Closing Date: 31st August, 2026

Description:

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

The Natural Resources and Environment Section's Air Quality Unit is seeking an experienced attorney to help protect and improve Colorado's air quality through innovative and impactful legal work. This attorney will represent one or more client agencies within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, providing strategic legal counsel and litigation support on complex environmental and administrative law matters. Working in close partnership with client agencies, the Air Quality Unit addresses some of Colorado's most significant environmental challenges, including climate change, ozone pollution, and the implementation of air quality regulations, with a strong commitment to environmental justice and the protection of disproportionately impacted communities. Colorado is a national leader in advancing air quality policy, offering a unique opportunity to work on precedent-setting legal issues that influence the state, the nation, and beyond—all while enjoying a collaborative work environment and a healthy work-life balance.

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:
As an Assistant Attorney General in the Natural Resources and Environment Section's Air Quality Unit, you will provide legal counsel and representation to one or more client agencies within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on a broad range of environmental and administrative law matters. You will represent client agencies in rulemakings before the Air Quality Control Commission, administrative enforcement proceedings, and civil litigation, and participate in complex settlement negotiations.

Working as part of a collaborative team of experienced environmental attorneys, you will develop and manage a diverse practice advising clients on statutory interpretation, program implementation, administrative procedure, open meetings and open records laws, enterprise governance, and other legal issues affecting Colorado's air quality programs. You will also support the Department's legislative and rule review process and contribute to addressing some of Colorado's most significant environmental challenges, including ozone reduction, climate change, and environmental justice. This position offers an exceptional opportunity to build an environmental law practice, gain substantial litigation experience, and work on matters that have a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of Colorado communities.

In this role, you will also have the opportunity to:

Represent the State of Colorado in complex civil litigation involving the federal Clean Air Act, the Colorado Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act, and other state and federal environmental laws through all phases of litigation, including investigation, discovery, motions practice, trial, settlement, and appeal.
Provide strategic legal counsel and representation to the Air Pollution Control Division and other client agencies on complex air quality, environmental, and administrative law matters, including regulatory compliance, enforcement, and program implementation.
Participate in complex negotiation and litigation on behalf of the Air Pollution Control Division and other client agencies.
Conduct legal research and prepare written legal analyses, pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal documents to support client agencies in developing, implementing, and defending air quality programs and regulatory actions.
Travel within Colorado and, on occasion, nationwide for meetings, negotiations, hearings, trials, and other litigation-related proceedings.

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.

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-$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). 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:
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 Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.

Applicants should highlight in their cover letter any relevant experience, including any experience with including any experience with environmental enforcement, litigation, program development, open records reviews, and government-based general counsel work. Applicants are also encouraged to describe their experience mentoring lawyers and staff.

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 before the first day of employment
Be passionate and enthusiastic about having a career in environmental law and serving the State of Colorado as a public servant.
Be willing to periodically travel within the State.

Our ideal candidate will:

Be a multi-dimensional thinker and creative problem solver who enjoys coming up with practical and imaginative solutions.
Be capable of independently managing a full workload and working well with technically and legally sophisticated clients.
Demonstrate exceptional legal writing skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise, persuasive, and well-organized work product with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
Possess strong analytical skills and the ability to identify, research, and evaluate complex legal, factual, and strategic issues.
Communicate effectively with sophisticated clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, and other stakeholders, both orally and in writing.
Apply sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and practical business awareness when advising clients and working with colleagues.
Think strategically and creatively, developing practical, innovative, and legally sound solutions to complex or novel problems.
Demonstrate intellectual curiosity, resourcefulness, and initiative in developing subject-matter expertise and identifying issues that require further analysis or action.
Work effectively with limited supervision, exercise ownership over assignments, and consistently meet deadlines and performance expectations.
Independently manage a substantial and varied workload, appropriately prioritize competing demands, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Collaborate effectively across teams while also demonstrating the confidence and accountability necessary to lead matters independently.
Establish credibility and trusted-advisor relationships with technically and legally sophisticated clients.
Demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and the delivery of high-quality client service.

To qualify for an Assistant Attorney General II, you must:

Have three years 'experience as a licensed attorney; and
Have professional legal experience in environmental regulatory enforcement and litigation.

Conditions of Employment:

Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
Requires in-state travel by state vehicle as needed.
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: