What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Assistant Attorney General / Assistant Attorney General - Air Quality Unit position at State of Colorado?
Salary : $99,318.00 - $146,455.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type : Full Time
Job Number : LAA-09881-2 / 25
Department : Department of Law
Division : Natural Resources & Environment
Opening Date : 02 / 28 / 2025
Closing Date : 3 / 17 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Mountain
FLSA : Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address : 1300 Broadway, Denver CO 80203, with hybrid work arrangements available
FLSA Status : Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Type of Announcement : This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply : Please submit an online application for this position at https : / / www.governmentjobs.com / careers / colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department Contact Information : If you have questions about your application contact Mercedes Chansisourath at mercedes.chansisourath@coag.gov.
Department Information
Find a rewarding career making a difference : Join the Office of the Attorney General!
The Natural Resources and Environment Section, Air Quality Unit is seeking an experienced attorney with a passion for protecting Colorado's air quality. This attorney will represent one or more client agencies within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Our team works side-by-side with the client agencies on some of the most complex and critical environmental issues, with special attention to disproportionately impacted communities and environmental justice. Colorado is a national leader on critical air quality issues such as climate change and ozone control. Few law practices offer a comparable opportunity to work on cutting edge issues affecting the state, the country and the world, all while accommodating work-life balance.
Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews may be conducted prior to the job closing. We encourage you to 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.
Visit our website to learn more :
Description of Job
This position is part of the Natural Resources and Environment Section's Air Quality Unit. This Unit is responsible for providing legal services to the Department of Public Health & Environment's Air Pollution Control Division, Air Quality Control Commission, Clean Fleet Enterprise, the Air Quality Enterprise, the Office of Environmental Justice and the Environmental Justice Advisory Board. The Air Quality Unit is currently made up of 16 people, which includes lawyers, paralegals, and administrative staff. It is a diverse team of individuals who work collaboratively to support one another in the work we do.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
As the newest member of the Air Quality team, you will provide counsel to our clients on a broad range of complex issues related to the administration of air quality programs. You will advise and represent the Division in rulemakings before the Air Quality Control Commission. You will manage complex settlement negotiations and represent client agencies in enforcement matters and administrative and civil litigation. You will have the opportunity to work with experienced litigators and to lead litigation in a wide variety of forums. You will also advise our clients on a broad array of matters including, but not limited to enabling legislation, program development, administrative procedure, open meetings and open records issues, and enterprise governance. You will support the agencies as they tackle issues such as ozone control, climate change, and environmental justice. You will support the DOL's legislative and rule review process.
The Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Air Quality Unit is expected to handle a full case load and independently manage client work including support in rulemaking, enforcement, general counsel, permitting, legislation, and litigation while serving as a mentor to junior attorneys in the unit. You will have the opportunity to lead these efforts in coordination with senior level management at the client agencies and the Department of Law.
You will also oversee the work of junior attorneys, paralegals, and other administrative personnel partnering on the case, and will frequently collaborate with other local, state, and federal agencies, as well as with other AAGs around the country. The attorney in this position will be expected to successfully manage a case load with a full range of complexity. This attorney will also regularly interact with colleagues, members of the public, academia, and fellow governmental agencies regarding the work of the Unit.
In this role, you will also have the opportunity to :
- Litigate complex civil cases involving violations of the Clean Air Act and Colorado's Air Pollution Prevention Control Act and other state and federal laws at all phases of litigation, including discovery, motions practice, trial, appeal, and settlement.
- Support nationwide and local litigation to protect Colorado's environmental interests.
- Participate in complex negotiation and litigation on behalf of the Air Pollution Control Division and other client agencies.
- Serve as a team lead for complex projects, overseeing other attorneys, paralegals, and others, while providing mentoring, coaching, and professional growth opportunities to those on your team.
- Research federal and state laws relating to air quality laws and regulations to ensure that our clients' actions maintain a strong legal footing
- Serve as a mentor and resource to junior attorneys in the unit, including, for example, providing guidance on litigation strategy and reviewing certain type of work product.
- Travel (both within Colorado and nationwide) when needed, such as for meetings, court appearances, hearings, and trials.
This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General position in the Department of Law.
In order to be appointed as a Senior Assistant Attorney General, candidates must have a minimum of ten years of relevant experience as a licensed attorney. If the position is filled at the level of Senior Assistant Attorney General, the pay range will be $109,498 to $146,455 / year. If the position isn't filled as a Senior Assistant Attorney General, the pay range will be at that of Assistant Attorney General II, the pay range is $99,318 to $132,901 / year. Assistant Attorney General II must have a minimum of three years of experience as a licensed attorney. 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.
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.
For this Senior Assistant Attorney General position, we are seeking applicants who have a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience.
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.
We are looking for a teammate who has excellent interpersonal and client relationship skills, who thrives in and enjoys fostering a collaborative and friendly work environment but who can also effectively work independently. The strongest candidates will also have :
The qualifications for an Assistant Attorney General II are :
Applicants must :
Our ideal candidate will :
Conditions of Employment :
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.
We Are Committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At the DOL, our commitment to DEI is thriving. 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 treated equally and empowered to do their best work; and promote growth and innovation through a diverse workforce. We empower an active Diversity Equity & Inclusion Impact Team that creates approaches to ensure safe spaces and a culture supportive of people being their authentic selves, hosts events and programs on DEI areas important to our employees, enables development and sustainability of resource groups that give a voice to historically marginalized populations, focuses on retaining our incredible talent, and more! If your professional goals include promoting growth and innovation with colleagues who recognize that we are better together when our differences are valued and respected, then DOL is your place to be!
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 the comprehensive including competitive medical and dental health plans, employer-paid life insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans with , and vacation and sick leave earned each month, there are many other unique benefits that we offer, including :
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.
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.
Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.
To apply, you must submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. Failure to attach these documents may result in your application not being considered.Please confirm that you have attached the required documents.
Please provide your Bar registration number, state(s) in which you hold a license, and Bar date.Assistant Attorneys General in the Colorado Department of Law 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.
Colorado has determined that the need to address environmental quality issues in the state, including air quality and climate change, must also further environmental justice and comply with Colorado and federal laws surrounding engagement and accessibility. Please describe how you have or would further these intersecting interests in your legal practice.
Please describe your experience mentoring or leading other team members.
Required Question
Salary : $99,318 - $132,901
