Associate Assistant City Attorney - Civil Litigation Section

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

2d • $109,134 - $126,869 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Denver City Attorney's Office is seeking an Associate Assistant City Attorney for the Civil Litigation Section of the Department of Law. An Associate Assistant City Attorney provides legal counsel to City officials and employees, and representation in the defense of civil lawsuits before trial and appellate courts. The Civil Litigation Section handles personal injury and property damage claims, as well as civil rights and constitutional claims brought against agencies, employees and officials of the City and County of Denver. The attorneys in this unit regularly appear in state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Requirements

• Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree or Bachelor of Law Degree
• Two (2) years of experience as an attorney at law
• Possession of a license to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire or a reasonable expectation of becoming licensed by the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire in accordance with C.R.C.P. 203.2, 203.3, 203.4 and 205.6.
• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.
• Must be a self-starter, team-player, and passionate about working in public service.
• Strives to achieve operational excellence in defending against claims and lawsuits.
• Must be outcome- and results-oriented, ethical and fair, have good common sense, sound judgment, and be capable of working on multiple and varied lawsuits or other assigned matters at the same time.
• Interested in all aspects of litigation, including brief writing and trial practice.
• Strong advocate for their clients and will understand how to work a civil case up from responsive pleading to appeal.

Nice To Haves

• At least three (3) years of civil litigation experience, including successful management of a large case load and experience in all phases of state and federal court civil litigation
• Substantial familiarity with the provisions of the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act or equivalent experience and experience handling tort and/or civil rights claims
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

• Handle less complex tort and civil rights cases, depending upon level of experience, under supervisor direction
• Draft and prepare legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, and briefs to be filed in judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings
• Conduct legal research in a variety of legal areas and produce concise, coherent, comprehensive and well-reasoned arguments
• Assist senior attorneys on more complex litigation as part of a collaborative team defending the City and/or City employees, including conducting depositions, handling various court appearances, drafting motions, determining appropriate trial strategy, providing case assessment, and evaluating reasonable settlement value
• Evaluate cases for appellate issues and assist with the drafting of appellate briefs
• Assist with drafting and review of City policies and procedures
• Readily identify issues and find creative solutions for areas of improvement
• Providing excellent client service
• Support and implement the vision of the Section and the City Attorney’s Office as a whole, including facilitating and promoting integration of diversity, equality, and inclusiveness strategies into work and the work environment
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year
• 12 paid holidays
• 1 personal holiday
• 1 wellness day
• 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree