possible.
 
We Are Committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At the DOL, our commitment to DEI is thriving. We know that we are better together when our differences are valued and everyone is inspired and empowered to contribute. As such, we strive to provide a safe environment where individuals feel valued and respected for who they are; demonstrate a behavior and mindset where differences are welcomed, and individuals are treated equally and empowered to do their best work; and promote growth and innovation through a diverse workforce. We empower an active Diversity Equity & Inclusion Impact Team that creates approaches to ensure safe spaces and a culture supportive of people being their authentic selves, hosts events and programs on DEI areas important to our employees, enables development and sustainability of resource groups that give a voice to historically marginalized populations, focuses on retaining our incredible talent, and more!  If your professional goals include promoting growth and innovation with colleagues who recognize that we are better together when our differences are valued and respected, then DOL is your place to be!
 
We Have Strong Core Values
 Our core values drive our actions. At the Department of Law, we are: 1) principled, maintaining the highest ethical standards, rigorous legal analysis, and careful evaluation of facts; 2) public servants, who are always ensuring our work is not about us, but instead is about the people of Colorado; 3) innovative, by seeking to identify the best approach, make deliberate decisions, and look to improve; and 4) "better together," by working to support each other and collaborate.
 
We are Committed to Developing our Employees
 We are deeply invested in our talent and regularly provide meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth through training and coaching. Further, our professional development and performance goal setting process is collaborative and ongoing, and aimed at helping our employees grow and succeed.
 
We Offer Excellent Benefits

In addition to the comprehensive State of Colorado benefits package including competitive medical, dental and vision health plans, employer-paid life insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans with Colorado PERA, and vacation and sick leave earned each month, there are many other unique benefits that we offer, including:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: As a state government employee, you might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. A borrower may qualify for forgiveness by making 120 on-time payments while employed full-time in public service, if they have certain kinds of federal loans in a qualifying repayment plan
• Free access to an on-site fitness center
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible work schedules, professional development opportunities, and an employee discount program
• Employer-paid mental health and counseling services through Colorado State Employee Assistance Program
• Employer-paid annual attorney registration dues
• Employer-provided access to professional development training and CLE through PLI, Department of Law University and other entities.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
 
ADAAA Requests
The Department of Law is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Julie Christopher at [email protected].