Attorney -IV

Serves as an Attorney with the Travis County Office of Parental Representation, a civil public defender’s office. Provides client-centered representation to indigent clients in child welfare law litigation with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Practices civil or criminal law for Texas County or District government.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This is the first through fourth in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are moderately complex without supervision, handles cases and matters that may result in the least severe consequences without supervision, and handles cases and matters that may result in moderately severe consequences with supervision.

• Provides client-centered representation to indigent clients in child welfare law litigation with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
• Litigates cases at statutory and special review hearings, contested motion hearings, and trials.
• Works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to achieve client-centered case goals.
• Attends case meetings with clients, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, CASA, attorneys, and other case professionals. Attends mediation.
• Performs legal research. Searches resources and studies legal records and documents to obtain information applicable to case or issue under consideration.
• Drafts briefs, motions, orders, subpoenas, and other legal documents, as well as correspondence and memos.
• Responds to discovery requests. Oversees the creation and issuance of legal documents, including subpoenas, motions, orders, and other related documents.
• Prepares cases for trial. Collects, organizes, and prepares evidence and exhibits.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Attorney I: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school. Salary range starting at $85,500 annually.

Attorney II: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school and 18 months’ licensed attorney work experience. Salary range starting at $89,000 annually.

Attorney III: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school and 3 years’ licensed attorney work experience. Salary range starting at $92,000 annually.

Attorney IV: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND four (4) years licensed attorney work experience. Salary range starting at $91,100.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements: Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Preferred:

• Applications with a cover letter detailing interest in the position, including why applicant wants to work for the Travis County Office of Parental Representation.
• Hearing and trial experience consistent with years of practice.
• Mission-aligned experience (work or lived) advocating on behalf of indigent clients.
• Effective client management skills and rapport-building techniques.
• Performs well in a high-volume, high-conflict area of litigation.
• Effective litigation techniques for presentation of cases in court and the ability to present facts and arguments verbally and in writing.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to child welfare law or other indigent client-related area of advocacy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Jurisprudence, criminal and civil law and procedures, including constitutional and statutory law.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Methods and practices of pleading cases and of effective techniques for presentation of cases in court or to effectively present facts and precedents verbally and in writing in law related matters.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to court system.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents in area of…