Second Assistant Attorney General (Employment Practices & Civil Rights Unit)

Details

Section:
Civil Litigation and Employment Law
Position Number:
LAA-9177-9/2022
Salary Range:
$9,511.00 - $12,000.00 Monthly
Apply By:
Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 11:59 pm
FLSA:
Exempt
Work Unit:
Employment Personnel/CCRD
Job Location:
1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Release Date:
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Employment Type:
Full-Time
Position Type:
Non-Classified

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

The Civil Litigation and Employment Section has a unique leadership opportunity for an experienced attorney with a passion for employment and labor law in the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit. This position serves in a unique role as a working-manager who oversees a collaborative team of paralegal and attorney staff. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work with various state agencies and institutions of higher education on unique labor 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 and litigator focusing primarily on employment work, with some labor and civil rights work, based on unit and client needs. This dynamic group is looking for a person interested in employment law who also has a passion for mentoring and professional development of team members.

 

The Second Assistant Attorney General works closely with the Unit’s two other Second Assistant Attorneys General and the Unit’s First Assistant Attorney General to manage the workflow for the Unit, as well as streamline advice and litigation matters and implement processes, protocols, and procedures aimed at ensuring high quality and consistent work product and client services. They also provide leadership and supervision over teams of attorneys and paralegals. This Second Assistant Attorney General position focuses primarily on employment law, the state personnel system, and civil rights, and will serve as primary point of contact for client agencies and institutions of higher education on employment advice and litigation matters. This vacancy offers the opportunity for professional growth and development.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Second Assistant Attorney General will work closely with the Unit’s First Assistant Attorney General, managing administrative functions, supervising a team (pod) of attorneys and paralegals, providing leadership and coaching, and managing the Unit’s workflow to ensure high quality work product and client services.
 
Duties include:

Client Services

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for specific client agencies and institutions of higher education (roughly half of the Unit’s clients), as assigned through consultation with the First Assistant AG. Engage in regular communication with assigned clients to build relationships and develop subject matter expertise in each client’s personnel-related needs. Consult with Unit attorneys and paralegals regarding assigned clients’ advice and litigation matters.
  • Provide support and consultation to the paralegal managing the Unit’s employment advice inbox, assist in the review of incoming advice requests, and help to assign matters to attorneys after evaluating their capacity, level of experience, and interest.
  • Provide oversight of advice and State Personnel Board and other state and federal litigation matters for assigned clients. Engage in cross-pod collaboration to promote teamwork and consistency across the Unit.
  • Working with the First AAG and the Labor and Collective Bargaining Second AAG, identify state personnel system advice and litigation matters that may have implications under the Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act (Collective Bargaining Act). Ensure cross-pod collaboration and engagement by pod attorneys and paralegals in such matters.

Unit Leadership

  • Provide assistance and support to the First AAG on an as-needed basis, including with respect to Unit work, work performed by third parties and outside counsel, and advice matters, and policy work requested by clients.
  • Identify key or high-risk litigation and provide supervision, support, co-counsel as necessary.
  • Create and implement formal onboarding and ongoing training practices.
  • Work with the First AAG and other Second AAGs to develop and manage a centralized list/database of resources, such as experts, upon which the Unit can draw.
  • Working closely with the First AAG, the other Second AAGs, the Unit’s professional staff, the Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation and Employment Law, and other employees of the Department of Law as necessary to develop templates, systems, and processes designed to increase efficiencies, streamline litigation, enhance client services, and promote practice excellence.
  • Provide quality control assistance to the First and other Seconds in the substantive review of attorney pleadings and other filings, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, and appellate briefs.
  • Provide guidance, strategy advice, feedback, and general litigation assistance to attorneys and paralegals across the Unit as necessary.
  • Assist the First AAG and other Second AAGs with identification of trends, issues, and opportunities in the Unit’s management/operation and legal practice.

Individual Support & Coaching

  • Have a general but meaningful understanding of every pod member’s caseload, tracking the cases/matters in the pod, and supporting each pod member in their efforts to properly and successfully manage their cases/matters.
  • Support and coach the pod and identify areas of opportunity for growth and development for attorneys and paralegals. Identify ways of enhancing the pods and each individual’s work product and practice. Promote teamwork, collaboration, and improved performance.
  • Organize regular meetings with the pod and work with each individual attorney and paralegal as necessary to: 1) track case progress, 2) ensure deadlines are met, 3) identify opportunities for improvement as it concerns case management and/or general practice, 4) identify any need(s) for additional resources, and 5) otherwise support each attorney and/or paralegal in their pod as that attorney or paralegal and the Second AAG see fit.
  • Work with the First AAG and other Second AAGs to monitor case load/capacity of attorneys and paralegals.
  • Work with the First AAG and other Second AAGs to provide guidance in litigation and advice matters and to help develop litigation plans as necessary.
  • Manage progression of cases and ensure critical deadlines are met, such as initial pleadings, discovery deadlines, expert deadlines, dispositive motions, motions in limine, and other pre-trial, trial, and post-trial matters.

 

The Department of Law may fill additional attorney positions from this recruitment.

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

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 before the first day of employment.
  • Possess at least five (5) years of relevant experience as a practicing attorney. Preferred experience includes, litigation, general counsel, or other legal experience with substantial depth in administrative or employment law.
  • Experience either supervising, leading, or mentoring other legal staff, including attorneys and paralegals.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have the following skills and attributes:

  • 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
  • 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
  • Demonstrated experience litigating complex cases

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.

 Conditions of Employment:
  • Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
  • Effective August 15, 2022, this position will require documented proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. New employees will be required to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination within three (3) business days of hire. Employees who have not been fully vaccinated may be required to submit to serial testing in the future. Religious and medical exemptions and reasonable accommodation shall be addressed as required by law pursuant to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s vaccination guidance.

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.

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

 

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