OAG - Child Support | Special Litigator; Assistant Attorney General V

Overview

Are you interested in mission-driven legal work? Do you enjoy helping others? Join the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Child Support Division (CSD) in our mission to encourage responsible parenting by promoting the involvement of both parents in their children’s lives and ensuring that children in Texas receive the support they need and deserve.

The Special Litigator performs highly complex (senior-level) legal work. Work involves representing the state’s interest in judicial and administrative matters, and providing legal advice, consultation and technical assistance to the Child Support Program and staff. CSD AAGs are part of a collegial statewide team dedicated to supporting Texas children and families. AAGs experience the challenge and honor of public service while enjoying a healthy work-life balance, developing hands-on legal experience, and engaging in camaraderie with their colleagues across the state.

The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans.

• Represent the State of Texas at legal proceedings to locate, establish, enforce, modify, or terminate court orders for child support and medical support.
• Provide legal advice, consultation and technical assistance to the Child Support Program including researching and analyzing factual and legal issues; preparing and responding to discovery requests and pleadings; preparing trial briefs and memoranda on complex cases and issues; and assisting field office staff in handling complex cases in court, when available.
• Handle civil litigation of cases, such as probate, tax and foreclosure suits, as well as personal injury claims.
• Review and approve employer enforcement submissions from field offices; assist with case preparation and the legal pleadings production; and represent the Office of the Attorney General / CSD at employer enforcement hearings, when necessary.
• Review and approve administrative license suspension cases for filing, and represent the Office of the Attorney General / CSD in license suspension hearings.
• Review criminal non-support submissions and act as the District Attorney liaison, up to and including prosecution.
• Assist in the planning of the annual Statewide Assistant Attorneys’ General Conference.
• Work on special projects and participate in various work groups / conference / meetings as assigned by the Deputy Division Chief, Field Legal Practice, including speaking and delivering presentations on IV-D legal or practice issues.
• Develop and deliver training for Child Support staff pertinent to Special Litigation functions.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions.
• Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule.
• Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information.
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity.

• Education:
  
  Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• Experience:
  
  Four years of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: full-time legal experience as a licensed attorney, two of which must have been in Family Law.
• Licensed as an attorney by the State of Texas.
• Must be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and eligible to practice law in Texas by start date.
• Knowledge of Family Law and the Texas Family Code.
• Skills in legal writing, mediation, and negotiation.
• Skills in serving as a trial lawyer, preparing sound opinions, conducting investigations, and performing legal research.
• Skills in using a personal computer for word-processing and data entry/retrieval.
• Skills in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines.
• Skills in effective oral and written communication.
• Skills in exercising sound judgment and…