Assistant Deputy Attorney General - Civil Litigation and Employment Law

Company: The Colorado Attorney General's Office
Location: Denver
Posted on: May 28, 2023

Job Description:

Assistant Deputy Attorney General - Civil Litigation and Employment LawDetails Section: Civil Litigation and Employment Law Position Number: LAA 09908 Salary Range: $11,000.00 -$14,500.00 Monthly Apply By: Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 11:59 pm FLSA: Exempt Work Unit: Civil Litigation and Employment Law Job Location: 1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203 Release Date: Friday, January 20, 2023 Employment Type: Full-Time Position Type: Non-Classified Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General! The Colorado Department of Law is seeking an experienced attorney who is dedicated to public service to oversee the litigation practice in the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section. The Section represents state agencies, institutions of higher education, and state employees in a wide range of interesting, unique, high-impact matters in state and federal court. This is a rare opportunity for an attorney seeking high-level government and leadership experience. The Office of the Attorney General offers the opportunity to be involved in challenging, interesting, and meaningful work in a collaborative environment supported by leadership committed to effective and innovative legal representation.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.The Civil Litigation & Employment Law Section has 66 attorneys and 26 professional staff and includes five units that practice regularly in state and federal court:

• TheTort Litigation Unitdefends state agencies, institutions of higher education, and employees in lawsuits seeking damages for person injury and property damage tort claims, federal employment discrimination and retaliation claims, and 42 U.S.C. - 1983 litigation.
• TheCross-Unit Litigation Teamis a group of experienced litigators and staff who handle a wide variety of complex civil litigation matters. The Unit works across the entire Department of Law on cases where specific litigation support is needed, partnering with lawyers in other units who have particular subject matter expertise. Many of the matters handled by the Unit are class actions or other lawsuits with significant or statewide impact.
• TheEmployment Practices and Civil Rights Unitrepresents state agencies in employment and labor matters in all phases of administrative hearing and post-hearing litigation in state court, and occasionally in federal court.
• TheTransportation Unitrepresents the Colorado Department of Transportation. It files condemnation actions on behalf of CDOT, defends inverse condemnation cases, and brings and defends administrative actions. The Unit also handles access control, highway beautification, and billboard permit disputes, and assists CDOT with protests brought under the Procurement Code. The Unit represents CDOT in construction dispute review boards, arbitration, and litigation.
• TheCorrections and Public Safety Unitrepresents and defends the Department of Public Safety and Department of Corrections, with a heavy focus on litigating claims brought by inmates pursuant to the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Unit's cases also involve claims brought under statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, habeas corpus petitions, and judicial review of agency rulings.WHAT YOU WILL DOThe Assistant Deputy Attorney General is responsible for overseeing important aspects of the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section's state and federal litigation practice, promoting collaboration, engagement, integrity, and exceptional legal service across the Section and the entire office. This position will supervise a Section litigation manager consistent with the values of the Department of Law that recognize that members of the Department of Law are public servants, principled, innovative, and better together. The Assistant Deputy Attorney General reports to the Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section and participates in management and leadership teams for the Section and the Office.
  The Assistant Deputy Attorney General will work closely with the Section's First and Second Assistant Attorneys General, line attorneys, and professional staff in formulating litigation strategy, identifying litigation trends and issues of significance to the Section and the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Law, and providing direction and leadership to litigation teams in all phases of litigation. The position also will coordinate with and provide guidance to attorneys throughout the Department of Law regarding litigation best practices and case management. The Assistant Deputy Attorney General will partner with the Deputy Attorney General in monitoring legislative and legal developments related to client representation, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective legal services to clients while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.As the Assistant Deputy Attorney General in the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section, you will have the opportunity to:
  • Support Section attorneys and staff in all stages of litigation including the Section's active motions practice, discovery, preparing witnesses for hearings and trials, bench and jury trials and arbitrations.
  • Monitor significant and high-profile litigation matters across the Section and participate as needed. This may include undertaking specific and important litigation tasks, such as brief writing and editing, taking depositions, selecting and preparing expert witnesses, arguing motions, and participating in hearings and trials.
