Colorado Judicial Branch
Staff Attorney - Supreme Court
Job Title
Staff Attorney - Supreme Court
Job Code
R45325
Job Series
Staff Attorney
FLSA Status
Excluded
OCC Group
Professional Services (PS)
Signature of the State Court Administrator approval available on file in the Human Resources Division.
General Statement Of Duties
Provides highly complex legal editing of opinions for the Colorado Supreme Court. Provides guidance and research to Supreme Court staff on policy making and legal research related to Supreme Court Justices service on committees, boards and other internal and external bodies. Assist law clerks on legal research methods insuring constancy in opinions and research methods.
Distinguishing Factors
Staff Attorney, Supreme Court is distinguished from other classifications due to the primary focus of editing, legal research and consistency of research methods. Supervision is received from the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
Essential Functions Of the Position
Edits all draft opinions prepared by Supreme Court Justices, law clerks, and staff attorneys. Reviews and provides direction on rules of syntax, grammar, punctuation, diction, rhetoric, semantics, style, legal content, and citation of authority.
Acts as a liaison between publishers and the Colorado Supreme Court on matters pertinent to the publication of opinions.
Screens petitions for certiorari, prepares memos on petitions for certiorari, reviews and makes recommendations on motions, drafts orders, reviews and summarizes appellate briefs and trial court records, prepares memos on legal issues, prepares drafts of opinions.
Performs legal research to keep abreast of the law and related trends so as to edit opinions correctly.
Provides research materials and assists court personnel in doing research on opinions.
Works with various Supreme Court staff in research and consistency on Supreme Court Justices duties related to service on various boards and committees.
Attends meetings and training as required.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervisor Responsibilities
May have indirect supervisory accountability for other employees and volunteers. May plan, direct and coordinates activities for a unit. Duties may include scheduling and assigning of work, training in all facets of work, quality control, and decisions impacting the pay, status and tenure of others.
Minimum Education
Graduation from an accredited law school; possession of a certificate of admission to the Bar of the State of Colorado; eligibility to practice law before the courts of the State of Colorado; and six years of experience in the practice or study of law.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands and arms to perform repetitive motions; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
Occasionally handles emergency or crisis situations; frequently subject to interruptions, and multiple calls and inquiries. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.