Assistant Attorney General - Governmental Liability Defense (Tort Litigation Unit)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

On-site fitness center

Flexible work schedules

Professional development opportunities

Employee discount program

Mental health support services

Attorney registration dues paid

CLE training access

Job summary

The Colorado Department of Law, Office of the Attorney General, seeks an attorney to lead significant governmental liability matters, including civil rights, constitutional claims, tort and employment disputes. You will work with various state clients and risk management teams to develop defense strategies and provide practical legal advice.

Flexible work arrangements are offered. Admission to the Colorado Bar is required or eligibility to waive; prior experience in public-sector litigation is

Qualifications

• Admitted to the Colorado Bar or eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills
• Experience with complex public-law litigation and government defenses

Responsibilities

• Lead defense of substantial governmental liability cases in state and federal courts
• Develop case strategy, take and defend depositions, brief dispositive issues, and handle appeals
• Advise clients on litigation risk and defensive strategies for civil rights, tort, and employment matters
• Collaborate with risk management and state agencies across the Attorney General’s Office

Skills

Civil rights litigation

Constitutional litigation

Governmental immunity

Employment disputes

Education

Colorado Bar admission

Job description

Department Information

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!

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.

Description of Job

What You Will Do

The Tort Litigation Unit is the Colorado Attorney General’s Office’s governmental liability team defending civil rights and tort matters seeking money damages from the State of Colorado and its employees. This is a broad public-law defense practice that extends well beyond traditional tort litigation, combining constitutional and civil rights litigation, governmental immunity, personal injury defense, and other damages claims against state entities and officials. Our attorneys represent Colorado’s Office of Risk Management, state agencies, institutions of higher education, and state officials and employees in state and federal court. The unit defends constitutional and civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C.

• 1983 and the Colorado Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act, C.R.S.
• 13-21-131; as well as tort and personal injury claims subject to the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act.

The work is varied and engaging, with opportunities to handle matters at every stage of litigation. Attorneys develop case strategy, take and defend depositions, work with expert witnesses, brief dispositive and constitutional issues, try cases, and handle appeals. Beyond litigation, our team partners closely with clients to assess risk, provide practical legal advice, and support investigations designed to help prevent claims and reduce exposure in civil rights, tort, and employment matters.

Attorneys In This Role

• Lead the defense of significant and often high-profile governmental liability cases, including civil rights and constitutional claims, tort and personal injury matters, and employment law disputes in federal and state court;
• Take meaningful ownership of a varied litigation docket, from early case assessment through dispositive motions, discovery, trial, and appeal, with opportunities to brief and argue before the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals;
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the State Office of Risk Management, state agencies, and institutions of higher education on litigation risk and strategy while collaborating with a talented, mission-driven group of litigators and general counsel across the Attorney General’s Office.

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

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 Seek a Skilled, Team-oriented Litigator Who Is Excited By a Broad Governmental Liability Practice And Is Comfortable Leading Cases Independently While Collaborating With Colleagues And Clients. The Ideal Candidate Enjoys Complex Legal Analysis, Courtroom Advocacy, And The Opportunity To Work On Varied Matters Ranging From Constitutional Civil Rights To Tort Claims To Employment Disputes. In Evaluating Candidates, We Will Consider The Following

• We welcome applicants at different stages of their litigation careers. Candidates with substantial litigation experience will have opportunities to independently lead complex matters; attorneys earlier in their careers will take on increasing responsibility as they develop;
• Experience with, or a strong interest in developing expertise in, civil rights and constitutional litigation and government-specific defenses, including the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, Eleventh Amendment or sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, and absolute judicial immunity;
• Experience handling, or a strong interest in developing expertise in, tort, personal injury, and employment-related claims, including discrimination, retaliation, and related workplace issues;
• A strategic mindset and strong written and oral advocacy skills, with the ability to analyze evolving legal issues and develop effective litigation strategies in challenging and evolving matters; and
• A commitment to public service, collaboration, and excellent client representation, including the ability to work effectively with a diverse range of clients and colleagues.

This position requires at least one writing sample.

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.

• 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 registration dues
• 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].