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

Cobar; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office in Denver seeks a skilled litigator to join the Tort Litigation Unit within the Civil Litigation and Employment Section. The role defends the State, its agencies, and officials in civil rights and tort matters, requiring strategic analysis, collaboration, and strong litigation skills.

Rolling interviews and public service orientation are valued. Applicants should be admitted to the Colorado Bar or eligible to waive in, with a willingness to engage in

Qualifications

• JD required and admission to or eligibility for admission to the Colorado Bar.
• Experience handling civil rights or government-related litigation is preferred.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills with strategic litigation planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead defense of significant governmental liability cases in state and federal court.
• Develop case strategy, take and defend depositions, and handle dispositive motions and appeals.
• Collaborate with colleagues and clients to assess risk and provide practical legal advice.

Skills

Litigation experience

Civil rights

Team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

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

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.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Interested parties are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

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

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. 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.

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.

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