Second Assistant Attorney General (Employment P...

Closing Date: 31st March, 2023

Description:

Department Information:
An image without descriptionThe Civil Litigation and Employment Section has a unique leadership opportunity for an experienced attorney in the Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit. This dynamic group is looking for a person interested in employment and labor law who also has a passion for mentoring and professional development of team members. The Second Assistant Attorney General serves in a unique role as a working-manager who oversees a collaborative team of paralegal and attorney staff. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work with various state agencies and institutions of higher education on unique labor and state personnel issues and to form lasting and rewarding client relationships in a position with frequent client interaction. The attorney will serve as an advisor and litigator focusing primarily on employment and labor work, with some civil rights work, based on unit and client needs.

Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews may be conducted prior to the job closing. We encourage you submit your application early if 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.
What you will do:
The Second Assistant Attorney General will work closely with the Unit's First Assistant Attorney General (“First AAG”), managing administrative functions, supervising a team (pod) of attorneys and paralegals, providing leadership and coaching, and managing the Unit's workflow to ensure high quality work product and client services. The Second Assistant Attorney General also works closely with the Unit's two other Second Assistant Attorneys General and the First AAG to manage the workflow for the Unit, as well as streamline advice and litigation matters and implement processes, protocols, and procedures aimed at ensuring high quality and consistent work product and client services. This Second Assistant Attorney General position focuses primarily on employment and labor law, the state personnel system, and civil rights work as needed, and will serve as primary point of contact for client agencies and institutions of higher education on employment advice and litigation matters.
Client Services
Serve as the primary point of contact for specific client agencies and institutions of higher education, as assigned through consultation with the First AAG. Engage in regular communication with assigned clients to build relationships and develop subject matter expertise in each client's personnel-related needs. Consult with Unit attorneys and paralegals regarding assigned clients' advice and litigation matters.

• Provide support and consultation to the paralegal managing the Unit's employment advice inbox, assist in the review of incoming advice requests, and help to assign matters to attorneys after evaluating their capacity, level of experience, and interest.
• Provide oversight of advice matters and litigation before the State Personnel Board, arising out of the collective bargaining agreement with the state's classified union, and in state and federal court assigned clients. Engage in cross-pod collaboration to promote teamwork and consistency across the Unit.

• Provide assistance and support to the First AAG on an as-needed basis, including with respect to Unit work, work performed by third parties and outside counsel, and advice matters and policy work requested by clients.
• Identify key or high-risk litigation and provide supervision, support, co-counsel as necessary.
• Create and implement formal onboarding and ongoing training practices.
• Work with the First AAG and other Second AAGs to develop and manage a centralized list/database of resources, such as experts, upon which the Unit can draw.
• Working closely with the First AAG, the other Second AAGs, the Unit's professional staff, the Deputy and Assistant Deputy Attorneys General for Civil Litigation and Employment Law, the Section Litigation Manager, and other employees of the Department of Law as necessary to develop templates, systems, and processes designed to increase efficiencies, streamline litigation, enhance client services, and promote practice excellence.
• Provide quality control assistance to the First and other Second AAGs in the substantive review of attorney pleadings and other filings, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, and appellate briefs.
• Provide guidance, strategy advice, feedback, and general litigation assistance to attorneys and paralegals across the Unit as necessary.
• Assist the First AAG and other Second AAGs with identification of trends, issues, and opportunities in the Unit's management/operation and legal practice.

Individual Support & Coaching

• Have a general but meaningful understanding of every pod member's caseload, tracking the cases/matters in the pod, and supporting each pod member in their efforts to properly and successfully manage their cases/matters.
• Support and coach the pod and identify areas of opportunity for growth and development for attorneys and paralegals. Identify ways of enhancing the pods and each individual's work product and practice. Promote teamwork, collaboration, and improved performance.
• Organize regular meetings with the pod and work with each individual attorney and paralegal as necessary to: 1) track case progress, 2) ensure deadlines are met, 3) identify opportunities for improvement as it concerns case management and/or general practice, 4) identify any need(s) for additional resources, and 5) otherwise support each attorney and/or paralegal in their pod as that attorney or paralegal and the Second AAG see fit.
• Work with the First AAG and other Second AAGs to monitor case load/capacity of attorneys and paralegals.
• Work with the First AAG and other Second AAGs to provide guidance in litigation and advice matters and to help develop litigation plans as necessary.
• Manage progression of cases and ensure critical deadlines are met, such as initial pleadings, discovery deadlines, expert deadlines, dispositive motions, motions in limine, and other pre-trial, trial, and post-trial matters.
• The Department of Law may fill additional attorney positions from this recruitment.

Salary note: 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.
The Department of Law may fill additional leadership positions from this recruitment.

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 before the first day of employment.
• Possess at least five (5) years of relevant experience as a practicing attorney.
• Be committed to serving the public interest and/or have prior public sector or public service experience
• Have experience supervising, leading, or mentoring other legal staff, including attorneys and paralegals.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have the following skills and attributes:

• Experience with litigation, general counsel, or other legal experience with substantial depth in administrative, labor, or employment law.
• Prior management or supervisory experience leading a diverse workforce and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a leader
• Knowledge of the state personnel system and/or experience providing legal services to state agencies
• Outstanding writing, analytical, and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with a variety and diversity of personalities.
• Ability to lead with empathy and be a big-picture problem solver
• Ability to model strong leadership and professionalism skills
• Strong organizational and client management skills
• Demonstrated experience litigating complex cases

The Office of the Attorney General is an equal opportunity employer and believes 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.

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, be efficient with our time, and support each other as team members – which also means we embrace flexible working arrangements when and where possible.

We Are Committed to Diversity
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: 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; 2) a resume; 3) a writing sample, 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.

If you have questions about your application contact Susie Esparza, susie.esparza@coag.gov.

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