Assistant Attorney General - Corrections

Assistant Attorney General - Corrections

Colorado Department of Law – Office of the Attorney General

This position is located within the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section, representing the State of Colorado in civil rights and constitutional litigation in state and federal courts. The role primarily involves managing complex civil rights litigation and associated constitutional claims, habeas petitions, civil appeals, and advisory matters for state agencies. It is best suited for attorneys interested in the intersection of criminal justice and federal civil rights law, who can research and write independently while collaborating closely with a team.

• Represent the Colorado Department of Corrections and litigate federal civil rights claims, including First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment matters, as well as claims under statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
• Handle various other matters such as habeas corpus petitions, small claims cases, and judicial review of agency rulings.
• Provide general legal advice to client agencies on policy issues and subpoena or open records requests.
• Manage case work from pleading through trial and appellate stages, maintaining a self‑directed caseload.
• Work collaboratively within a team that values autonomy and collective success.

• Admitted to the Colorado Bar, or eligible to waive into the Colorado Bar and in good standing at the time of application.
• At least five years of legal experience preferred.
• Strong legal research and writing skills; experience drafting and filing briefs in federal court and/or strong trial work in state or federal court.
• Prior experience as a state or federal judicial law clerk is a plus.
• Interest and/or experience with 42 U.S.C., §1983 cases, civil procedural rules, constitutional law, administrative law, and federal and state appeals.
• Broad litigation experience and the ability to manage a caseload independently.
• Good problem‑solving skills and the confidence to know when to ask questions.

Assistant Attorney General I (AAG I): $88,197–$117,964 annually (effective July 1, 2025). Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II): $102,099–$136,558 annually (effective July 1, 2025). Salary will be paid biweekly and is commensurate with experience and the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

Applicants must submit a cover letter, résumé, a writing sample and three professional references. All documents are uploaded via the online application system on  A writing sample is required.

Questions regarding the application process:
Vanessa Rhea, vanessa.rhea.