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

Cobar; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Attorney General’s Office is hiring attorneys for the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section to represent the State and its employees in complex federal and state civil-rights matters. In the Assistant Attorney General role, you will litigate against law enforcement personnel, handle First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment claims, and manage your own cases with mentoring and teamwork.

Strong writing and litigation skills are essential, with opportunities for appellate work and

Qualifications

• Admitted to the Colorado bar or eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar and in good standing.
• Three or more years of legal experience preferred for appointment at the AAG II level but not required.
• Strong legal research, writing, and litigation skills demonstrated through federal/state court experience or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Litigate federal civil rights claims against state agencies and personnel.
• Manage own cases from pleading through trial and appeal.
• Write substantive briefs and conduct discovery.
• Argue motions and prepare matters for trial.
• Provide general legal advice to client agencies on policy issues and requests.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Litigation experience

Case management

Analytical skills

Education

Colorado Bar admission/eligibility

Job description

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

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.

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 legal representative and serves as legal counsel to all state executive and judicial agencies, departments, boards, and commissions. 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.

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.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

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.

Candidates at multiple experience levels will be considered. Three or more years of legal experience is preferred for candidates seeking appointment at the AAG II level but is not required for consideration. Further, we are seeking candidates that have at least some, if not many, of the following skills and experiences.

• 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.

This recruitment may be used to fill more than one position within the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section.