Assistant Attorney General - Civil Rights Litigation Defense (Corrections Unit)

Colorado AG; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Attorney General's Office in Denver seeks an Assistant Attorney General – Civil Rights Litigation Defense (Corrections Unit) to litigate federal and state civil rights matters from start to finish. You will handle briefing, discovery, motions, and trial preparation, representing the State and its employees with independent judgment and teamwork.

The role emphasizes strong legal writing, research, and appellate work, with opportunities to advise agencies on policy issues and open records

Qualifications

• Strong legal research, analytical, and writing skills demonstrated through litigation experience.
• Experience with briefing in federal or state court, appellate work, or clerkship.
• Interest and/or experience with 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases, Constitutional law, and federal/state appeals preferred.
• Ability to manage one’s own caseload from pleading through trial and appeal.
• Good problem-solving skills and the confidence to ask questions when needed.

Responsibilities

• Litigate federal civil rights claims against law enforcement personnel in state agencies.
• Prepare and file substantive briefs, conduct discovery, and argue motions.
• Manage cases from inception through trial and appeal with autonomy.
• Provide general legal advice to client agencies on policy issues and records requests.
• Collaborate with a team while maintaining independent judgment and risk awareness.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Litigation

Analytical thinking

Job description

Assistant Attorney General – Civil Rights Litigation Defense (Corrections Unit)

Details

Section: Civil Litigation and Employment Law Position Number: LAA-09215 Salary Range: $89,964.00 -$136,468.00 Yearly Apply By: Monday, October 12, 2026, 11:59 pm FLSA: Exempt

Work Unit: Corrections Job Location: 1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203 Release Date: Friday, September 25, 2026 Employment Type: Full-Time Position Type: Non-Classified

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

Litigate consequential constitutional cases from start to finish! The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section of the Colorado Attorney General's Office is hiring attorneys to fill newly added positions representing the State and its employees in complex federal and state civil-rights matters involving the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, habeas corpus, and related appeals. Attorneys in this role manage their own cases, write substantive briefs, conduct discovery, argue motions, prepare matters for trial, and work closely with an experienced and collaborative team.

Prior corrections or §1983 experience is helpful but not required. We welcome strong writers and litigators from private practice, government, judicial clerkships, and other backgrounds who want meaningful public-service work and substantial responsibility.

Description of Job

WHAT YOU WILL DO

In this role you will have the opportunity to litigate federal civil rights claims of all sorts, primarily brought against law enforcement personnel employed by the Parole Division and Colorado Department of Corrections. This often includes claims brought pursuant to the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as claims brought pursuant to statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Our team also handles various other matters such as habeas corpus petitions, small claims cases, and judicial review of agency rulings. Attorneys may also provide general legal advice to client agencies on a broad variety of topics including policy issues and subpoena or open records requests.

Experience in these areas of law is very helpful but not required – we have robust resources to support attorneys who are new to these areas of law. What is important to us is experience in, and enthusiasm for, legal writing and litigation work. So, if you enjoy all aspects of litigation, including motions practice, discovery, trial work and appellate work, this is the role for you! We are looking for candidates who are great writers and thinkers and who can manage their own federal and state cases. The unit is a collegial team in which attorneys regularly exchange drafts, discuss difficult legal issues, develop case strategy together, and assist one another during major motions, trials, and appeals. Attorneys retain meaningful autonomy while receiving accessible supervision, mentoring, and peer support. This work requires attorneys who can vigorously represent state clients while exercising independent judgment, identifying risk, and providing candid advice that helps agencies carry out their responsibilities lawfully.

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 an attorney 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 $89,964-$119,047/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.

Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Strong legal research, analytical, and writing skills, demonstrated through litigation experience that includes briefing in federal or state court, judicial clerkship work, appellate work, or comparable experience.
• Interest and/or experience with 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases, C.R.C.P. 106 cases, Constitutional law, administrative law, and federal and state appeals is preferred.
• Broad range of litigation experience.
• Ability to be self-directed and manage one’s own caseload from pleading stage through trial and appeal.
• Good problem-solving skills and the confidence to know when to ask questions.

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.