First Assistant Attorney General – Employment Practices and Civil Rights

Details

Section:
Civil Litigation and Employment Law
Position Number:
LAA 09163
Salary Range:
$10,615.00 - $13,000.00 Monthly
Apply By:
Friday, February 10, 2023, 11:59 pm
FLSA:
Exempt
Work Unit:
Employment Personnel/CCRD
Job Location:
1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Release Date:
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Employment Type:
Full-Time
Position Type:
Non-Classified

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

The Colorado Department of Law, Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is recruiting for a First Assistant Attorney General to lead the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit. This is a unique leadership opportunity for an experienced attorney with an interest in employment law and a passion for mentoring and professional development. This position leads one of largest units in the office – it is a collaborative team of staff and attorneys in a dynamic and unique employment practice. This position works with executive leadership at various state agencies and institutions of higher education on unique labor, employment, and state personnel issues and to form lasting and rewarding client relationships in a position with frequent client interaction. The attorney will serve as an advisor focusing primarily on employment, state personnel, and labor work, with some and civil rights work, based on unit and client needs. The Office of the Attorney General offers the opportunity to be involved in challenging, interesting, and meaningful work in a fast-paced environment supported by leadership committed to providing exceptional counsel and litigation services to its government clients.

WHO WE ARE
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.

Visit our website to learn more: https://coag.gov/.

Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis and initial interviews may be conducted prior to the job closing. We encourage you submit your application early if possible. 

 

The Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit.The Unit focuses primarily on advising state government agencies and institutions of higher education regarding employment, labor and personnel matters. The Unit:

• Provides advice and training to state agencies and institutions of higher education regarding the state personnel system, state and federal employment law, and compliance with the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act. The Unit’s attorneys support clients in resolving labor and employment disputes prior to litigation. They also provide legal support to the State’s partnership agreement negotiation teams.
• Represents state agencies in employment matters before the State Personnel Board in all phases of administrative hearing and post-hearing litigation, and occasionally in state and federal court. The Unit tries cases before an administrative law judge, filing and arguing appeals before the Board, Colorado Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
• Represents state agencies and institutions of higher education in labor disputes before the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Division of Labor Standards and Statistics and labor arbitrators in all phases of administrative and post-hearing litigation, and occasionally in state court.
• Provides advice to the Colorado Civil Rights Division on employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination matters and prosecute employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination complaints from the Colorado Civil Rights Commission in administrative court and occasionally state court.

Unit Structure. The First Assistant Attorney General (“the First”) is responsible for leading a team of 17 attorneys, 4 paralegals, and 1 administrative assistant. The Unit is divided into three pods of 3-5 attorneys and 1 paralegal. Each team is led by a Second Assistant Attorney General (“the Second”) who is responsible for supervising and mentoring their team. The First directly supervises the three Seconds, one paralegal, and the Unit’s administrative assistant. The First reports to the Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section and participates in management and leadership teams for the Section and the Office.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

As the First you will have the opportunity to do the following:
Supervision & Administration

  • Lead a collaborative team of attorneys and staff, including coaching and management of the performance evaluation and goal-setting process for each direct report. It also includes making hiring and salary recommendations, approval of leave requests, resolution of personnel matters, and other administrative tasks.
  • Mentor and support the Seconds in the leadership.
  • Report to the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section Deputy AG on legal, operational, and personnel matters on a regular basis and seek supervisory or managerial assistance from the Deputy.
  • Assist the Section Deputy AG with personnel and administrative duties affecting the work of the Unit, Section, and the Department of Law.

Unit Leadership 

  • Facilitate the work and operations of the Unit, promoting collaboration, engagement, integrity, and exceptional legal service.
  • Provide assistance and support to the Seconds on an as-needed basis, including with respect to the Unit’s legal work, work performed by third parties and outside counsel, and advice matters and policy work requested by clients.
  • Provide guidance, strategy advice, feedback, and general litigation assistance to attorneys and paralegals across the Unit as necessary.
  • Work closely with the section and DOL staff to develop templates, systems, and processes designed to increase efficiencies, streamline litigation, enhance client services, and promote practice excellence.

Individual Support & Coaching

  • Work with the Seconds to monitor case load/capacity of attorneys and paralegals.
  • Support and coach the Seconds and direct reports. Identify areas of opportunity for growth and development for attorneys and professional staff. Promote teamwork, collaboration, and improved performance.

Client Service

  • Carry a meaningful and independent workload, with particular emphasis on coordination of employment and labor advice across state agencies and institutions of higher education. Serve as the primary point of contact with the Department of Personnel and Administration and the Department of Law for employment and state personnel matters.
  • Collaborate with the Firsts in the Tort Litigation Unit and Cross-Unit Litigation Team, along with Section’s federal employment litigation specialists, to ensure appropriate staffing, representation, and case management for federal employment litigation.
  • Collaborate with Seconds to build client relationships and develop subject matter expertise across the Unit for each client’s labor and personnel-related needs.
  • Provide oversight of advice requests, labor matters under the under the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act, and State Personnel Board litigation matters across the Unit’s pods. Ensure cross-pod collaboration to promote teamwork and consistency across the Unit.
  • Monitor legislative and legal developments related to client representation.
  • Ensure the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective legal services to clients while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in the Department of Law.

Salary note: 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. 

 

 

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

Communication & Listening – Inspires confidence through active listening and effective communication with clients, 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 goals of clients, leadership, colleagues, and staff with the broader interest of the enterprise.
Client Service, Interpersonal Skills, and Emotional Intelligence – Demonstrates and models self- awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and sensitivity in working with clients, colleagues, and staff.

Applicants for the First must meet the following criteria:

  • 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.
  • Experience either supervising, leading, or mentoring other legal staff, including attorneys and paralegals.
  • Preferred legal experience includes litigation, general counsel, or other legal experience with substantial depth in administrative, labor, or employment law.

The ideal candidate will also have:

  • Prior management or supervisory experience leading a diverse workforce and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a leader.
  • Knowledge of the state personnel system and/or labor law.
  • Outstanding writing, analytical, and communication skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with a variety and diversity of personalities.
  • Ability to lead with empathy and be a big-picture problem solver.
  • Commitment to serving the public interest and/or have prior public sector or public service experience.
  • Ability to model strong leadership and professionalism skills.
  • Strong organizational and client management skills.

Conditions of Employment: 

  • The final candidates for employment must successfully pass a thorough criminal background investigation.

 

View the full job announcement for more information and to apply online.

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