Assistant Attorney General - Tort Litigation Unit
State of Colorado See More Job Openings by This Employer- Department Information
Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!
The Tort Litigation Unit in the Civil Litigation and Employment Section of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office is looking for a talented and enthusiastic litigation attorney. This position offers an exciting opportunity to serve in a lead litigation role and provide support in critical and often high-profile civil lawsuits involving unique issues. Attorneys will represent state agencies, institutions of higher education, and state employees in constitutional, tort, and employment disputes, from inception through appeal. This position is best suited for a growth-minded attorney with strong communication skills, and someone who enjoys working collaboratively.
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.Visit our website to learn more: https://coag.gov/.- Description of Job
WHAT YOU WILL DO
The Tort Litigation Unit engages in litigation on tort, civil rights, and employment tort claims. The Unit provides representation to Colorado’s Office of Risk Management, institutions of higher education, and all state agencies and employees sued in state and federal court for damages in tort, civil rights statutes (primarily the Colorado Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act, 24 C.R.S. §§ 901, et seq., and 42 U.S.C. § 1983), and federal and state employment statutes. The Unit’s attorneys also provide legal advice, counsel, training, and investigation support to help our clients understand and minimize exposure to liability for personal injury, civil rights, and employment claims.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:- Defend a wide variety of claims and lawsuits, including alleged civil rights and employment law violations, personal injury accidents, and state and federal constitutional claims;
- Provide legal advice to the State Office of Risk Management, agencies, and institutions of higher education;
- Perform all aspects of litigation: an active motions practice, discovery, preparing witnesses for hearing and trial, filing prehearing documents, trying cases in both state and federal court, and briefing and arguing appeals before the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, and the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals; and
- Work collaboratively with litigators and general counsel within the Colorado Attorney General’s office.
This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General position in the Tort Litigation unit. Interviews will be offered on a rolling basis and finalists may be identified prior to the closing date.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.
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 $85,795-$95,437/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 AAG II salary range is $99,318-$132,901/annually.
Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.- Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Qualified applicants must be admitted to the Colorado bar or be 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 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.
We are looking for a teammate who has excellent interpersonal and client relationship skills; who thrives on and helps foster a collaborative and friendly work environment; yet who also can effectively work independently. The strongest candidates will have:- a minimum of three years of civil litigation experience in state and/or federal court;
- some knowledge of and experience with government-specific defenses such as the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, Eleventh Amendment immunity, qualified immunity, and absolute judicial immunity;
- knowledge of and experience with employment litigation, including experience with employment discrimination and retaliation claims;
- a strong skillset in legal analysis and in oral and written communications;
- ability to develop and implement a strong litigation strategy; and
- a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and public service.
Conditions of Employment:- Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
- Both in-person and remote work will be required.
- 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 is non-classified and is not subject to appeal rights.- Supplemental Information
WHY WORK FOR US
In addition to the comprehensive State of Colorado benefits package including competitive medical and dental 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:
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- 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 a recently renovated 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.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants must establish an account with governmentjobs.com and complete the on-line applications including the Contact Information section. Applicants are not required to complete the Work Experience, Education, or Additional Information sections of the on-line application.
Applicants must provide 1) a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and their relevant experience; 2) a resume; 3) a writing sample, and 4) three professional references. Use the "Attachments" feature of the online application to add documents.
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 hr@coag.gov.
- $85,795 - $132,901/year