Assistant Attorney General - Insurance

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

Job summary

The Colorado Department of Law's Revenue & Regulatory Law section seeks an attorney to join its Insurance Unit. The attorney will advise the Division of Insurance and its Commissioner, handle litigation in administrative courts and other venues, and provide general counsel support on regulations, examinations, rate reviews, and mergers.

Qualified applicants must be admitted to the Colorado Bar or be eligible to waive in, with experience as a prosecutor or litigator, and a background in insurance

Qualifications

• Admitted to the Colorado Bar or eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar and be in good standing.
• Experience as a prosecutor or litigator is preferred.
• Background in insurance law and/or administrative law is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Litigation on behalf of the Commissioner and/or Division in administrative hearings and courts.
• Provide general counsel advice on regulations, financial examinations, rate reviews, and mergers.

Skills

Litigation management

General counsel advice

Project management

Research & writing

Client communication

Public service

DEI

Team collaboration

Education

Colorado Bar admission or waiver eligible

Job description

Department Information

The Revenue & Regulatory Law (R&R) section of the Colorado Department of Law is seeking an attorney to join its collaborative legal team in the Insurance Unit! Attorneys in the Insurance Unit advise and represent the Colorado Division of Insurance (Division) and its Commissioner in a wide variety of interesting and complex insurance-related legal issues. Insurance affects every Coloradan, and the Insurance Unit helps the Division achieve its mission of consumer protection and increased accessibility. The Insurance Unit offers the opportunity to practice in a challenging area of law that consistently generates novel questions regarding a wide range of legal fields, including healthcare law, corporate law, administrative law, tax law, and constitutional law.

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.

Visit our website to learn more: https://coag.gov/.

Description of Job

The R&R Section is comprised of 10 different Units, including the Insurance Unit. The R&R section represents state regulatory agencies, including the Department of Regulatory Agencies (and the Division of Insurance), the Department of Local Affairs, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Agriculture. R&R is the largest section in the Department of Law, comprised of over 110 team members who tackle a diverse array of legal challenges for nearly 100 state agencies, boards, commissions, divisions and ombudsmen. The work of the R&R section is critical to ensuring all licensees are providing fair services to Coloradans and protecting consumers through oversight of these industries and professions to protect public health and safety.

The Insurance Unit is a team currently comprised of ten attorneys, including the First Assistant Attorney General and the Second Assistant Attorney General, who model the Department of Law’s four values: public servants, principled, innovative, and better together. The Assistant Attorney General reports to the First Assistant Attorney General, and works closely with the Second Assistant Attorney General and the other unit attorneys litigating cases and providing general counsel advice.

What You Will Do

The Insurance Unit advises the Division and the Commissioner of Insurance in all aspects of the agency’s work and pertaining to all types of insurance. The Insurance Unit attorneys work collaboratively to provide legal services to the Division and the Commissioner, and the successful candidate will participate in nearly all aspects of this legal work.

The successful candidate will represent the Commissioner and the Division. Responsibilities will include the following:

• Litigation on behalf of the Commissioner and/or Division primarily in administrative hearings and at the Office of Administrative Courts, but also in federal and state district and appellate courts. Litigated cases involve insurance companies and producers in matters pertaining to all types of insurance, including health, long-term care, life, property and casualty insurance, bail, and immigration bonding.
• General counsel assistance to the Commissioner and/or Division in areas such as drafting and promulgation of Division regulations, general legal compliance, financial examinations, market conduct examinations, rate reviews, regulatory reviews of mergers and acquisitions, reviews of proposed legislation, Colorado sunshine laws, and rehabilitation and liquidation of insurance companies.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced attorney who is eager to work in dynamic areas of the law and enjoys both general counsel advising and litigation. In addition, this position will handle matters on an as-needed basis to assist other attorneys in the unit and the R&R Section.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple attorney positions in the Revenue & Regulatory Law section.

Salary Note:

The Department of Law uses a wage progression 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 – $96,554 annually.

Attorneys with more than 3 years of experience practicing as an attorney will be hired as an Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II). The AAG II salary range 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.

For this role, we are seeking candidates who have substantive and practical legal training, including clerkships and fellowships; experience as a prosecutors or litigators; and/or those whose diverse experiences and background who would add value to the Department of Law and our clients. A background in insurance law and/or administrative law is also helpful, as is work with experts in insurance matters. The ideal candidate will be skilled at maintaining strong client relationships; have a passion for both litigation and general counsel work, and demonstrate a strong commitment to serving the public interest.

Essential Skills For This Position

• Ability to handle litigation matters effectively
• Ability to provide general counsel advice on complex matters
• Ability to manage multiple ongoing projects and prioritize work accordingly
• Excellent research, writing, and interpersonal skills
• Proficient client communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Committed and eager to serve the public in a consumer protection-related role
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Enthusiastic about working with a smart, collaborative, and fun team – while still able to work independently and exercise strong professional judgment

Conditions Of Employment

• Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
• 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.