Assistant Attorney General - Civil Rights & Constitutional Litigation (Corrections)

About the role

The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office is hiring attorneys to represent the State and its employees in complex federal and state civil-rights matters involving the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, habeas corpus, and related appeals. Attorneys manage their own cases, write substantive briefs, conduct discovery, argue motions, prepare matters for trial, and collaborate with an experienced team. Prior corrections or 42 U.S.C. § 1983 experience is helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

• Litigate federal civil rights claims, primarily against law enforcement personnel in the Parole Division and Colorado Department of Corrections, including claims under the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
• Handle habeas corpus petitions, small claims cases, and judicial review of agency rulings.
• Provide general legal advice to client agencies on policy issues, subpoenas, and open records requests.
• Conduct legal research, draft motions and briefs, manage discovery, argue motions, prepare for trial, and handle appeals.
• Work collaboratively within a collegial team while retaining meaningful autonomy and receiving mentoring and peer support.
• Exercise independent judgment, identify risk, and provide candid advice to help agencies carry out responsibilities lawfully.

Requirements

• Admitted to the Colorado Bar or clearly eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar and in good standing at the time of application.
• Candidates eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar must submit proof of a completed application and application for Practice Pending Admission before the first day of employment.
• Strong legal research, analytical, and writing skills demonstrated through litigation experience, judicial clerkship work, appellate work, or comparable experience.
• Ability to manage one’s own caseload from pleading stage through trial and appeal.
• Good problem-solving skills and confidence to know when to ask questions.

Qualifications

• Attorneys with less than three years of experience will be hired as Assistant Attorney General I (AAG I).
• Attorneys with more than three years of experience may be hired as Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II).
• Three or more years of legal experience is preferred for AAG II but not required for consideration.
• Interest and/or experience with 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases, C.R.C.P. 106 cases, constitutional law, administrative law, and federal and state appeals is preferred.
• A broad range of litigation experience is valued.

Pay

• AAG I salary range: $89,964–$117,964 annually.
• AAG II salary range: $102,099–$136,468 annually.
• Salary is set commensurate with qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.
• Salary is paid biweekly.