Legislative Counsel

Range: $122,500 - $132,500 p/year, based on relevant experience, education, skills, licenses, certifications, and training.

Range: $52,300 to $92,570 p/year, with experience and qualifications.

Are you interested in an intellectually challenging career? Would you like to work with supportive and knowledgeable colleagues in a collaborative environment? Do you have excellent writing skills, a strong work ethic, and a heart for public service? Then bring your talents to the legal division of the Texas Legislative Council! We are now hiring attorneys for multiple entry-level Legislative Counsel I positions with flexible start dates.

Both new and experienced attorneys are encouraged to apply.

The Texas Legislative Council is a nonpartisan agency providing full legal services to the Texas Legislature. Most work as a Legislative Counsel I attorney involves drafting legislation and amendments to legislation in the attorney’s assigned subject areas for the biennial legislative session and researching legal issues related to legislation. Attorneys in the council’s legal division also provide a variety of other legal services to legislators and the lieutenant governor and their staffs, including providing any necessary counseling and analysis regarding legal matters and working on statutory revision projects.

Legislative Counsel I attorneys receive comprehensive training in legislative drafting and ongoing mentoring from council attorneys with extensive expertise. Attorneys generally work independently in drafting legislation but are encouraged to seek guidance from and share information with colleagues in a collegial setting. Attorneys are able to indicate subject area assignment preferences from over 40 possible subject areas before each regular legislative session.

Subject areas include topics such as agriculture, ethics and campaign finance, primary and secondary education, water and natural resources, elections, criminal law, utilities, probate, labor, property, and parks and wildlife.

The council’s legal division allows for remote work opportunities each week, particularly during the legislative interim, at the discretion of the division director.

• Drafts bills, amendments, and other legislative documents, usually in employee's primary subject areas.
• May review some legislative documents in employee's primary subject areas.
• Consults with legislators and the lieutenant governor and their staffs about proposed legislation and, at the direction of a legislator, the lieutenant governor, or a staff member, consults with others about that legislation.
• Meets with legislators and the lieutenant governor on the floor of the house or senate to provide advice and prepare amendments to legislation being considered.
• Provides written and oral information about current or pending law, including codes and proposed legislation.
• In connection with the drafting of proposed legislation, provides legal advice to legislators and the lieutenant governor and their staffs regarding issues such as constitutionality, preemption, and consistency and interaction with existing law.
• Provides legal advice to legislators and the lieutenant governor concerning the powers, duties, legal limitations, and liabilities of their offices.
• Examines, investigates, and researches legal and other issues for bill drafting and in response to questions.
• Reviews contracts to which the council is a party.
• Revises statutes into codes, generally involving non-substantive changes of the law.
• Drafts and reviews analyses of proposed constitutional amendments.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Experience and Education

• Law degree from an accredited school of law.

Minimum qualifications for this position include:

• Skill in written and oral communication without the use of artificial intelligence.
• Ability to analyze and solve legal problems and to interpret statutes and legislative documents without the use of artificial intelligence.
• Ability to deal effectively with others.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to work overtime and flexible hours.
• Ability to handle deadline pressures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of…