Assistant Attorney General - Employment Practices and Civil Rights

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

The Colorado Department of Law’s Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section seeks an attorney with civil litigation experience to join the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit. The attorney will advise state agencies and higher education on complex employment, labor, and civil rights matters, and represent clients in state and federal litigation.

We value intellectually curious attorneys who work well in a team, exercise independent judgment, and are committed to public service.

Qualifications

• Strong legal and advocacy skills including analytical, research, writing, and oral advocacy abilities.
• Knowledge of employment, labor, civil rights, or administrative law with eagerness to develop expertise in new areas.
• Excellent client relationship and interpersonal skills with ability to communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted employment counsel for state agencies and higher education institutions on labor and employment matters, develop policies, ensure compliance, and provide training.
• Represent state agencies and higher education in litigation before the State Personnel Board and courts, manage cases from discovery to appeal.
• Advise the Colorado Civil Rights Division on employment, housing, and public accommodation discrimination matters and pursue affirmative litigation.
• Represent state government in complex labor matters including disputes before the DOL and arbitrators, and occasionally in court.

Skills

Legal analysis

Advocacy skills

Employment law knowledge

Client relations

Independent judgment

Job description

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.

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

The Colorado Department of Law’s Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is seeking an attorney with experience in civil litigation and an interest in civil rights, employment, and/or labor law to join our Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to represent and advise all state agencies and institutions of higher education in Colorado on complex, challenging, and often novel employment, labor, and civil rights issues. Attorneys in this Unit play a critical role in helping state government navigate important legal issues while developing strong, collaborative, and rewarding relationships with their clients.

The attorney will serve as both a trusted legal advisor and a litigator, handling a broad portfolio of employment, labor, and civil rights matters. The position offers significant opportunities for direct client engagement, independent legal analysis, creative problem-solving, and meaningful litigation experience—all within an engaging and collaborative team-first environment.

We are looking for an attorney who is intellectually curious, enjoys tackling new and evolving legal challenges, exercises sound independent judgment, and thrives in a collaborative and supportive team environment. We value attorneys who bring initiative, creativity, and a commitment to providing excellent legal services to the people and institutions of Colorado.

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.

Learn more about the Colorado Attorney General’s Office here.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Act as trusted employment counsel for Colorado: The selected attorney will be called upon to be a trusted legal advisor to state agencies and institutions of higher education on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including developing and implementing workplace policies, navigating complex employee relations issues, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, and helping clients proactively resolve labor and employment disputes. You may also develop and deliver training on labor and employment matters for state agencies and institutions of higher education.
• Serve as litigation counsel for Colorado: The selected attorney will also represent state agencies and institutions of higher education in a broad range of employment matters before the State Personnel Board, and occasionally in state and federal court. These duties will include managing cases through all phases of litigation, including settlement negotiations, discovery, witness preparation, motions practice, evidentiary hearings and trials, and appellate advocacy before the State Personnel Board and Colorado appellate courts. This work offers meaningful opportunities to develop and strengthen litigation skills, including trying cases before administrative law judges and, on occasion, judges and juries in state and federal court.
• Enforcement of Civil Rights laws for Coloradans: The selected attorney will advise the Colorado Civil Rights Division in employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination matters. This involves affirmative litigation prosecuting employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination complaints against public and private actors for violations of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.
• Represent state government in complex labor matter: The selected attorney will represent state agencies and institutions of higher education in a variety of labor relations matters, including disputes before the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, proceedings before labor arbitrators, and occasionally litigation in state or federal court.

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.

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 seeking attorneys with at least four years of experience in civil litigation and/or providing legal advice and counsel who are eager to take on challenging legal issues, build meaningful client relationships, and contribute to a collaborative and supportive team. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of strong legal skills, sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to public service.

We recognize that great attorneys bring different experiences and strengths to the table. While no candidate is expected to check every box, we are particularly interested in individuals who demonstrate many of the following qualifications and qualities:

• Strong legal and advocacy skills, including excellent analytical, research, writing, oral advocacy, litigation, and negotiation abilities.
• Knowledge of relevant areas of law, including employment, labor, civil rights, and/or administrative law, with an eagerness to develop expertise in new areas.
• Sound judgment and professionalism, particularly when navigating sensitive or complex legal issues, advising senior government officials and recognizing when to seek input or collaborate with colleagues and supervisors.
• Excellent client relationship and interpersonal skills, with an ability to build trust, communicate effectively, and provide practical, thoughtful, and responsive legal advice.
• Initiative and intellectual curiosity, including an enthusiasm for tackling unfamiliar legal questions, quickly mastering new subject matter, and independently developing creative and effective solutions.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple litigation and advice matters, manage competing priorities, and work independently with appropriate supervision.
• A collaborative and team-oriented approach, including a willingness to share knowledge, support colleagues, seek different perspectives, and contribute to a positive and supportive work environment.
• Experience with Colorado state government, including familiarity with the state personnel system or prior public-sector legal experience, is preferred but not required.
• A passion for public service and civil rights, including experience or a demonstrated interest in civil rights litigation and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

THIS POSITION REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE WRITING SAMPLE.

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.

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 registrationdues
• 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 [e-mail].

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