Senior Assistant Attorney General/Assistant Attorney General - Employment Law Defense Unit

This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. 
Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

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, Senior AAG, two Assistant Attorneys General, a paralegal, and shared administrative support, with the potential to expand in the future. The Unit will also coordinate with affiliated attorneys in other units who handle or support employment matters and want to deepen their state and federal litigation experience.

 
WHAT YOU WILL DO
 As an Assistant Attorney General, you will serve as a lead litigator and help establish an excellent, consistent statewide employment-defense practice. Responsibilities will include: 

Lead and Handle Employment Litigation 

• Serve as lead counsel in complex employment cases and personally handle matters through all phases of litigation, including pre-suit assessment, investigation, pleadings, discovery, experts, dispositive motions, trial, appeal, and settlement.

• Defend claims arising under federal and state employment statutes and related contract, constitutional, and tort theories, including the claims identified above.

• Develop early case assessments, litigation plans, staffing recommendations, discovery strategies, risk analyses, and meaningful client-communication plans.

• Provide practical, candid, and strategic advice to client representatives regarding litigation risk, settlement, institutional impact, and opportunities for early resolution. 

• Lead or support high-risk, high-profile, novel, or especially complex matters, including matters requiring coordination with senior Department leadership, the Governor's Office, Risk Management, the State Controller, or outside counsel.

• Promote consistent litigation positions, efficient practices, and high-quality written and oral advocacy across the State's employment-defense portfolio.

Lead Teams, Mentor, and Strengthen the Practice 

• Lead litigation teams by establishing clear roles, strategy, deadlines, and expectations, and by providing timely and constructive review of written work and advocacy.

• Mentor and coach attorneys and professional staff and create meaningful opportunities for professional growth through active case work.

• Support the First Assistant Attorney General in developing templates, playbooks, training, metrics, and other resources that improve consistency, efficiency, knowledge sharing, and practice excellence.

• Partner with the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit and other counsel to connect lessons from litigation with preventive advice, training, and improved employment practices. 
  
  

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

Salary Note: The Department of Law uses a wage progression compensation model. 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. 

 
In order to be appointed as a Senior Assistant Attorney General, candidates must have a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant legal experience as a recognized subject matter expert in employment litigation, with substantial practice in state and/or federal court. If the position is filled at the level of Senior Assistant Attorney General, the pay range will be $112,564 to $150,556/annually.

Attorneys with more than 3 years of experience practicing as an attorney may be hired as an Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II). The salary range for an AAG II is $102,099 - $136,468/annually. 

Attorneys with less than 3 years of experience as a practicing attorney will be hired as an Assistant Attorney General I (AAG I). The salary range for an AAG I is $89,964-$119,047/annually.  

Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking an experienced employment litigator who can independently lead complex matters, work effectively with sophisticated clients and multidisciplinary teams, mentor others, and help build a new Unit and statewide practice. Applicants should highlight in their cover letter their employment litigation experience, lead litigation responsibility, mentoring or team-leadership experience, and relevant public-sector work.

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be admitted to the Colorado Bar or clearly eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar and be in good standing at the time of application. Candidates eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar must submit proof of their completed application and application for Practice Pending Admission before the first day of employment.
• Have three (3) years or more of employment litigation experience with substantial practice in state and/or federal court.
• Demonstrate experience independently developing litigation strategy and handling major phases of complex civil litigation, including discovery, dispositive motions, settlement, and trial or evidentiary hearings.
• Demonstrate strong legal analysis, judgment, research, writing, oral advocacy, negotiation, organization, and time-management skills.
• Demonstrate the interpersonal and client-service skills necessary to build trust, communicate candidly, and work collaboratively with clients, colleagues, and professional staff.

For the Senior Assistant Attorney General position, we are seeking applicants who have a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant legal experience as a recognized subject matter expert in employment litigation, with substantial practice in state and/or federal court.

The strongest candidates will also have:

• First-chair or comparable lead responsibility in complex employment or civil litigation.
• Experience representing governmental entities, public institutions, or public officials and employees.
• Knowledge of public-sector employment, governmental immunity, the Colorado state personnel system, or state risk-management and settlement processes.
• Experience managing a substantial litigation portfolio and communicating risk and strategy to senior or high-level stakeholders.
• Experience leading litigation teams and mentoring or coaching attorneys and professional staff.
• A demonstrated commitment to public service and to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, accountable, and respectful work environment.

The Office of the Attorney General offers challenging, interesting, and meaningful work. We are an equal opportunity employer and believe that a diverse work force adds quality and perspective to the services we provide to the public. Candidates with diverse qualities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
 
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.  
• Candidates eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar will be required to submit proof of their completed application and application for Practice Pending Admission before the first day of employment. For more information about admission to the Colorado Bar, please review information on the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel website.
• This position offers flexible work arrangements. Flexible work arrangements may change at any time based on business needs.

This position is non-classified and is not subject to appeal rights.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must establish an account with governmentjobs.com and complete the online application, including the Contact Information section. Applicants are not required to complete the Work Experience, Education, or Additional Information sections of the online application. 

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

Applicants must provide: 1) a cover letter explaining their interest in joining the Employment Law Defense Unit and describing their relevant employment litigation, team-leadership, mentoring, and public-sector experience; 2) a resume; 3) a writing sample; and 4) three professional references. Use the "Attachments" feature of the online application to add documents. 

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 Attorneys

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 attorneys 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.

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]. 

For general information regarding this position and other attorney opportunities at our office, please contact our Legal Talent Director at [email protected].