State Public Defender Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $89,964.00 - $136,468.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: LAA-09017-09/2026
Department: Department of Law
Division: Civil Litigation & Employment Law
Opening Date: 09/02/2026
Closing Date: 9/21/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: 1300 Broadway, Denver CO 80203
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: Vanessa Rhea: Vanessa.Rhea@coag.gov
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 Information
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.
Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!
The Tort Litigation Unit in the Civil Litigation and Employment Section of the Colorado Attorney General's Office seeks a skilled litigator to join our collaborative governmental liability defense team. This dynamic governmental liability defense team represents the State of Colorado, its agencies, institutions of higher education, officials, and employees in lawsuits and claims seeking money damages. The work includes defending evolving civil rights claims against state actors, developing government-specific immunity and liability defenses, and representing the State in significant tort and employment matters, with opportunities to handle other civil litigation, including commercial and contract disputes.
Our attorneys handle consequential and often high-profile matters that shape public policy and protect the work of state government. We are looking for a thoughtful, strategic attorney who brings strong litigation skills, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to public service.
Equally important, we value engagement and teamwork. We collaborate closely on challenging legal questions, litigation strategy, and trial preparation, and we take pride in delivering excellent client service while maintaining a positive, team-oriented environment. The ideal candidate is energized by a varied range of cases and claims, novel legal issues, and the opportunity to litigate important questions alongside talented colleagues.
Application will be reviewed, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Interested parties are encouraged to apply as soon as 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.
Learn more about the Colorado Attorney General's Office here.
Description of Job
WHAT YOU WILL DO
The Tort Litigation Unit is the Colorado Attorney General's Office's governmental liability team defending civil rights and tort matters seeking money damages from the State of Colorado and its employees. This is a broad public-law defense practice that extends well beyond traditional tort litigation, combining constitutional and civil rights litigation, governmental immunity, personal injury defense, and other damages claims against state entities and officials. Our attorneys represent Colorado's Office of Risk Management, state agencies, institutions of higher education, and state officials and employees in state and federal court. The unit defends constitutional and civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Colorado Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act, C.R.S. § 13-21-131; as well as tort and personal injury claims subject to the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act. We also support a wide range of employment matters. The practice requires lawyers to develop expertise in substantive law and government-specific defenses, including sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, and other limitations on governmental liability.
The work is varied and engaging, with opportunities to handle matters at every stage of litigation. Attorneys develop case strategy, take and defend depositions, work with expert witnesses, brief dispositive and constitutional issues, try cases, and handle appeals. Beyond litigation, our team partners closely with clients to assess risk, provide practical legal advice, and support investigations designed to help prevent claims and reduce exposure in civil rights, tort, and employment matters.
Attorneys in this role:

• Lead the defense of significant and often high-profile governmental liability cases, including civil rights and constitutional claims, tort and personal injury matters, and employment law disputes in federal and state court;
• Take meaningful ownership of a varied litigation docket, from early case assessment through dispositive motions, discovery, trial, and appeal, with opportunities to brief and argue before the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals;
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the State Office of Risk Management, state agencies, and institutions of higher education on litigation risk and strategy while collaborating with a talented, mission-driven group of litigators and general counsel across the Attorney General's Office.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple attorney positions within the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section at the Department of Law.
Salary note: The Department of Law uses an attorney compensation model. 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.
Attorneys with less than 3 years of experience as a practicing attorney will be hired as an Assistant Attorney General I (AAG I). The salary range for an AAG I is $89,964-$119,047/annually.
Attorneys with more than 3 years of experience practicing as an attorney may be hired as an Assistant Attorney General II (AAG II). The salary range for an AAG II is $102,099 - $136,468/annually.
Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Qualified 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
We seek a skilled, team-oriented litigator who is excited by a broad governmental liability practice and is comfortable leading cases independently while collaborating with colleagues and clients. The ideal candidate enjoys complex legal analysis, courtroom advocacy, and the opportunity to work on varied matters ranging from constitutional civil rights to tort claims to employment disputes. In evaluating candidates, we will consider the following:

• We welcome applicants at different stages of their litigation careers. Candidates with substantial litigation experience will have opportunities to independently lead complex matters; attorneys earlier in their careers will take on increasing responsibility as they develop;
• Experience with, or a strong interest in developing expertise in, civil rights and constitutional litigation and government-specific defenses, including the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, Eleventh Amendment or sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, and absolute judicial immunity;
• Experience handling, or a strong interest in developing expertise in, tort, personal injury, and employment-related claims, including discrimination, retaliation, and related workplace issues;
• A strategic mindset and strong written and oral advocacy skills, with the ability to analyze evolving legal issues and develop effective litigation strategies in challenging and evolving matters; and
• A commitment to public service, collaboration, and excellent client representation, including the ability to work effectively with a diverse range of clients and colleagues.

THIS POSITION REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE WRITING SAMPLE. PLEASE REVIEW THE "HOW TO APPLY" SECTION OF THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION.
The Office of the Attorney General offers challenging, interesting, and meaningful work. We are an equal opportunity employer and believe that a diverse work force adds quality and perspective to the services we provide to the public. Candidates with diverse qualities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
• Colorado Department of Law participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
• 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 website.
• This position offers flexible work arrangements. Flexible work arrangements may change at any time based on business needs.

This position is non-classified and is not subject to appeal rights.
Supplemental Information
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.
Required Application Materials: Applicant may redact information that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
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.
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, dental and vision health plans, employer-paid life insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans with , and vacation and sick leave earned each month, there are many othe