Senior Government Defense Litigation Attorney

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

10d • $134,933 - $172,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The City and County of Denver is seeking an experienced litigator to defend employees and agencies of the City & County of Denver in civil litigation brought in Colorado state and federal courts. This is a purely litigation position where the attorney will serve as lead counsel defending civil rights and personal injury lawsuits brought against Denver and its employees. The role involves defending cases from filing through appeal, with expectations of going to trial several times a year. This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for a senior-level attorney with substantial litigation experience who thrives in a fast-paced, constantly changing work environment, embraces challenges, and enjoys the opportunity to create new law. Senior attorneys are responsible for serving as lead counsel on some of the City’s most complex litigation and mentoring attorneys with less experience. The Denver City Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law firms in Colorado, with over 230 attorneys and staff members. It serves as legal counsel for the Mayor, City Council, all other elected and appointed officials, all city agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and employees. The office is dedicated to providing an equitable, inclusive, and diverse work environment.

Requirements

• Doctor of Jurisprudence degree or Bachelor of Laws degree.
• Three (3) 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.
• Self-starter, team-player, and passionate about working in public service.
• Strives to achieve operational excellence in defending lawsuits.
• Wants to try cases and is passionate about improving their trial skills.
• Ready to take on the challenging task of trying cases in Colorado on behalf of law enforcement.
• Not afraid to take risks, and undeterred by negative media attention.
• Outcome- and results-oriented, ethical and fair, have good common sense, sound judgment.
• Capable of working on multiple and varied lawsuits or other assigned matters at the same time.

Nice To Haves

• At least seven (7) years of litigation experience
• Experience handling litigation involving public entities
• Experience in civil rights law and/or tort litigation
• Experience with large document production projects and eDiscovery compliance
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work effectively in a fast-paced, high-profile environment

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead counsel defending civil rights and personal injury lawsuits brought against Denver and its employees.
• Defend cases from filing through appeal.
• Go to trial several times a year.
• Serve as lead counsel on some of the City’s most complex litigation.
• Mentor attorneys with less experience.
• Identify issues and find creative solutions for areas of improvement while working collaboratively with the Section Director and Assistant Directors, other sections of the City Attorney’s Office, and various city departments and agencies.
• Conduct appropriate legal research and produce concise, coherent, comprehensive, and well-reasoned work with an emphasis on attention to detail.
• Assume the lead counsel role on a variety of lawsuits, including high-profile, complex civil rights lawsuits.
• Provide excellent client service, including representing departments and agencies, officers, and employees in lawsuits in Colorado state and federal courts.
• Coach and mentor attorneys with less experience in litigation, research, and related activities.
• Provide guidance and legal opinions to various departments and agencies concerning issues identified in litigation.
• 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.
• Ensure appropriate collaboration with Section leadership to achieve section, agency, or Mayoral priorities.
• Promote teamwork and encourage regular communication between team members, Section leadership, and clients.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• 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: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree