Salary: $89,964.00 - $150,556.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: LAA-09820-08/2026
Department: Department of Law
Opening Date: 08/21/2026
Closing Date: 9/8/2026 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

The Colorado Department of Law's Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is launching a new Employment Law Defense Unit and seeks an experienced employment litigator to join its founding team as an Employment Litigation Specialist. The successful candidate will serve as a senior lead litigator and mentor on complex and consequential employment litigation involving state agencies, institutions of higher education, and public employees in state and federal court.

This position combines hands-on litigation, strategic case leadership, client counseling, mentoring, and practice development. The successful candidate will manage a meaningful portfolio, lead or support high-risk and high-profile matters, help develop consistent litigation practices and resources, and contribute to the culture and systems of the new Unit.

The position is best suited for an attorney with substantial employment litigation experience, sound judgment, strong written and oral advocacy, and a collaborative approach to working with clients, colleagues, and litigation teams.
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
The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section

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

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. Sections 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, Senior AAG, two Assistant Attorneys General, a paralegal, and shared administrative support, with the potential to expand 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.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
As an Assistant Attorney General, you will serve as a lead litigator and help establish an excellent, consistent statewide employment-defense practice. Responsibilities will include:

Lead and Handle Employment Litigation

• Serve as lead counsel in complex employment cases and personally handle matters through all phases of litigation, including pre-suit assessment, investigation, pleadings, discovery, experts, dispositive motions, trial, appeal, and settlement.
• Defend claims arising under federal and state employment statutes and related contract, constitutional, and tort theories, including the claims identified above.
• Develop early case assessments, litigation plans, staffing recommendations, discovery strategies, risk analyses, and meaningful client-communication plans.
• Provide practical, candid, and strategic advice to client representatives regarding litigation risk, settlement, institutional impact, and opportunities for early resolution.
• 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.

Lead Teams, Mentor, and Strengthen the Practice

• Lead litigation teams by establishing clear roles, strategy, deadlines, and expectations, and by providing timely and constructive review of written work and advocacy.
• Mentor and coach attorneys and professional staff and create meaningful opportunities for professional growth through active case work.
• Support the First Assistant Attorney General in developing templates, playbooks, training, metrics, and other resources that improve consistency, efficiency, knowledge sharing, and practice excellence.
• Partner with the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit and other counsel to connect lessons from litigation with preventive advice, training, and improved employment practices.

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 a wage progression 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.
In order to be appointed as a Senior Assistant Attorney General, candidates must have a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant legal experience as a recognized subject matter expert in employment litigation, with substantial practice in state and/or federal court. If the position is filled at the level of Senior Assistant Attorney General, the pay range will be $112,564 to $150,556/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.

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.
Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking an experienced employment litigator who can independently lead complex matters, work effectively with sophisticated clients and multidisciplinary teams, mentor others, and help build a new Unit and statewide practice. Applicants should highlight in their cover letter their employment litigation experience, lead litigation responsibility, mentoring or team-leadership experience, and relevant public-sector work.

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be 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 must submit proof of their completed application and application for Practice Pending Admission before the first day of employment.
• Have three (3) years or more of employment litigation experience with substantial practice in state and/or federal court.
• Demonstrate experience independently developing litigation strategy and handling major phases of complex civil litigation, including discovery, dispositive motions, settlement, and trial or evidentiary hearings.
• Demonstrate strong legal analysis, judgment, research, writing, oral advocacy, negotiation, organization, and time-management skills.
• Demonstrate the interpersonal and client-service skills necessary to build trust, communicate candidly, and work collaboratively with clients, colleagues, and professional staff.

For the Senior Assistant Attorney General position, we are seeking applicants who have a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant legal experience as a recognized subject matter expert in employment litigation, with substantial practice in state and/or federal court.
The strongest candidates will also have:

• First-chair or comparable lead responsibility in complex employment or civil litigation.
• Experience representing governmental entities, public institutions, or public officials and employees.
• Knowledge of public-sector employment, governmental immunity, the Colorado state personnel system, or state risk-management and settlement processes.
• Experience managing a substantial litigation portfolio and communicating risk and strategy to senior or high-level stakeholders.
• Experience leading litigation teams and mentoring or coaching attorneys and professional staff.
• A demonstrated commitment to public service and to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, accountable, and respectful work environment.

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.
• 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 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 and complete the online application, including the Contact Information section. Applicants are not required to complete the Work Experience, Education, or Additional Information sections of the online application.

Required Application Materials: Applicants 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 joining the Employment Law Defense Unit and describing their relevant employment litigation, team-leadership, mentoring, and public-sector experience; 2) a resume; 3) a writing sample; and 4) three professional references. Use the "Attachments" feature of the online application to add documents.