First Assistant Attorney General – Employment Law Defense Unit
The Colorado Department of Law’s Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is launching a new Employment Law Defense Unit and seeks a First Assistant Attorney General to build and lead it. The successful candidate will assemble the team, establish its culture and systems, and help define how the State of Colorado handles employment litigation in state and federal court.
The First AAG will lead a small, highly collaborative team of attorneys, a paralegal, and a shared administrative assistant responsible for complex and consequential employment litigation involving state agencies, institutions of higher education, and public employees. The position will combine hands-on litigation, strategic case oversight, client counseling, team development, and the practical work of standing up a new unit—including creating effective intake, assignment, case-management, and quality-control systems.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to define what excellent state and federal employment litigation defense practice looks like across state government. The role requires sound judgment, strong litigation skills, an enterprise perspective, and a leadership style that promotes accountability, trust, collaboration, professional growth, and exceptional client service.
The Office of the Attorney General offers challenging, interesting, and meaningful work in a collegial environment supported by leadership committed to outstanding general counsel and litigation service.
Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Interested parties are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
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 legal representative and serves as legal counsel to all state executive and judicial agencies, departments, boards, and commissions. 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. Learn more about the Colorado Attorney General’s Office here.
Responsibilities
WHAT YOU WILL DO
The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section represents state agencies, institutions of higher education, and state officials and employees in civil litigation and employment matters. Its attorneys handle a broad range of complex and high-impact matters in state and federal courts and administrative forums, provide strategic legal advice to clients throughout state government, and work collaboratively across specialized units to deliver consistent, practical, and high-quality legal services.
The Employment Law Defense Unit is a newly created team dedicated to defending state agencies, institutions of higher education, and public employees in state and federal employment litigation. The Unit will provide centralized ownership, strategy, and accountability for this growing practice area while collaborating closely with attorneys in the Employment Practices and Civil Rights, Tort Litigation, Cross-Unit Litigation, Higher Education, and other units throughout the office.
The Unit’s work will include claims arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, whistleblower statutes, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, and 1985, and related contract, constitutional, and tort theories. The Unit will handle matters from pre-suit assessment and early case strategy through discovery, dispositive motions, trial, appeal, and settlement.
At launch, the Unit will consist of the First AAG, two Assistant Attorneys General, a paralegal and an administrative assistant, with the potential to expand the team in the future. The Unit will also coordinate with affiliated attorneys in other units who handle or support employment matters and want to deepen their state and federal litigation experience. The First AAG will report to the Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section and participate in Section and Department leadership meetings.
As the First AAG, you will have a rare opportunity to build a new litigation unit from the ground up while remaining actively engaged in the practice. Responsibilities will include:
Build and Lead the Unit
- Develop and implement the Unit’s operating model, including systems for intake, triage, case assignment, staffing, workload monitoring, litigation planning, quality control, knowledge management, and escalation of significant risk.
- Build a strong, inclusive, and accountable team culture grounded in collaboration, candid communication, sound judgment, professional excellence, and public service.
- Lead, supervise, coach, and evaluate attorneys and professional staff, including setting clear expectations, providing timely feedback, supporting professional development, and addressing performance concerns directly and constructively.
- Coordinate effectively with affiliated attorneys and leaders across the Department so that employment litigation is staffed strategically and attorneys outside the Unit can continue to contribute and develop relevant expertise.
- Make hiring recommendations, approve leave, address personnel and operational matters, and perform other management responsibilities associated with leading a Department of Law unit.
Direct and Handle Employment Litigation
- Provide strategic oversight of the Unit’s docket and ensure that each matter has clear ownership, an early case assessment, a litigation plan, an appropriate staffing model, and meaningful client communication.
- Advise attorneys and litigation teams on pleadings, discovery, experts, dispositive motions, trial strategy, appeals, settlement, and other significant case decisions.
- Personally handle a meaningful portfolio of employment litigation, with the scope of that portfolio calibrated to the Unit’s leadership and supervisory demands.
- Lead or support high-risk, high-profile, novel, or especially complex matters, including matters requiring coordination with senior Department leadership, the Governor’s Office, Risk Management, the State Controller, or outside counsel.
- Promote consistent litigation positions, efficient practices, and high-quality written and oral advocacy across the State’s employment-defense portfolio.
Serve Clients and Strengthen the Statewide Practice
- Build trusted relationships with agency and higher-education leaders, general counsel, human-resources professionals, and other client representatives.
- Provide practical, candid, and strategic advice regarding litigation risk, settlement, institutional impact, and opportunities for early resolution.
- Partner with the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit and other counsel to connect lessons from litigation with preventative advice, training, and improved employment practices.
- Develop templates, playbooks, training, metrics, and other resources that improve consistency, efficiency, and practice excellence.
- Monitor legal, legislative, and operational developments affecting state employment litigation and help the Department respond strategically.
- As needed, select, supervise, and evaluate outside counsel and ensure cost-effective, coordinated representation.
Qualifications
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 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.
- Experience either supervising, leading, or mentoring other legal staff, including attorneys and paralegals.
- Demonstrated litigation experience sufficient to oversee and personally handle complex state and federal court matters.
The ideal candidate will also have:
- First-chair or comparable lead responsibility in complex civil litigation.
- Experience managing a litigation portfolio and advising other attorneys on case strategy and risk.
- Prior formal supervisory or management experience.
- Experience representing governmental entities, public institutions, or public officials and employees.
- Knowledge of the Colorado state personnel system, governmental immunity, public-sector employment, or state risk-management and settlement processes.
- Experience developing litigation systems, training, templates, metrics, or other practice-management tools.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section.
Application Process
Link to full job posting and to formally apply:
