Assistant Attorney General (Marijuana, Liquor, and Bankruptcy)

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

The Revenue & Regulatory Law (R&R) section of the Colorado Department of Law is seeking a dynamic and committed Assistant Attorney General to join the Marijuana, Liquor & Bankruptcy (MLB) Unit. In this role, you will help protect Coloradans through the state’s regulation of marijuana, liquor, tobacco retailers, natural medicine and firearm dealers. This dedicated public servant will be involved in diverse licensing litigation work for the MLB Unit clients. This position is a great opportunity for an attorney with a passion for litigation and challenging work.

The Revenue and Regulatory Law Section (R&R”) is comprised of ten separate units that provide litigation and general counsel support to a variety of state regulatory agencies, boards, and commissions, including the Department of Revenue (DOR), the Department of Regulatory Agencies and the Department of Agriculture. R&R is the largest section in the Department of Law, comprised of 120 team members who tackle a diverse array of legal challenges for nearly 100 state agencies, boards, commissions, and divisions. The Marijuana, Liquor and Tobacco, Natural Medicine and Firearm Dealer Divisions are in the DOR, which regulates these businesses. The work of the R&R Section is critical to ensuring these licensees continue to be highly regulated and to protect public health and safety.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Marijuana, Liquor & Bankruptcy (MLB) Unit offers the opportunity to practice in exciting areas of law representing multiple Divisions of the Colorado Department of Revenue including: Marijuana Enforcement, Natural Medicine, Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement, and Firearms Dealer. The MLB Unit is a dynamic and collaborative group as statutes and regulations governing regulated marijuana, natural medicine, liquor, tobacco retailers and firearm dealers change frequently.

As an attorney in the MLB Unit, you will be responsible for handling administrative licensing actions from inception through administrative hearing, exceptions (administrative appeal) and judicial review, for the Marijuana, Liquor & Tobacco Enforcement, Natural Medicine and Firearm Dealer Divisions. Cases involve the informal exchanges of information, preparing motions, negotiation and settlement, and meeting required deadlines often in an expedited manner as cases are generally set for an administrative hearing within 30 to 90 days from case initiation. These actions include license denial and prosecution of regulatory non-compliance related to the operation of a marijuana business, liquor business, tobacco retailer, natural medicine business or firearm dealer. Administrative cases range in complexity from relatively simple to quite complex. For example, the Marijuana and Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Divisions may seek enforcement action based on underage sales of liquor, tobacco or marijuana, substantial security and public health violations, violations of mandatory marijuana testing requirements, inversion or diversion of marijuana by licensed businesses, or sophisticated corporate and financial schemes intended to allow unauthorized entities and individuals to control licensed businesses. The attorney may also represent the Divisions in state and federal courts.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to assist in the development of two new regulatory programs in Colorado for natural medicine and firearm dealer programs.

The attorney will be part of a team that represents the state in the matters described above but will be expected to take primary responsibility for the attorney’s own cases, with increasing responsibilities over time.

This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General position in the Revenue & Regulatory Law section. 

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.

Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.   

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Qualified applicants must be licensed to practice law in Colorado or demonstrate eligibility to waive into the Colorado Bar as soon as possible. Candidates eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar will be required to submit proof of their completed application before the first day of employment.

Ideal candidates will have most of the following skills:

• A litigation background;
• Demonstrated ability to handle negotiations, litigation, and trials independently and effectively;
• Proficiency maintaining strong relationships and communicating with clients;
• Excellent research and writing skills;
• Ability to provide advice on complex matters;
• Enthusiasm about working with a collaborative team; and
• Demonstrated commitment to serving the public interest and to diversity, equity and inclusion.

THIS POSITION REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE WRITING SAMPLE. PLEASE REVIEW THE “HOW TO APPLY” SECTION OF THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.

• 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 website.
• The final candidate for employment must successfully pass a thorough criminal background investigation and a tax check.
• Colorado Department of Law participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.