Assistant Attorney General - Federal & Interstate Water Unit

Assistant Attorney General - Federal & Interstate Water Unit

The Natural Resources and Environment Section, Federal & Interstate Water Unit is seeking an experienced attorney to join the hardworking and collaborative team that represents the Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Division of Water Resources (the State Engineer's Office), Compact Commissioners, and the State of Colorado. This attorney will help protect Colorado's significant rights and interests in its interstate waters by representing the State of Colorado in federal and interstate water matters in Colorado’s major interstate river basins.

The ideal candidate will have experience with Colorado water law, western water law, federal environmental law, federal regulatory law, and have a genuine desire to work on challenging and important matters in a public service role.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Interested parties are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

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 legal representative and serves as legal counsel to all state executive and judicial agencies, departments, boards, and commissions. 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. Learn more about the Colorado Attorney General’s Office here.

The Federal & Interstate Water Unit within the Natural Resources Section of the Office of the Attorney General seeks an Assistant Attorney General to assist in research, drafting, litigation, and negotiations involving compact compliance, environmental permitting, and related matters.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to represent the Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), Division of Water Resources (the State Engineer's Office), Compact Commissioners, and the State of Colorado in state and federal court, as well as in negotiations with other states, the federal government, and Indian Tribes. The purpose of that work is largely to protect and honor Colorado's rights and obligations under interstate water compacts, and to uphold the State's sovereign interests over water rights administration and distribution within its borders.

This position will assist other attorneys within the unit in managing the legal aspects of the State's interstate water compacts. The position will also assist those attorneys and the clients in navigating issues of federal reserved water rights, federal environmental programs, and state water rights administration within Colorado. The position will include legal and legislative research, brief and memo drafting, and discovery management.

In addition to representing the State of Colorado in litigation and negotiations with other states, the position will require the candidate to interact with water users, federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Indian Tribes. Some travel may be required.

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.

Our ideal candidates will have many, or most, of the following skills and attributes:

• Demonstrated experience with Western Water Law, Colorado water law preferred, or federal regulatory experience. Familiarity with interstate compacts is also beneficial.
• Aptitude…