The City of Colorado Springs, Colorado is a municipal corporation and a home rule city duly organized and existing pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Colorado and the Charter of the City of Colorado Springs, ranks in the top 50 most populous cities in the United States, and is currently enjoying historic achievements on many fronts. The Attorney / Senior Attorney will provide legal services in the Corporate Division of the City Attorney’s Office for the City and its enterprises, as defined by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, Colorado Constitution Art. X, § 20 and City Charter § 7-90.
Reporting Relationship
This position will be part of the Colorado Springs City Attorney’s Office (Prosecution Division). All attorneys for the City are hired by the City Attorney and are part of the City Attorney's Office. All attorneys are exempt and at-will to the City Attorney. This position will report directly to the Prosecutions Division Chief.
The Prosecution Division of the City Attorney's Office primarily handles the prosecution of criminal and traffic violations of the Colorado Springs City Code in municipal court. The Prosecution Division also handles licensing violations, certain civil enforcement actions, and has an advisory role for certain City departments. Our mission is to enhance public safety and to achieve justice through the effective prosecution of municipal offenses and enforcement of City Code.
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Competencies
This position is a full-time, entry-level position. In this position, you will gain extensive trial experience and have the opportunity to work with the other divisions of the City Attorney's Office in a dynamic environment that provides a good work/life balance.
As a Prosecuting Attorney, you will utilize your knowledge and abilities obtained through law school education and municipal, governmental, or private experience to represent the City of Colorado Springs in criminal, traffic, and civil matters in municipal court, administrative hearings before City regulatory agencies, and other roles related to enforcement of municipal code.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Serving as a criminal trial attorney in the Prosecution Division which requires:
- Reviewing, analyzing, and preparing criminal cases for prosecution, hearings, or trial
- Ensuring discovery is provided and due process has been followed in individual cases
- Engaging in plea negotiations with defendants or their attorneys during pretrial conferences
- Drafting plea agreements and appearing in plea or sentencing hearings
- Conducting research and writing motions to the court
- Conducting hearings in court including motions hearings, revocation hearings, jury orders hearings, and others
- Conducting court trials and jury trials
- Researching legal principals and case law pertinent to trials, appeals, or other legal issues
- Engaging in appellate practice including researching and writing briefs, responses, and other necessary pleadings
- Working with law enforcement agencies including the Colorado Springs Police Department, Neighborhood Services Code Enforcement, Humane Society Officers, and Parking among others
- Prosecuting or defending licensing decisions in administrative actions for City departments including the City Clerk’s Office and City Utilities
- Representing the City in certain civil actions in municipal court like public nuisance actions
- Providing direct legal services on a variety of matters concerning and/or related to the Charter, Ordinances, or rules and regulations of the City of Colorado Springs
- Engaging in other legal work to represent the City of Colorado Springs in coordination with other divisions in the City Attorney’s office
We are looking for candidates who demonstrate
Knowledge of:
- The basic principles of law and criminal procedure
- Working knowledge of the Colorado Municipal Court Rules, Rules of Criminal Procedure, and state statutes regarding municipal courts, criminal law, and traffic enforcement violations
- Working knowledge of the Colorado Rules of Evidence[TL1]
Ability to:
- Analyze, interpret, and apply legal principles, facts, evidence, and legal precedent
- Utilize knowledge of municipal procedures, organizational frameworks, administrative policies, trial procedures, etc., to carry out assigned duties
- Effectively counsel, train, interview, and imbue others with an opinion or understanding of a concept
- Conduct legal research and write briefs
- Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with City employees, officials, and the public
- Work as a successful member of a team of attorneys representing the City in all its many functions
Successful candidates will have
- Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Law degree from an ABA (American Bar Association) accredited law school
- Admission to the Colorado Bar as an attorney in good standing
Additional Considerations:
- For applicants who are not yet admitted to the Colorado Bar, consideration may be given for those pending bar results, those eligible for admittance through the military spouse exception, or those eligible for admittance through reciprocity.
Ideal candidates will also have
- Experience with trials, administrative proceedings, and/or appellate practice
Additional Information
The City of Colorado Springs offers additional compensation depending on the position, area of assignment, and specific job assignments, including shift differential, pay differential, acting or lead, special assignment, hazard pay, longevity, cell phone allowance, uniform allowance, relocation, awards, standby, call out, compensatory time off, tuition, overtime, extra duty, incentive, holiday premium, proficiency, and vacation sell back.
The background check process for this position includes being fingerprinted. Fingerprints will be used to check the FBI's criminal history records.
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION YOU MUST ATTACH YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION.
NOTE: This job announcement is not intended to include a complete listing of all responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the position.
The City does not sponsor applicants for work visas. If hired, you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the United States.
Apply to Join Our Team
- Please visit Colorado Springs Jobs and click on ‘Apply for a City Career’ > ‘City Career Postings – Apply Now’ button to complete an online application. All job applicants will need to create a new login and online application (unless you already have a NEOGOV/governmentjobs.com user ID and password).
- Completing your application in full, including the entire work experience section, will assist Human Resources (HR) in the applicant screening process. Your application may not be considered if all of the information requested for each employer you list is not provided.
- Applicants may redact information from their resumes, certifications, transcripts, or any other additional application materials that identify the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
- Our NEOGOV application system does not allow you to edit your application after it has been submitted for a position. If you want to make changes, you may submit another application prior to the position’s closing date and time listed in the job posting.
The City's job classifications, including physical demands and descriptions, can be found on the website.