DPS - OGC - Assistant General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel for the Department of Public Safety is seeking an experienced, senior-level attorney to join our team. The ideal candidate will have government agency experience; exposure to and interest in areas such as policy writing, driver license law, employment law, administrative law, traffic law, 4th Amendment and law enforcement practices, and other areas impacting state agencies.

The Department of Public Safety is a complex law enforcement agency with over 11,000 employees. In the Office of General Counsel, we help our clients solve problems that affect their diverse law enforcement, regulatory, and licensing missions. Formally, we are a legal department composed of over 60 attorneys statewide in two practice groups:
General Counsel and Administrative Hearing Programs. This position is located at DPS headquarters in Austin and is within the Office of General Counsel, which provides oversight and guidance for all legal matters affecting the agency.

The selected candidate will report to the Deputy General Counsel and play an active role in the agency’s policy development and implementation efforts. Additionally, this position provides legal advice, counsel and strategic guidance on a wide range of issues, including driver licensing law, employment law (such as ADA, FMLA, and general HR matters), Constitutional law (particularly Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues), privacy law, and other legal matters affecting a large state agency.

The role involves direct interaction with agency executive leadership, law enforcement personnel, and internal administrative staff, as well as regular engagement with the public, other governmental entities, courts, and outside attorneys.

There is no such thing as a typical day for a law enforcement agency as diverse as DPS, so our commitment is to provide – and when needed, develop – the substantive legal expertise our clients require to navigate complex issues. The ideal candidate will be skilled at analyzing intricate legal concepts, conducting comprehensive legal research, and delivering clear, practical guidance.

Strong problem‑solving abilities and the capacity to communicate effectively with non‑lawyers and a wide range of clients are essential.

We are currently seeking an attorney with at least three (3) years of professional legal experience for a position in the classification ranges of an Attorney III–V. Final salary and classification will be based on experience and qualifications.

The department offers a collaborative work environment with career advancement opportunities. Other benefits of the position include:

• Comprehensive medical insurance with premiums paid at 100% for full‑time employees and the state pays 50% of the premium for dependents
• Flexible work schedules
• Generous paid leave and holidays
• State retirement pension plan
• Wellness programs and support for work‑life balance

PLEASE NOTE: All applications must contain complete job histories, which includes job title, dates of employment, name of employer, supervisor's name and phone number and a description of duties performed. If this information is not submitted, your application may be rejected because it is incomplete. Resumes do not take the place of this required information.

SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS
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Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the supplemental questions to be considered for the posting. In order to complete the supplemental questions please go to CAPPS Recruit to register or login and access your profile. Go to CAPPS Recruit to Sign In

Perform highly complex (senior‑level) professional legal and administrative work in coordinating and performing the work of the General Counsel Section. Plans, organizes, coordinates and directs the work of various legal services operations within General Counsel. Coordinate the handling of various functions involving other agencies, including litigation and legislative issues involving the Department. Provide legal counsel on a variety of issues involving the Department, including criminal, traffic, administrative, and employment law, personnel issues, rules, regulations, homeland security…