Assistant Attorney General – Corrections and Public Safety

Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!

The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is seeking a talented, enthusiastic, and experienced attorney to represent the State of Colorado in state and federal court. The Corrections and Public Safety Unit is expanding and is currently filling vacancies following internal promotions, transfers, and newly added positions. This position offers an exciting opportunity to handle a caseload which primarily involves complex civil rights litigation and associated constitutional claims, habeas petitions, civil appeals and advice matters for state agencies. This position is best suited for an attorney who excels at independently researching and writing about unique legal issues while engaging collaboratively as a part of a team with other attorneys and staff.

WHAT YOU WILL DO 
In this role you will represent the Colorado Department of Corrections and various divisions of the Colorado Department of Public Safety including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Division of Criminal Justice.

You will have the opportunity to litigate claims brought pursuant to the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Unit’s cases also involve claims brought under statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, habeas corpus petitions, and judicial review of agency rulings. Attorneys may also provide general legal advice to client agencies on a broad variety of topics including policy issues and subpoena or open records requests.

If you enjoy all aspects of litigation, including motions practice, brief writing (a lot of writing!), oral argument, discovery, preparing witnesses for hearing and trial, trying cases in both state and federal court, and briefing and arguing appeals before the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, this is the role for you! We are looking for candidates who are great writers and thinkers and who can manage their own federal and state cases with minimal supervision. We are also looking for people who enjoy being part of a fun, light-hearted team that cares deeply about their service to the State of Colorado. People in this unit are successful because they enjoy their autonomy, but thrive in a collaborative environment where people work together to help each other succeed.

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.

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 $83,292-$92,400/annually.
Attorneys with more than 3 years of experience practicing as an attorney will be hired as an Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II). The AAG II salary range is $96,420-$120,000/annually.

Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis for any new employees starting after July 1, 2023.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

To be considered for this position, 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. Candidates eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar will be required to submit proof of their completed application and application for Practice Pending Admission before the first day of employment. For more information about admission to the Colorado bar please review information on the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.

Further, we are seeking candidates that have at least some, if not many, of the following skills and experiences.

• At least five years of legal experience preferred.
• Strong legal research and writing skills, including some experience drafting and filing briefs in federal court.
• Prior experience as a state or federal judicial law clerk.
• 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.
• Broad range of litigation experience.
• Ability to be self-directed and manage one’s own caseload from pleading stage through trial and appeal.
• Good problem-solving skills and the confidence to know when to ask questions.
• Interest in and/or commitment to public service and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.

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.