Assistant Attorney General - Employment Practices and Civil Rights

Salary: $89,964.00 - $136,468.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: LAA-09835-11/2026
Department: Department of Law
Division: Civil Litigation & Employment Law
Opening Date: 11/09/2026
Closing Date: 11/30/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: 1300 Broadway, Denver CO 80203
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Type of Announcement: This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Department Information
This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system.
Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
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.
Application will be reviewed, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Interested parties are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Description of Job
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.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple attorney positions within the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section at the Department of Law.

Salary note: The Department of Law uses an attorney compensation model. Although a salary range is listed, salary will be set commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

Attorneys with less than 3 years of experience as a practicing attorney will be hired as an Assistant Attorney General I (AAG I). The salary range for an AAG I is $89,964-$119,047/annually.

Attorneys with more than 3 years of experience practicing as an attorney may be hired as an Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II). The salary range for an AAG II is $102,099 - $136,468/annually.

Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
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

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 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.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
• 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 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.

Supplemental Information
HOW TO APPLY

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 detailing their interest in the position and their relevant experience; 2) a resume; 3) a writing sample, and 4) three professional references. Use the "Attachments" feature of the online application to add documents.