Are you looking for an opportunity to practice law in a historic small-town setting? Come join the staff at the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s office, located in La Junta, Colorado, where the cost of living is low and outdoor activities are plentiful. Our office, which is housed in a designated historic building, offers you the unique opportunity to gain some experience as you look to the future.

La Junta is situated in the picturesque Arkansas River Valley, at the heart of Southeast Colorado’s farming and ranching region. The surrounding area offers a diverse range of attractions for visitors to explore. Some notable highlights include Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, the Comanche National Grassland, Picketwire and Vogel Canyons, the yearly Tarantula Trek, and the Picketwire Theater. The town holds historical significance as it once served as the junction of the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail and the Trappers Trail, both of which were crucial routes leading to the mountains and gold camps of Colorado.

When visiting the Comanche National Grasslands, visitors can partake in a variety of activities such as hiking, biking along the trails, visiting museums, bird watching, hunting, and immersing themselves in the region’s rich heritage. Just a short 20-mile distance from La Junta, Picketwire Canyon presents an excellent destination for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, boasting one of the largest dinosaur track beds in the world. Nearby Vogel Canyon offers four hiking trails that guide visitors through the scenic beauty of the canyon. The park also provides picnic grounds and hiking trails of varying difficulty levels and lengths.

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site showcases a meticulously reconstructed adobe fur trading post from the 1840s. Today, living historians bring the past to life through guided tours, demonstrations, and special events. Visitors can also enjoy a hike along the mile and a half Bent’s Old Fort Hiking Trail, which winds alongside the Arkansas River, surrounded by cottonwood trees. The marsh area is home to several bird species, and interpretive exhibit signs provide valuable insights into the river ecosystem, Santa Fe Trail, and Bent’s Fort.

During the fall season, Southeast Colorado hosts the yearly Tarantula Trek, a fascinating phenomenon where large numbers of tarantulas emerge. This event has garnered national attention as one of nature’s most unusual occurrences.

The Picketwire Center for the Performing & Visual Arts is a long-standing community theater that has continuously operated for 55 years in the Arkansas Valley. It proudly owns its own historic building and offers live performances to the community.

This is an entry-level position with a starting salary of $70,000 and a one-time $5,000 signing bonus. We offer health insurance, retirement benefits, and partial gym membership reimbursement. Work hours are Monday through Friday, as well as periodic on-call duty. Under FLSA guidelines, this position is exempt. Please send cover letter and resume to wculver@da16co.gov and cbullock@da16co.gov. For additional information regarding this position, please see the attached job description.