Entry Level Assistant City Attorney - Prosecution and Code Enforcement

About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver (CCD) means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. Click here to find out about all the amazing benefits and reasons to work for CCD!  

What We Offer 

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $86,634-142,947/year. New hires are typically brought into the organization with a starting pay between $95,000 - $99,000/year. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:

• Competitive Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance (effective within 1 month of start date, City pays majority of premiums)

• Pension Plan for Life (Employee contributes 8.45%, Employer matches at 17.95%)

• 457 (b) Retirement Plan (no early withdrawal fee!)

• PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year) and 14 paid holidays

• Merit Increases

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer, offering employees the opportunity to work toward forgiveness of qualifying federal student loans

• STD, LTD, HSA, FSA, Life Insurance

• CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program, Employee Volunteer Program

• Tuition Reimbursement (up to $2000/year), We Qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness Program

• Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources

• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides)

Location & Schedule 

In this position you will work out of the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building located at 201 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80202, but you will also work in the City and County Building, the Lindsey Flanigan Courthouse, and the Downtown Detention Center. Office hours are 8:00AM – 5:00PM but may be longer depending on the needs of the court and the case.

This role follows a hybrid schedule; however, because court appearances are conducted in person, employees are required to report on site daily for court proceedings. Depending on court schedules and business needs, employees may have opportunities to work remotely for portions of the workday after completing their in-person court responsibilities.

Please note: Downtown parking expenses are the responsibility of the employee. We offer a flexible spending account option specifically for parking; if you elect this option, you can use pre tax dollars for parking. We also offer an RTD ‘eco pass’ to all City employees– allowing the use of public transportation for free as a City Employee.

Who We Are & What You’ll Do

The City Attorney’s Office is hiring an unlimited Entry Level Assistant City Attorney for the Prosecution and Code Enforcement (PACE) Section of the Department of Law. A PACE Entry Level Assistant City Attorney prosecutes a variety of municipal ordinance violations that occur within the City and County of Denver. We seek an attorney with experience or interest in criminal law, a basic understanding of municipal government law, a strong commitment to public service and public safety, and courtroom experience or interest in gaining strong courtroom and trial experience.

PACE prosecutes municipal crimes and traffic offenses, including domestic violence, assault, shoplifting, trespassing, and traffic violations. Additionally, we help victims of crimes understand their rights and provide planning to help victims safely participate in the criminal justice process. PACE also handles civil nuisance abatement cases against property used during the commission of crime and provides legal support to the Denver Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

This is an exceptional opportunity for attorneys seeking immediate courtroom and trial experience, trial advocacy training, and significant courtroom responsibility early in their legal careers, all while making a direct impact in the Denver community. Successful candidates are energized by fast-paced litigation, enjoy thinking on their feet, and are motivated by serving victims, advancing public safety, and making a positive difference through public service. This role offers substantial courtroom responsibility from day one and is well suited for individuals who are eager to learn, thrive in a fast-paced environment, adapt quickly to changing circumstances, exercise sound judgment, and enjoy working as part of a highly collaborative team.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Appear in court daily and represent the City and County of Denver in criminal prosecutions involving municipal code violations and select state law offenses

• Evaluate, prepare and prosecute cases through all stages of criminal litigation, including arraignments, motions hearings, plea negotiations, trials, and post-conviction proceedings

• Advocate for victims and help them navigate the criminal justice process through compassionate, trauma-informed communication and support, while ensuring compliance with the Municipal Victim Rights Act

• Manage a high-volume caseload while exercising sound judgment, prioritizing competing demands, and meeting court deadlines

• Work collaboratively with paralegals and victim advocates to ensure cases are properly prepared and effectively presented to the court

• Develop litigation, negotiation, and trial advocacy skills through frequent courtroom appearances and hands-on prosecutorial experience

• Draft appropriate motions and respond to motions in a professional and timely manner. Draft and respond to appeals

• Provide City agencies with legal advice. Represent City agencies during administrative hearings. Interpret policy, ordinances and charter requirements

• Assist other attorneys working in specialized areas with research and related activities

• Draft proposed ordinances

• Provide training and sound legal support to city agencies, including the Denver Police Department, the Denver Fire Department, the Denver Sheriff’s Department, and others

What You’ll Bring

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:​

• Experience or interest in criminal law and prosecution

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Commitment to public service, public safety, and victim advocacy

• Demonstrated ability to succeed in a fast-paced demanding environment through professional, academic, clinical, internship, or other relevant experience

• Confidence thinking on your feet and responding professionally to unexpected challenges in a courtroom or legal setting

• Ability to remain calm and effective in high pressure, high stress environments; capable of effectively managing a high-volume caseload while balancing competing priorities

• Sound judgment, common sense, and the ability to adapt quickly in dynamic and evolving situations

• Experience or interest in working with victims, including domestic violence victims, using a compassionate and trauma-informed approach

• Commitment to working collaboratively as part of a highly supportive and team-oriented environment

• Demonstrated initiative, strong work ethic, and a willingness to continuously learn and develop as a trial attorney

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education requirement: Juris Doctor (JD) degree

• Experience Requirement: None

• Education/Experience Equivalency: No substitution of experience for education is permitted

• License/Certifications: Possession of a license to practice law in Colorado from the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire or a reasonable expectation of becoming licensed by the Colorado Supreme Court by the date of hire in accordance with C.R.C.P. 203.2, 203.3, 203.4 and 205.6

• Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment

Application Deadline

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Cover Letter/statement of interest describing the following:

  • Your interest in criminal law and prosecution

  • What attracts you to a high-volume courtroom environment

Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than Wednesday, October 14th, at 11:59pm to ensure consideration. We will likely start screening prior to the posting close date, so please apply as soon as possible.

If the position is not filled by October 14th, we will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CL0356 Assistant City Attorney Entry

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$86,634.00 - $142,947.00

Target Pay

$95,000 - $99,000/year, based on experience and education

Agency

City Attorney's Office

The 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, national origin, 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 to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org 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, click here for English or here for Spanish.