  • In coordination with the Section's attorneys and Cross-Unit Litigation Team, develop and implement plans to prepare litigation teams for trial, including strategy sessions, evaluating opening statements and closing arguments, assessing evidentiary challenges, and putting together mock jury presentations.
  • Collaborate with clients and attorneys throughout the office, devising creative legal strategies on a wide variety of litigation issues.
  • Develop and coordinate litigation best practices across the Department of Law.
  • In partnership with unit leaders, develop internal procedures and standards for different stages of litigation, teach deposition and trial skills, and promoting effective teamwork among Section attorneys and professional staff.
  • Oversee the Section's case management by supervising and collaborating with the Section's litigation manager to efficiently use the Department's case management technology, track trials and cases, develop reports, and identify opportunities for efficiencies and streamlining processes.
  • Coordinate with Section attorneys in the presentation of proposed settlements to the State Claims Board.
  • Support the Section's employment litigators in the development and coordination of the Section's federal employment litigation program.
  • Mentor litigation attorneys and professional staff across the Section and identify opportunities for professional development. Assist the Deputy Attorney General and Department of Law leadership on an as-needed basis in developing trial strategies, training litigators, and keeping Section attorneys and professional staff current on a wide range of best practices.
  • Partner with the Section's Assistant Solicitors General in the coordination, support and review of appellate argument and briefing.
  • Develop a supportive and inclusive culture in line with the vision and values of the Department of Law; considering diversity, equity, and inclusion in decision-making; and fostering collaboration, teamwork, and professional development for staff.
  • Work with the Section Deputy and Attorney General on strategic direction, policy development, legislation, and media relations; and preparing monthly, annual, and fiscal year reports on Section activities.Assistant Deputy Attorneys General at the Department of Law ensure the Section consistently provides high-quality legal representation. The Assistant Deputy is expected to participate actively in high profile or complex cases in the Section as needed. The Assistant Deputy Attorney General serves as a frontline leader and is responsible for employee performance management activities and assisting the Deputy Attorney General with personnel, budget, and various administrative duties affecting the work of the Section and the Department of Law.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.This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in the Department of Law.WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
    The Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section is a part of the Department of Law senior leadership team. As such, the strongest candidates will demonstrate excellence in the following competencies:
    Communication & Listening- Inspires confidence through active listening and effective communication with clients, leadership, colleagues, and staff.
    Flexible & Adaptable Management- Accepts, adapts, and contributes positively to change; leads with new concepts and ideas; and encourages others to be equally adaptive and flexible.
    Coaching & Developing People- Invests in our talent through coaching and sponsorship and by pushing individuals outside of their comfort zones to grow as professionals.
    Creative & Strategic Problem Solving- Takes a result-oriented, open-minded, and innovative approach to overcoming challenges and dealing with crises.
    Enterprise & Growth Mindset- Balances the goals of clients, leadership, colleagues, and staff with the broader interest of the enterprise.
    Interpersonal Skills and Emotional Intelligence- Demonstrates and models self- awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and sensitivity in working with colleagues and staff.Applicants for the Assistant Deputy Attorney General position must meet the following criteria:
    • Mustbe licensed to practice law in Colorado or be clearly eligible to waive into theColorado Bar. Candidates eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar will be required to submit proof of their completed application before the first day of employment.
    • 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney that includes significant litigation experience, preferably first or second chair responsibility at trial or substantial evidentiary hearings and experience managing litigation teams.
    • Experience taking and defending fact and expert witness depositions.
    • The ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a senior management team responsible for the Sections overall litigation efforts.
    • Outstanding legal editing, writing and analytical skills.
    • Organizational and management skills that will assist in the development and implementation of procedures and guidelines to facilitate the effective coordination of Section litigation and case management.
    • Deep experience with coaching, training, and mentoring legal staff.In addition to the criteria above, the ideal candidate for this position will also have the following attributes:
      • Diverse practice experience, preferably in the following areas: tort, employment, civil rights, sovereign and qualified immunity.
      • An openness to innovation and collaboration with colleagues and agency partners.
      • Demonstrated dedication to client service.
      • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and public service.
        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 CourtOffice of Attorney Regulation Counsel .

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