First Assistant Attorney General - Employment Law Defense Unit

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.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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.
• Colorado Department of Law participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.  
• 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 website.
• This position offers flexible work arrangements. Flexible work arrangements may change at any time based on business needs.

This position is non-classified and is not subject to appeal rights.

Applicants must establish an account with governmentjobs.com and complete the on-line applications including the Contact Information section. Applicants are not required to complete the Work Experience, Education, or Additional Information sections of the on-line application.
 

Required Application Materials: Applicant may redact information that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Applicants must provide 1)  a cover letter explaining their interest in building and leading the Employment Law Defense Unit and describing their relevant litigation and leadership experience;  2) a resume; and 3) a writing sample; and 4) three professional references. Use the "Attachments" feature of the online application to add documents.