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

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

Job summary

Colorado Attorney General's Office seeks an experienced litigator for the Tort Litigation Unit in Denver. You will defend civil rights and tort matters against the State of Colorado and its officials, requiring strategic advocacy, management of complex cases, and coordination with risk management.

The role emphasizes teamwork, public service, and high-profile litigation, with opportunities to handle matters at multiple stages from discovery to appeal in both state and federal courts.

Qualifications

• Admitted to the Colorado Bar or clearly eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar
• Must be in good standing at time of application
• Strong litigation skills and ability to handle diverse matters

Responsibilities

• Lead the defense of significant governmental liability cases in federal and state court
• Own a varied litigation docket from early assessment through trial and appeal
• Collaborate with Office of Risk Management and other agencies on strategy and risk assessment

Skills

Litigation experience

Team-oriented

Public service mindset

Written and oral advocacy

Education

Bar admission to Colorado

Job description

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

Details

Section: Civil Litigation and Employment Law Position Number: LAA-09017 Salary Range: $89,964.00 -$136,468.00 Yearly Apply By: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 11:59 pm FLSA: Exempt

Work Unit: Tort Litigation Job Location: 1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203 Release Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Employment Type: Full-Time Position Type: Non-Classified

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 seeks a skilled litigator to join our collaborative governmental liability defense team. This dynamic governmental liability defense team represents the State of Colorado, its agencies, institutions of higher education, officials, and employees in lawsuits and claims seeking money damages. The work includes defending evolving civil rights claims against state actors, developing government-specific immunity and liability defenses, and representing the State in significant tort and employment matters, with opportunities to handle other civil litigation, including commercial and contract disputes.

Our attorneys handle consequential and often high-profile matters that shape public policy and protect the work of state government. We are looking for a thoughtful, strategic attorney who brings strong litigation skills, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to public service.

Equally important, we value engagement and teamwork. We collaborate closely on challenging legal questions, litigation strategy, and trial preparation, and we take pride in delivering excellent client service while maintaining a positive, team-oriented environment. The ideal candidate is energized by a varied range of cases and claims, novel legal issues, and the opportunity to litigate important questions alongside talented colleagues.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

TheTort Litigation Unitis the Colorado Attorney General's Office government's 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 Enhanced 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. We also support a wide range of employment matters. The practice requires lawyers to develop expertise in substantive law and government-specific defenses, including sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, and other limitations on governmental liability.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.