Legal Research Attorney

Pueblo Community College; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 78,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

The Colorado Judicial Department seeks a Legal Research Attorney to perform highly complex legal research for the entire bench in a judicial district. The role supports district judges by drafting opinions, reviewing pleadings, and maintaining the district law library.

Remote-eligible with occasional onsite meetings, this at-will position emphasizes research, analysis, and collaboration with judges to determine appropriate actions in cases across Colorado.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Certificate of admission to the Colorado Bar.
• Eligibility to practice law before Colorado courts.

Responsibilities

• Researches legal issues presented by parties during litigation.
• Advises judges on research results and assists the judge in developing an appropriate course of action in the case.
• Writes the first draft of opinions issued by the court.
• Reviews documents and pleadings filed with the court as assigned by individual judges.
• Compiles information gained from research on particular issues in a case.
• Maintains all library materials including book, CD-ROM, and electronic research subscription in more than one location.
• Recommends library materials for research and reference purposes.
• Authorizes the use of research materials or the district's law library to those other than district judges.
• Attends meetings and training as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.]

Skills

Legal research

Judicial research support

Legal writing

Advising judges

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

Job description

The Judicial Department works to provide equal access to justice, contribute to public safety, and strengthen the rule of law across Colorado. Together our courts and probation departments are committed to impartial and timely dispute resolution; support for families, litigants, and victims; client rehabilitation; and meaningful community engagement.

General Statement Of Duties:

Provides highly complex legal service performing legal research for the entire bench in a judicial district.

Job Code: R45020 Full Time Salary Range: $77,710.44 - $112,679.64

FLSA Status: Excluded

Learn more about employee benefits

This posting may be used to create a Talent Pool. Talent Pools may be used for a period of 10 months after the closing date on a job posting.

Notice to Colorado Applicants:

I

n compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Distinguishing Factors:

Positions in this classification are distinguished from law clerks and other positions due to the concentration on legal research for all district judges in a judicial district and maintenance of the district's law library. Courtroom and bailiff duties are not required of this position. This position reports to the Chief Judge in the designated district. A district can convert Law Clerk positions to Legal Research Attorney positions using a ratio .25 Legal Research Attorneys for every 1.0 District Court Judge, OR convert the funding for Law Clerks to Legal Research Attorneys at a ratio of 4:1. Each district is allowed a minimum of 1.0 Legal Research Attorneys. The Legal Research Attorney is a classified, non-certified position that is considered at-will and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Essential Functions:

• Researches legal issues presented by parties during litigation.
• Advises judges on research results and assists the judge in developing an appropriate course of action in the case.
• Writes the first draft of opinions issued by the court.
• Reviews documents and pleadings filed with the court as assigned by individual judges.
• Compiles information gained from research on particular issues in a case.
• Maintains all library materials including book, CD-ROM, and electronic research subscription in more than one location.
• Recommends library materials for research and reference purposes.
• Authorizes the use of research materials or the district's law library to those other than district judges.
• Attends meetings and training as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisor Responsibilities:

No formal supervisory responsibility. Responsibility for one's own work product and work within a unit performing similar functions. Rarely provides lead function, advice, or explains work instructions to other employees or volunteers.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands and arms to perform repetitive motions; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

Occasionally handles emergency or crisis situations; frequently subject to interruptions, and multiple calls and inquiries. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Graduation from an accredited law school; possession of a certificate of admission to the Bar of the State of Colorado; and eligibility to practice law before the courts of the State of Colorado.

This is a remote-eligible position that may require occasional onsite meetings.

This position may be combined with our term-limited .5FTE Legal Research Attorney posting to make a full-time position, if a single applicant is the successful candidate for both. Applicant must apply for both to be considered.

The Colorado Judicial Department is committed to ensuring equal access to and full participation in court and probation services and programs for qualified individuals with disabilities, including employees of the Colorado Judicial Department. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an important part of our culture, and we are committed to provide reasonable accommodations when needed without causing undue hardship to the Colorado Judicial Department.

Each district has an ADA Coordinator and Jury Commissioner. The ADA Coordinator is responsible for initiating the interactive process once an employee, court or probation services participant has made a request for reasonable accommodation and the Jury Commissioner is responsible for initiating the interactive process once a juror has made a request for a reasonable accommodation.