Senior Assistant Attorney General/Assistant Attorney General - Employment Law Defense Unit

Employment Litigation Specialist

The Colorado Department of Law's Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is launching a new Employment Law Defense Unit and seeks an experienced employment litigator to join its founding team as an Employment Litigation Specialist. The successful candidate will serve as a senior lead litigator and mentor on complex and consequential employment litigation involving state agencies, institutions of higher education, and public employees in state and federal court. This position combines hands-on litigation, strategic case leadership, client counseling, mentoring, and practice development. The successful candidate will manage a meaningful portfolio, lead or support high-risk and high-profile matters, help develop consistent litigation practices and resources, and contribute to the culture and systems of the new Unit. The position is best suited for an attorney with substantial employment litigation experience, sound judgment, strong written and oral advocacy, and a collaborative approach to working with clients, colleagues, and litigation teams.

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

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.

The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section represents state agencies, institutions of higher education, and state officials and employees in civil litigation and employment matters. Its attorneys handle a broad range of complex and high-impact matters in state and federal courts and administrative forums, provide strategic legal advice to clients throughout state government, and work collaboratively across specialized units to deliver consistent, practical, and high-quality legal services.

The Employment Law Defense Unit is a newly created team dedicated to defending state agencies, institutions of higher education, and public employees in state and federal employment litigation. The Unit will provide centralized ownership, strategy, and accountability for this growing practice area while collaborating closely with attorneys in the Employment Practices and Civil Rights, Tort Litigation, Cross-Unit Litigation, Higher Education, and other units throughout the office.

The Unit's work will include claims arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, whistleblower statutes, 42 U.S.C. Sections 1981, 1983, and 1985, and related contract, constitutional, and tort theories. The Unit will handle matters from pre-suit assessment and early case strategy through discovery, dispositive motions, trial, appeal, and settlement.

At launch, the Unit will consist of the First AAG, Senior AAG, two Assistant Attorneys General, a paralegal, and shared administrative support, with the potential to expand in the future. The Unit will also coordinate with affiliated attorneys in other units who handle or support employment matters and want to deepen their state and federal litigation experience.

As a Senior Assistant Attorney General, you will serve as a lead litigator and help establish an excellent, consistent statewide employment-defense practice. Responsibilities will include:

• Serve as lead counsel in complex employment cases and personally handle matters through all phases of litigation, including pre-suit assessment, investigation, pleadings, discovery, experts, dispositive motions, trial, appeal, and settlement.
• Defend claims arising under federal and state employment statutes and related contract, constitutional, and tort theories, including the claims identified above.
• Develop early case assessments, litigation plans, staffing recommendations, discovery strategies, risk analyses, and meaningful client-communication plans.
• Provide practical, candid, and strategic advice to client representatives regarding litigation risk, settlement, institutional impact, and opportunities for early resolution.
• Lead or support high-risk, high-profile, novel, or especially complex matters, including matters requiring coordination with senior Department leadership, the Governor's Office, Risk Management, the State Controller, or outside counsel.
• Promote consistent litigation positions, efficient practices, and high-quality written and oral advocacy across the State's employment-defense portfolio.

Lead teams, mentor, and strengthen the practice:

• Lead litigation teams by establishing clear roles, strategy, deadlines, and expectations, and by providing timely and constructive review of written work and advocacy.
• Mentor and coach attorneys and professional staff and create meaningful opportunities for professional growth through active case work.
• Support the First Assistant Attorney General in developing templates, playbooks, training, metrics, and other resources that improve consistency, efficiency, knowledge sharing, and practice excellence.
• Partner with the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit and other counsel to connect lessons from litigation with preventive advice, training, and improved employment practices.

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 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. In order to be appointed as a Senior Assistant Attorney General, candidates must have a minimum of ten (10) years as a licensed attorney, with a subject matter expertise related to employment litigation and substantial practice in state and/or federal court. If the position is filled at the level of Senior Assistant Attorney General, the pay range will be $112,564 to $150,556/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. 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.

Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.

We are seeking an experienced employment litigator who can independently lead complex matters, work effectively with sophisticated clients and multidisciplinary teams, mentor others, and help build a new Unit and statewide practice. Applicants should highlight in their cover letter their employment litigation experience, lead litigation responsibility, mentoring or team-leadership experience, and relevant public-sector work.

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be admitted to the Colorado Bar or 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 must submit proof of their completed application and application for Practice Pending Admission before the first day of employment.
• Have three (3) years or more of employment litigation experience with substantial practice in state and/or federal court.
• Demonstrate experience independently developing litigation strategy and handling major phases of complex civil litigation, including discovery, dispositive motions, settlement, and trial or evidentiary hearings.
• Demonstrate strong legal analysis, judgment, research, writing, oral advocacy, negotiation, organization, and time-management skills.
• Demonstrate the interpersonal and client-service skills necessary to build trust, communicate candidly, and work collaboratively with clients, colleagues, and professional staff.

For the Senior Assistant Attorney General position, we are seeking applicants who have a minimum of ten (10) years as a licensed attorney, with a subject matter expertise related to employment litigation and substantial practice in state and/or federal court.

The strongest candidates will also have:

• First-chair or comparable lead responsibility in complex employment or civil litigation.
• Experience representing governmental entities, public institutions, or public officials and employees.
• Knowledge of public-sector employment, governmental immunity, the Colorado state personnel system, or state risk-management and settlement processes.
• Experience managing a substantial litigation portfolio and communicating risk and strategy to senior or high-level stakeholders.
• Experience leading litigation teams and mentoring or coaching attorneys and professional staff.
• A demonstrated commitment to public service and to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, accountable, and respectful work environment.

This position requires at least one writing sample. Please review the "How to Apply" section of the job announcement for more information.

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. Candidates with diverse qualities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Conditions of Employment:

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