Assistant Attorney General - Tort Litigation Unit

Department Information

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.

Description of Job

- The Tort Litigation Unit handles tort, civil rights, and employment claims against the State of Colorado and its employees. Our attorneys represent Colorado’s Office of Risk Management, state agencies, institutions of higher education, and employees sued in state and federal court. We defend personal injury and other tort claims and also claims brought under such statutes as the Colorado Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act, C.R.S. § 13-21-131, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983, as well as a wide range of employment laws.

• Lead the defense of often high-profile cases involving civil rights, personal injury claims, and employment law, including constitutional issues in federal and state court;
• Manage a full litigation docket, from early case assessment and dispositive motions through discovery, engagement of experts, trial, and appeal. We brief and argue appeals before the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, and the U.S. 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;
• Collaborate with a talented, mission-driven group of litigators and general counsel across the Attorney General’s Office to deliver exceptional representation and results.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

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. We seek a skilled, team-oriented litigator who is comfortable leading cases independently as they collaborate with colleagues and clients. The ideal candidate brings strong interpersonal skills; thrives on a collaborative and friendly work environment; and is a proven high performer. The strongest candidates will have:

• At least three years of meaningful civil litigation experience in state and/or federal court, with a demonstrated ability to manage cases and move them forward;
• Experience with, or a strong interest in developing expertise in, government-specific defenses, including the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, Eleventh Amendment immunity, qualified immunity, and absolute judicial immunity;
• Experience handling, or a strong interest in developing expertise in employment-related claims, including discrimination, retaliation, and related workplace issues;
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to develop and execute effective litigation strategies in complex cases; and
• A commitment to public service and to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in both client representation and workplace culture.

This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General position within the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section at Department of Law.

Supplemental Information

- HOW TO APPLY Applicants must establish an account with governmentjobs.com and complete the on-line applications including the Contact Information section. Applicants are not required to complete the Work Experience, Education, or Additional Information sections of the on-line application. Applicants must provide 1) a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and their relevant experience; 2) a resume; 3) a writing sample, and 4) three professional references. Use the "Attachments" feature of the online application to add documents. ADAAA Requests The Department of Law is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Julie Christopher at hr@coag.gov.