Appellate Attorney

The Appellate Division of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office is recruiting for a full-time appellate attorney position.

The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office serves the 2.6 million residents of Dallas County, the 8th largest county-level jurisdiction in the United States.

The Appellate Division carries out the day-to-day responsibilities of representing the State of Texas, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and the District Attorney’s Office in various appellate and postconviction proceedings arising from Dallas County cases.

Represent the State of Texas in (1) direct appeals from final judgments and other appealable trial-court orders in criminal cases, (2) postconviction habeas-corpus proceedings under Chapter 11 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and (3) postconviction motions for forensic D.N.A. testing under Chapter 64 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Represent the Department of Family and Protective Services in direct appeals from final orders terminating parental rights.

Represent the District Attorney’s Office and other county entities in expunction proceedings under Chapter 55 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Provide both general trial support to felony prosecutors and trial support on specific matters as assigned by the Appellate Division Chief.

Attend all meetings and training.

Perform special duties as assigned, including duties related to out-of-state witness subpoenas, extraditions, abatement hearings, drafting and testifying about proposed legislation, and more.

The duties set out above require the attorney to (1) cultivate and maintain expert-level knowledge of the Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, select provisions of the Family and Government Codes, and the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, (2) accurately identify, thoroughly research, and promptly respond to various issues raised in briefs and applications filed by or on behalf of defendants in both trial and appellate courts, and (3) attend hearings in trial courts and oral argument in appellate courts.

J.D. from an accredited law school.

License to practice law in Texas.

One year of experience practicing law.

Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Access, etc.), Adobe Acrobat, and Westlaw.

Two years and six months of full-time experience as an appellate attorney or judicial staff attorney.

Board certification in criminal law or criminal appellate law.

Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Access, etc.) and Adobe Acrobat.

Advanced knowledge of Westlaw and significant skill in legal research resources unrelated to Westlaw.