First Assistant Attorney General

Details

Section:

State Services

Position Number:

9165

Salary Range:

$9,815.00 - $12,500.00 Monthly

Apply By:

Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 11:59 pm

FLSA:

Exempt

Work Unit:

K-12 Education

Job Location:

1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203

Release Date:

Thursday, April 28, 2022

Employment Type:

Full-Time

Position Type:

Non-Classified

The State Services Section is seeking a First Assistant Attorney General to lead our K-12 legal team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about education, public service, and leadership. The K-12 Unit advises and represents the Colorado Department of Education, the State Board of Education, the Charter School Institute, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. The Unit also participates in hearings to revoke licenses for teacher misconduct and defend the constitutionality of education law statutes, while also advising top state officials on education law issues. We are looking for someone who is genuinely excited to manage and coach a team of dynamic and smart lawyers and who will embrace leading the team in this challenging, and often novel, area of law.

The K-12 Education Unit is responsible for advising and representing the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado State Board of Education, the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, the Colorado Charter School Institute, and the Capital Construction Assistance Board (BEST Program).  The work is a combination of general counsel and litigation.  Research, analysis, and advice will cover all matters jurisdictional to the State Board of Education and the Colorado Department of Education, including school district accreditation and accountability, special education, charter school contracts and appeals, and compliance with federal education mandates.  Most litigation is in the form of administrative hearings at the Office of Administrative Courts in enforcement actions against educator licenses, but the unit is responsible from time-to-time for high-profile litigation involving challenges to Colorado education statutes.  Lawyers in the unit also advise boards on statutes including the Colorado Open Records Act, Open Meetings Act, and various ethics and conflict-of-interest requirements.

The First Assistant Attorney General (“First”) is responsible for leading a team of attorneys, paralegals, and administrative assistants consistent with the values of the Department of Law. The First will promote collaboration, engagement, integrity, and exceptional legal service.

The First assigns and oversees cases and other legal responsibilities, coordinates workflow, and carries an independent workload. In addition, the First has management responsibilities that include coaching and evaluating the attorneys, and reporting to senior management on legal, operational, and personnel matters. The First leads the Unit in the development and maintenance of strong client partnerships, monitoring legislative and legal developments related to client representation, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective legal services to clients while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.

WHAT YOU WILL DO
As the First, you will be responsible for inspiring, coaching, leading, and supporting your team of professionals, drawing out the best from your team and pushing them to fulfill the Department of Law’s mission of protecting the rule of law and ensuring justice for all Coloradoans. The First serves as a frontline leader and contributes to the overall leadership of the Department of Law.

The First Assistant supervises the employees in the unit and carries a caseload. Management responsibilities include coordinating litigation of major cases; hiring, evaluations, discipline; maintaining and developing good relationships with unit clients; coordinating workflow; and drafting reports and other documents for the Department of Law. The First is required to advise senior management at the Department of Law on pending issues of public interest and importance and must be able to identify such issues as they arise.  The position coordinates bill review during the legislative session.  Legal work performed by the First will include both general legal advice and litigation and will involve providing advice on questions submitted by the clients through formal Attorney General Opinion; drafting policies, rules, and procedures; and attending meetings of the State Board of Education.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The First Assistant Attorney General is part of the Office of the Attorney General/Department of Law leadership team. As such, the strongest candidates will demonstrate excellence in the following competencies.

Client Service, Interpersonal Skills, and Emotional Intelligence– Demonstrates and models self- awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and sensitivity in working with members of the public, colleagues, and staff.
Communication & Listening – Inspires confidence through active listening and effective communication with the public, leadership, colleagues, and staff.
Flexible & Adaptable Management – Accepts, adapts, and contributes positively to change; leads with new concepts and ideas; and encourages others to be equally adaptive and flexible.
Coaching & Developing People – Invests in our talent through coaching and sponsorship and by pushing individuals outside of their comfort zones to grow as professionals.
Creative & Strategic Problem Solving – Takes a result-oriented, open-minded, and innovative approach to overcoming challenges and dealing with crises.
Enterprise & Growth Mindset – Balances the desires of the public, leadership, colleagues, and staff with the broader interest of the enterprise.

Applicants for the First Assistant Attorney General position must meet the following criteria:

• Admitted to the Colorado bar or 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 before the first day of employment
• Demonstrated experience with supervising and coaching lawyers and legal professionals
• Outstanding writing and analytical skills

The ideal candidate will also demonstrate most, if not all, of the following:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in administrative law and education law.
• A background in education, advising complex organizations, governing boards, litigation, and government representation
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and public service

Conditions of Employment: 

• The final candidates for employment must successfully pass a thorough criminal background investigation.
• Effective September 20, 2021, employees will be required to attest to and verify whether or not they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Employees who have not been fully vaccinated may be required to submit to serial testing in the future. Upon hire,
  new employees will have three (3) business days to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination. Vaccinated employees must provide proof of vaccination.Note: Fully Vaccinated means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, as defined by the most recent State of Colorado’s Public Health Order and current guidance issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.