Assistant Attorney General - Corrections

Closing Date: 31st December, 2025

Description:

Department Information:
This position is subject to the Hiring Freeze as outlined in Executive Order D 2025 009. The selected finalist will have a start date after January 1, 2026. Candidates should be aware that while an offer may be extended, their employment will not commence prior to that date.

Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!
The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is seeking a talented, enthusiastic, and experienced attorney to represent the State of Colorado in civil rights and constitutional litigation in state and federal court. This position offers an exciting opportunity to handle a caseload which primarily involves complex civil rights litigation and associated constitutional claims, habeas petitions, civil appeals and advice matters for state agencies. This position is best suited for an attorney who is interested in the intersection of criminal justice and federal civil rights law, and who excels at independently researching and writing about unique legal issues while engaging collaboratively as a part of a team with other attorneys and staff.

Application 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 lawyer and law enforcement official. 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. (https://coag.gov/)

Description of Job:
What you will do:
In this role, you will represent the Colorado Department of Corrections, and you will have the opportunity to litigate federal civil rights claims of all sorts. This often includes claims brought pursuant to the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as claims brought pursuant to statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Our team also handles various other matters such as habeas corpus petitions, small claims cases, and judicial review of agency rulings. Attorneys may also provide general legal advice to client agencies on a broad variety of topics including policy issues and subpoena or open records requests.

Experience in these areas of law is very helpful but not required – we have robust resources to support attorneys who are new to these areas of law. What is important to us is experience in, and enthusiasm for, legal writing and litigation work. So, if you enjoy all aspects of litigation, including motions practice, discovery, trial work and appellate work, this is the role for you! We are looking for candidates who are great writers and thinkers and who can manage their own federal and state cases. We are also looking for people who enjoy being part of a fun, light-hearted team that cares deeply about their service to the State of Colorado. People in this unit are successful because they enjoy their autonomy but thrive in a collaborative environment where people work together to help each other succeed. Past experience as a judicial clerk is a plus.

This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General position in the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit.

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.

Attorneys with less than 3 years of experience as a practicing attorney will be hired as an Assistant Attorney General I (AAG I). Effective July 1, 2025, the salary range for an AAG I is $88,197-$117,964/annually.

Attorneys with more than 3 years of experience practicing as an attorney may be hired as an Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II). Effective July 1, 2025, the AAG II salary range is $102,099 - $136,558/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. 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.

Further, we are seeking candidates that have at least some, if not many, of the following skills and experiences.

At least five years of legal experience preferred.

• Strong legal research and writing skills, including some experience drafting and filing briefs in federal court, and/or strong trial work in state or federal court.
• Prior experience as a state or federal judicial law clerk.
• Interest and/or experience with 42 U.S.C. 1983 cases, C.R.C.P. 106 cases, Constitutional law, administrative law, and federal and state appeals is preferred.
• Broad range of litigation experience.
• Ability to be self-directed and manage one's own caseload from pleading stage through trial and appeal.
• Good problem-solving skills and the confidence to know when to ask questions.

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 Workforce 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.
• This Position Offers Flexible Work Arrangements. Flexible Work Arrangements May Change at Any Time Based on Business Needs.
• 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 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.

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. Applicants May Redact Information that Identifies Their Age, Date of Birth, or Dates of Attendance at Or Graduation from An Educational Institution.

If You Have Questions About Your Application, Contact Vanessa Rhea at Vanessa.Rhea@coag.Gov.

Adaaa Requests
The Department of Law Is Committed to The Full Inclusion of All Qualified Individuals. as Part of This Commitment, Our Agency Will Assist Individuals Who Have a Disability with Any Reasonable Accommodation Requests Related to Employment, Including Completing the Application Process, Interviewing, Completing Any Pre-Employment Testing, Participating in The Employee Selection Process, And/or to Perform Essential Job Functions Where the Requested Accommodation Does Not Impose an Undue Hardship. if You Have a Disability and Require Reasonable Accommodation to Ensure You Have a Positive Experience Applying or Interviewing for This Position, Please Direct Your Inquiries to Our Adaaa Coordinator, Julie Christopher at Hr@coag.Gov.

For General Information Regarding This Position and Other Attorney Opportunities at Our Office, Please Contact Our Legal Talent Director at Legaltalentdirector@coag.Gov.

Why Work for Us: