Assistant Attorney General – Employment Practices and Civil Rights

The Department of Law/Office of the Attorney General, Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is seeking an attorney with experience in civil litigation and civil rights, employment and/or labor law for a position in our Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work with various state agencies and institutions of higher education on unique employment, labor, and civil rights issues and to form lasting and rewarding client relationships in a position with frequent client interaction. The attorney will serve as a litigator and advisor focusing primarily on employment, labor, and civil rights matters. We are looking for a person who excels at independently tackling new issues on a regular basis, and who is eager to engage as a part of a team.

This position is not subject to the Hiring Freeze as outlined in Executive Order D 2025 009.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

In this role, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Provide advice to state agencies and institutions of higher education on a variety of labor and employment matters, including developing and implementing policies, managing employee relations issues, complying with state and federal laws, and resolving labor and employment disputes prior to litigation. You may also provide training on labor and employment matters for state agencies and institutions of higher education.
• Represent state agencies and institutions of higher education 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. These duties will include settlement negotiations, conducting discovery, preparing witnesses for hearing, motions practice, trying cases before an administrative law judge, filing and arguing appeals before the State Personnel Board, Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court, and occasionally trying cases before a judge or jury in state or federal court.
• Provide advice to the Colorado Civil Rights Division on employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination matters. Prosecute employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination complaints from the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Defend the Colorado Civil Rights Division in state and federal court.
• Represent 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, and occasionally in state or federal court.

Our ideal candidates will have the following attributes and interests:

Qualified 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 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.

We are looking for individuals who have at least four years’ experience in civil litigation and/or advice and counsel work, and who can check most of the following boxes: 

• Experience or interest in civil rights litigation.
• Committed to and values diversity, equity, inclusion, and public service.
• Strong litigation, analytical, research, oral, written, and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of employment, labor, civil rights, and/or administrative law.
• Knowledge of the state personnel system is preferred but not required.
• Public sector legal experience is preferred but not required.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to handle a number of cases and advice matters with minimal supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal and client relationship skills.
• Well-developed ability to work collaboratively.
• Demonstrates maturity and judgment when dealing with high-level stakeholders and knows when to consult teammates and supervisors.
• Excels at learning new areas of law and takes initiative to learn quickly and dive into subject matter.

This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General position in the Civil Litigation and Employment Law section.