The Higher Education Unit is looking for a collaborative and driven attorney to join our dynamic team! In this role, you’ll represent Colorado’s public colleges and universities – as well as several education-related state agencies – in both litigation and general counsel work. This position offers a unique opportunity to tackle a wide range of legal issues, from advising on policies, employment matters, student concerns, and contracts, to litigating in administrative, state, federal, and appellate courts. We’re seeking someone who thrives on new challenges, tackling new areas of law, and values close collaboration with clients and colleagues. If you’re passionate about higher education, civil litigation, and public service – and you love the idea of making an impact across diverse areas of law – we’d love to hear from you!
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 Higher Education Unit serves as general counsel to the Department of Higher Education, Division of Private Occupational Schools, Collegelnvest, College Assist, Institute for Cannabis Research, History Colorado, and four public institutions of higher education: Fort Lewis College, Colorado Mesa University, Adams State University, and Western State Colorado University. The Unit also represents and works collaboratively with in-house counsel at all of Colorado’s public colleges and universities. The Unit provides general advice to clients on a wide variety of issues, including: board representation, open meetings and open records, drafting formal and informal opinions on public postsecondary education issues, tenure, due process, intellectual property, state and federal compliance including Clery Act, ADA and Rehab Act, FERPA, Title IX, Title VII, Free Expression, and Due Process, as well as policy drafting. The Unit handles litigation in state, federal, and administrative courts. The Unit also handles transactional work, including contract drafting, review, and negotiation in a variety of settings, from simple service agreements to software contracts, real estate transactions, and construction contracts.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Serve as general counsel to institute boards, including advice on open meetings and rulemaking;
- Provide legal advice (both written and oral) and serve as litigation counsel on education issues related to tenure, due process, campus safety, student services, state and federal compliance with Title IX, the Clery Act, and the ADA.
- Handle privacy and disclosure issues related to subpoenas, CORA, and FERPA.
- Defend clients in litigation in state, federal and administrative courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Litigation ranges from administrative hearings on student or faculty discipline, to Title IX claims, and constitutional challenges.
- Coordinate occasional transactional work, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts related to service agreements, software, real estate, and construction.
Qualifications
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Qualified applicants must be licensed to practice law in Colorado or be clearly eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar. Candidates eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar will be required to submit proof of their completed application before the first day of employment.
We are seeking an experienced attorney with strong general counsel skills and a demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted strategic advisor in a high-stakes environment. This position involves advising senior leadership and governing boards within higher education institutions and requires the ability to provide clear, practical, and strategic legal guidance to educated and sophisticated client audiences. The successful candidate must be comfortable operating in complex, visible, and high-impact matters.
The ideal candidate will:
- Demonstrate excellent time management skills and the ability to independently manage a diverse and complex caseload with minimal supervision.
- Possess a strong general counsel background, including experience serving as a strategic partner to leadership and providing practical, solutions-oriented legal advice in high-stakes matters.
- Communicate effectively and persuasively, both orally and in writing, with educated, sophisticated clients, including senior executives, governing boards, and institutional leadership.
- Exhibit exceptional legal research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
- Maintain outstanding interpersonal and client relationship skills with the ability to build credibility, trust, and influence across a range of stakeholders.
- Work effectively and collaboratively within a team environment.
- Exercise sound judgment and professional maturity in interactions with internal and external stakeholders, including knowing when to elevate issues or consult with colleagues and supervisors.
- Demonstrate initiative and intellectual curiosity with the ability to quickly learn and advise in new or evolving areas of law.
- Civil litigation experience is strongly preferred, but not required.
- Background in higher education law, advising boards, constitutional law, or government representation is also desirable
In addition, we are looking for a candidate with at least five years of experience as a practicing attorney. This includes fellowship or judicial clerkship experience. Candidates without five years of experience may be considered if their application demonstrates a strong background in higher education law or related field.
THIS POSITION REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE WRITING SAMPLE. PLEASE REVIEW THE “HOW TO APPLY” SECTION OF THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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.
This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General positions within the State Services section at the Department of Law.
Application Process
Salary: $88,197.00 – $136,558.00 Annually
Deadline: 3/16/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
Link to full job posting and to formally apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado/jobs/5253348/assistant-attorney-general-higher-education
