Assistant Attorney General – Employment Practices and Civil Rights
The Colorado Department of Law’s Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is seeking an attorney with experience in civil litigation and an interest in civil rights, employment, and/or labor law to join our Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit.
This position offers an exciting opportunity to represent and advise all state agencies and institutions of higher education in Colorado on complex, challenging, and often novel employment, labor, and civil rights issues. Attorneys in this Unit play a critical role in helping state government navigate important legal issues while developing strong, collaborative, and rewarding relationships with their clients.
The attorney will serve as both a trusted legal advisor and a litigator, handling a broad portfolio of employment, labor, and civil rights matters. The position offers significant opportunities for direct client engagement, independent legal analysis, creative problem-solving, and meaningful litigation experience—all within an engaging and collaborative team-first environment.
We are looking for an attorney who is intellectually curious, enjoys tackling new and evolving legal challenges, exercises sound independent judgment, and thrives in a collaborative and supportive team environment. We value attorneys who bring initiative, creativity, and a commitment to providing excellent legal services to the people and institutions of Colorado.
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
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Act as trusted employment counsel for Colorado: The selected attorney will be called upon to be a trusted legal advisor to state agencies and institutions of higher education on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including developing and implementing workplace policies, navigating complex employee relations issues, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, and helping clients proactively resolve labor and employment disputes. You may also develop and deliver training on labor and employment matters for state agencies and institutions of higher education.
- Serve as litigation counsel for Colorado: The selected attorney will also represent state agencies and institutions of higher education in a broad range of employment matters before the State Personnel Board, and occasionally in state and federal court. These duties will include managing cases through all phases of litigation, including settlement negotiations, discovery, witness preparation, motions practice, evidentiary hearings and trials, and appellate advocacy before the State Personnel Board and Colorado appellate courts. This work offers meaningful opportunities to develop and strengthen litigation skills, including trying cases before administrative law judges and, on occasion, judges and juries in state and federal court.
- Enforcement of Civil Rights laws for Coloradans: The selected attorney will advise the Colorado Civil Rights Division in employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination matters. This involves affirmative litigation prosecuting employment, fair housing, and public accommodation discrimination complaints against public and private actors for violations of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.
- Represent state government in complex labor matter: The selected attorney will represent state agencies and institutions of higher education in a variety of labor relations matters, including disputes before the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, proceedings before labor arbitrators, and occasionally litigation in state or federal court.
Qualifications
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 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 seeking attorneys with at least four years of experience in civil litigation and/or providing legal advice and counsel who are eager to take on challenging legal issues, build meaningful client relationships, and contribute to a collaborative and supportive team. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of strong legal skills, sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to public service.
We recognize that great attorneys bring different experiences and strengths to the table. While no candidate is expected to check every box, we are particularly interested in individuals who demonstrate many of the following qualifications and qualities:
- Strong legal and advocacy skills, including excellent analytical, research, writing, oral advocacy, litigation, and negotiation abilities.
- Knowledge of relevant areas of law, including employment, labor, civil rights, and/or administrative law, with an eagerness to develop expertise in new areas.
- Sound judgment and professionalism, particularly when navigating sensitive or complex legal issues, advising senior government officials, and recognizing when to seek input or collaborate with colleagues and supervisors.
- Excellent client relationship and interpersonal skills, with an ability to build trust, communicate effectively, and provide practical, thoughtful, and responsive legal advice.
- Initiative and intellectual curiosity, including an enthusiasm for tackling unfamiliar legal questions, quickly mastering new subject matter, and independently developing creative and effective solutions.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple litigation and advice matters, manage competing priorities, and work independently with appropriate supervision.
- A collaborative and team-oriented approach, including a willingness to share knowledge, support colleagues, seek different perspectives, and contribute to a positive and supportive work environment.
- Experience with Colorado state government, including familiarity with the state personnel system or prior public-sector legal experience, is preferred but not required.
- A passion for public service and civil rights, including experience or a demonstrated interest in civil rights litigation and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This recruitment may be used to fill more than one position within the Civil Litigation and Employment Law section.
Application Process
Link to full job posting and to formally apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado/jobs/5544453/assistant-attorney-general-employment-practices-and-civil-rights