Sr. Assistant City Attorney - Water Litigation

Salary to be commensurate with experience.  

Deadline to apply: July 25th, 2025 (This position is subject to close once a qualified pool of applications has been obtained) 

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered. 

Education:   

• Graduation from an accredited law school.

Experience:   

• Prior experience working with governmental entities and Colorado water law – Required 

• 7 years of experience in water litigation – Required 

• Prior experience acting as lead counsel or in a major assisting role in water court trials –Required 

• Subject matter expertise in some or all of the following areas of Colorado Water Law and Water Rights, to include: Prior Appropriation Doctrine, Change of use cases, Exchanges of water, Storage rights, Augmentation Plans, Short term water leases, Substitute Supply Plans, Understanding of West Slope water issues and concerns, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, and water quality - Preferred 

Licenses and Certifications Required:   

• Applicants must be licensed to practice by the Colorado Supreme Court and be in good standing 

• Applicants must be eligible to become admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court of Colorado, if not already admitted to practice in the District 

• Applicants must be eligible to become admitted to practice in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, if not already admitted to practice in the Circuit   

Knowledge: 

• Knowledge of the basic substantive areas of law handled by the section, the ability to conduct legal research, and write briefs 

• Knowledge of procedural rules Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and local court rules 

• Utilizes knowledge and abilities obtained through law school education and prior legal experience to conduct research, draft legal documents, provide sound advice to City staff, and/or participate in litigation 

• Knowledge of general office procedures, legal terminology, legal forms, computers including related word processing software applications, legal research and writing  

• Bluebook and other similar legal citation methods  

Skills:   

• Substantial skill in pleadings practice 

• Skill in legal research  

• Motivation, ability, and perseverance for daily courtroom/litigation duties  

• Teamwork, professionalism, positive attitude 

• Strong interpersonal skills  

• Skill in the use of Windows-based programs 

• Strong customer service skills 

Abilities:   

• Ability to effectively litigate water cases   

• Demonstrated knowledge of human behavior, and ability to effectively counsel, train, interview, and imbue others with an opinion or understanding of a concept 

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, all levels of management, including executive staff, citizens, and elected officials 

• Handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy 

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing  

• Creatively solve problems, negotiate, and handle stressful situations in a positive manner 

WORKING CONDITIONS  

Essential Personnel:  

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel 

Physical Demands: 

• Sedentary physical work that involves moving no more than 10 pounds at a time 

• Frequent hand/eye coordination to operate office equipment 

• Frequent speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and citizens. 

• Clear vision to read, record, and interpret information 

• Occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing 

• Occasional pushing, pulling, bending, and stooping. 

Work Environment: 

• Works primarily in a clean, comfortable environment, in an office or courtroom 

• The City Attorney’s Office currently follows a hybrid work structure where employees have some required days in the office (both scheduled and as needed for case-related tasks), but otherwise can work remotely or from the office, based on the demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. This structure is subject to change, depending on the direction from the City Council. 

• The City Attorney’s office is a collegial work environment that is committed to providing excellent legal services to its clients and supporting their efforts to better serve the citizens of the City of Aurora 

Equipment Used: 

• Uses standard office equipment, including personal computers and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel, and menu-driven databases.  

• This position may require the incumbent to use personal equipment (e.g., vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.