Senior Government Defense Litigation Attorney

Senior Government Defense Litigation Attorney

City and County of Denver are looking for a Senior Government Defense Litigation Attorney. Competitive pay, benefits, and ample opportunities to serve the public. Diverse, inclusive workforce of over 11,000 employees.

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site several days a week and off‑site as needed. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off‑site days.

The Denver City Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law firms in Colorado, with over 230 attorneys and staff members. As lead counsel, you will defend the city, county officials, agencies, and employees in civil litigation brought in Colorado state and federal courts. You will handle cases from filing through appeal, often appearing in trial several times a year.

• Identify issues and find creative solutions while collaborating with the Section Director, Assistant Directors, other sections, and city departments.
• Conduct legal research and produce concise, coherent, comprehensive, and well‑reasoned work with attention to detail.
• Lead counsel on a variety of lawsuits, including high‑profile, complex civil‑rights lawsuits.
• Represent departments, 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, including promoting diversity, equality, and inclusiveness in work and environment.
• Ensure appropriate collaboration with Section leadership to achieve section, agency, or Mayoral priorities.
• Be open to new organizational structures, procedures, technology, and overall change.
• Promote teamwork and encourage regular communication between team members, Section leadership, and clients.

We are looking for an attorney who is a self‑starter, team‑player, and passionate about public service. The successful candidate will be outcome‑oriented, ethical, fair, and capable of managing multiple sizeable lawsuits simultaneously.

• 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 multitask, prioritize, and work effectively in a fast‑paced, high‑profile environment.

• Education:
  
  Doctor of Jurisprudence degree or Bachelor of Laws degree.
• Experience:
  
  Three (3) years of experience as an attorney at law.
• No substitution of experience for education.
• License to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire, or reasonable expectation of licensure by hire date in accordance with relevant statutes. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submit your application as soon as possible to ensure consideration.

Preferred experience must be demonstrated on the application in addition to resume and cover letter. Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter may not be considered. Your cover letter should address the extent of your litigation experience, why you are interested in the position, and why you are the right person for the position.

City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real‑time captioning via CART, or disability‑related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost, please contact Jobs with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. For information about right to work, read the article in English or in Spanish.