Assistant Attorney General - Construction Claims & Contract Dispute Litigation

Full Job Description

This position is subject to the Hiring Freeze as outlined in Executive Order D 2025 009. The selected finalist will have a start date after January 1, 2026. Candidates should be aware that while an offer may be extended, their employment will not commence prior to that date.

Requirements

WHAT YOU WILL DO

As an Assistant Attorney General in our Transportation Unit, you’ll engage in complex construction claims and contract litigation.

You’ll handle a wide range of disputes ranging in value up to the millions, advise on public infrastructure development, and shape legal strategies that affect communities across the state. You will:

• Represent CDOT in high-impact construction claims and contract disputes.
• Support CDOT’s Outdoor Advertising Program.
• Handle procurement matters and represent CDOT in administrative hearings.
• Lead or participate in arbitrations, mediations, and settlement negotiations. Manage condemnation and inverse condemnation litigation. Draft and negotiate key infrastructure contracts, including P3 agreements.
• Advise CDOT on legal risk, rulemaking, legislation, and public infrastructure development.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Assistant Attorney General in the Transportation Unit:

• Manages cases proactively, developing thoughtful litigation strategies and moving matters forward without unnecessary supervision.
• Builds trust with CDOT clients, providing timely, clear, and practical legal advice on construction disputes, procurement issues, and infrastructure development.
• Collaborates effectively with engineers, project managers, and colleagues across the Department of Law to understand technical issues and advance shared goals.
• Communicates with precision, producing strong written work and delivering persuasive advocacy in negotiations, hearings, and litigation.
• Exercises sound judgment, particularly in evaluating risk, assessing settlement options, and advising on complex policy or contract issues.
• Contributes positively to the team, modeling professionalism, curiosity, and a commitment to improving systems and outcomes.
• Demonstrates resilience and adaptability, managing a diverse and dynamic caseload while maintaining a solutions-oriented mindset.

This recruitment may be used to fill more than one Assistant Attorney General position in the Transportation Unit.

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We encourage applicants with varying levels of litigation experience to apply. This position may be filled at the AAG I or AAG II level depending on experience.

At a minimum, 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.

Further, we are seeking applicants that have most of the following attributes:

• Brings at least 5 years of robust litigation experience
• Has a strong background in construction claims and contract law
• Is a sharp strategist and persuasive advocate
• Communicates with clarity and confidence
• Administrative law experience is preferred but not required
• Thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment

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 workforce 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.

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 visit the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel website.

• This position offers flexible work arrangements. Please note that flexible work arrangements may change based on business needs.
• Occasional travel, including overnight travel, may be required.
• 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.

This position is non-classified and is not subject to appeal rights.

Additional Information

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must establish an account with governmentjobs.com and complete the online applications including the Contact Information section.

Applicants are not required to complete the Work Experience, Education, or Additional Information sections of the online application.

Applicants may choose to complete these fields, but the hiring team will rely primarily on submitted documents (cover letter, resume, writing sample, references).

Applicants must provide 1) a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and their relevant experience; 2) a resume; 3) at least one independent writing sample, and 4) three professional references.

Use the "Attachments" feature of the online application to add documents.

Applicant may redact information that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

ADAAA Requests

The Department of Law is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.

As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.

If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Julie Christopher at hr@coag.gov.

For general information regarding this position and other attorney opportunities at our office, please contact our Legal Talent Director at legaltalentdirector@coag.gov.

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 State of Colorado benefits package including competitive medical and dental health plans, employer-paid life insurance, paid holidays, retirement plans with Colorado PERA, and vacation and sick leave earned each month, there are many other unique benefits that we offer, including:

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: As a state government employee, you might be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

A borrower may qualify for forgiveness by making 120 on-time payments while employed full-time in public service, if they have certain kinds of federal loans in a qualifying repayment plan

Free access to a recently renovated on-site fitness center

Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible work schedules, professional development opportunities, and an employee discount program

Employer-paid mental health and counseling services through Colorado State Employee Assistance Program

Employer-paid annual attorney registration dues

Employer-provided access to professional development training and CLE through PLI, Department of Law University and other entities.