Assistant Attorney General - Employment Practic...

Closing Date: 9th June, 2023

Description:

Department Information:
Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!

The Department of Law/Office of the Attorney General, Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is seeking an attorney with experience in civil litigation and employment and/or labor law for a position in our Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work with various state agencies and institutions of higher education on unique employment and labor issues and to form lasting and rewarding client relationships in a position with frequent client interaction. The attorney will serve as a litigator and advisor focusing primarily on employment and labor work, as well as some civil rights work based on unit and client needs. We are looking for a person who excels at independently tackling new issues on a regular basis, and who is eager to engage as a part of a team.

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. Visit our website to learn more: https://coag.gov/.

Description of Job:
What you will do:
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Provide advice to state agencies and institutions of higher education with regard to compliance with labor and employment and matters, and assist state agencies in resolving labor and employment disputes prior to litigation. You may also provide training on labor and employment matters for client agencies and institutions.
• Represent state agencies in employment matters before the State Personnel Board in all phases of administrative hearing and post-hearing litigation, and occasionally in state and federal court. These duties will include settlement negotiations, conducting discovery, preparing witnesses for hearing, motions practice, trying cases before an administrative law judge, filing and arguing appeals before the Board, Colorado Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, and occasionally trying cases before a judge or jury in court.
• Represent state agencies and institutions of higher education in labor disputes before the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Division of Labor Standards and Statistics and labor arbitrators in all phases of administrative and post-hearing litigation, and occasionally in state or federal court.

This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General position in 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.

New ranges will go into effect for employees starting after July 1, 2023.

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 $83,292-$92,400/annually.

Attorneys with more than 3 years of experience practicing as an attorney will be hired as an Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II). The AAG II salary range is $96,420-$120,000/annually.

Current salary range is $7,100-9,000/month through June 30, 2023.

Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis for any new employees starting after July 1, 2023.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights:
What we are looking for:
At a minimum, 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. Applicants eligible to waive into the bar must be eligible to Practice Pending Admission.

• Committed to and values diversity, equity, inclusion, and public service.
• Some knowledge of , employment law, labor law, civil rights law, and administrative law and knowledge of the state personnel system.
• Some public sector legal experience.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to handle a large load of case and advice work with minimal supervision.
• Strong litigation, analytical, research, oral, written, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and client relationship skills.
• Well-developed ability to work collaboratively.
• Demonstrates maturity and judgment when dealing with high-level stakeholders and knows when to consult teammates and supervisors.
• Excels at learning new areas of law and takes initiative to learn quickly and dive into subject matter.

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.
• 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:
Why Work For Us:
We Embrace Flexibility
We aim to produce outstanding work product for our clients, be efficient with our time, and support each other as team members – which also means we embrace flexible working arrangements when and where possible.
At the Department of Law, we know that we are better together when our differences are valued and everyone is inspired and empowered to contribute. As such, we strive to provide a safe environment where individuals feel valued and respected for who they are; demonstrate a behavior and mindset where differences are welcomed and individuals are equally treated and empowered to do their best work; and promote growth and innovation through a diverse workforce that contributes to creative problem solving and delivers excellent work.

We Have Strong Core Values
Our core values drive our actions. At the Department of Law, we are: 1) principled, maintaining the highest ethical standards, rigorous legal analysis, and careful evaluation of facts; 2) public servants, who are always ensuring our work is not about us, but instead is about the people of Colorado; 3) innovative, by seeking to identify the best approach, make deliberate decisions, and look to improve; and 4) "better together," by working to support each other and collaborate.

We are Committed to Developing our Attorneys:
We are deeply invested in our talent and regularly provide meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth through training and coaching. Further, our professional development and performance goal setting process is collaborative and ongoing, and aimed at helping our attorneys grow and succeed.

We Offer Excellent Benefits:
In addition to competitive medical and dental health plans, employer-paid life insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans, and vacation and sick leave earned each month, there are many other unique benefits that we offer, including:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service): a borrower may qualify for forgiveness by making 120 on-time payments while employed full-time in public service, if they have certain kinds of federal loans in a qualifying repayment plan
• Free access to a recently renovated on-site fitness center
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible work schedules, professional development opportunities, and an employee discount program
• Employer-paid mental health and counseling services through Colorado State Employee Assistance Program
• Employer-paid annual attorney registration dues
• Employer-provided access to professional development training and CLE through PLI, Department of Law University and other entities.

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

Applicants must provide 1) a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and if applicable, your specific experience with special prosecutions; 2) a resume; 3) a writing sample, preferably a pleading or motion from a criminal case, and 4) three professional references. Use the "Attachments" feature of the online application to add documents.

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 Julie.Christopher@coag.gov or call 720-508-6511 .

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