Entry Assistant City Attorney - Human Services Legal Services

About the role

The Denver City Attorney’s Office seeks an Entry Assistant City Attorney to join the Child Welfare and Youth Services Unit within the Human Services Legal Services Section. This role involves providing legal consultation and representation in matters involving child welfare and youth services.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal consultation and representation to Denver Human Services, including social workers and administrators, at every stage of Dependency and Neglect litigation in state trial and appellate courts.
• Prepare and support social workers in Juvenile Delinquency matters by drafting motions, conducting discovery, representing the City in hearings, and handling appellate briefing and oral argument.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and community partners to develop informed recommendations and guide critical decisions affecting children, youth, and families.
• Negotiate and draft settlement agreements and other legal documents to resolve cases effectively.
• Draft memoranda, motions, briefs, pleadings, and other legal documents for judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings.
• Conduct legal research and provide legal analysis, guidance, and recommendations to colleagues and clients.
• Assist attorneys in specialized practice areas with litigation, research, and related legal matters as needed.

Requirements

The ideal candidate should have:

• Experience, knowledge, or academic coursework in juvenile law.
• Time spent as an intern or clerk in a juvenile court or juvenile-focused legal practice.
• Mediation experience and/or a mediation certificate.
• Practical experience working with Youth Programs.
• An undergraduate degree or minor in Social Work, Juvenile Justice, Sociology, Political Science, or related fields.
• A background working with neighborhood-based work or restorative justice programs.
• Experience with programs connected to the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
• A strong commitment to public service and community-centered practice.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree or Bachelor of Laws Degree.
• No experience required.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Skills

The ideal candidate will bring a strong blend of expertise, leadership, and a heartfelt commitment to serving Denver’s children, youth, and families. They should be motivated by meaningful work, skilled in advocacy, and passionate about advancing positive outcomes for young people in our community.

Benefits

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The expected starting salary range for this position is $95,000–$99,000/annually, based on experience and education. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service.
• 457B Retirement Plan.
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday and 1 volunteer day per year.
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1st month of start date.
• Care Bank – 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave (after the probation period is passed).
• Free RTD Eco Pass.

Pay

The target pay for this position is $95,000–$99,000/annually, based on experience and education.

Schedule

Office hours are 8:00AM – 5:00PM, but may be longer depending on the needs of the court and the case.