Attorney IV (Office of Child Representation)

The Office of Child Representation practices civil law for the Travis County government. The Office of Child Representation provides high-quality legal representation and other support to clients who are children and youth involved in the Travis County child welfare system.

This is the 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.

• 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, contracts, and other legal documents, as well as correspondence and reports.
• Takes depositions and responds to discovery requests.
• Oversees the creation and issuance of legal documents, including subpoenas, motions, orders, writs, warrants, contracts, official policies, and other related documents.
• Prepares cases for trial. Collects, organizes, and prepares evidence, information, and other legal materials.
• Conducts in-person and virtual meetings with clients and stakeholders as necessary to perform the duties of an attorney/guardian ad litem and as a department employee.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND four (4) years licensed attorney work experience.

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

Preferred:

• Application with a cover letter detailing the applicant's specific interest in working for the Travis County Office of Child Representation.
• Submission of a recent legal writing sample with job application.
• Hearing and trial experience consistent with years of practice.
• Ability to fluently speak and write in Spanish.
• Mission-aligned experience advocating on behalf of children and youth directly impacted by the child welfare civil legal system.
• Valid Texas drivers license.

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 that apply to the work of the Office of Child Representation.
• 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.
• Texas child welfare system and laws and regulations governing it.

Skill in:

• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures, and legal precedents in area of specialty. Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.

Ability to:

• Exercise sound judgment.
• Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically.
• Present facts, precedents, and arguments verbally and in writing and apply negotiation skills.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Work independently.
• Manage time well and perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities. Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.
• Travel to various areas in Austin and surrounding counties in Texas as required to visit clients and conduct departmental business.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.
Traveling in personal and/or department vehicles to various areas in Austin and surrounding counties.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. May work some nights, some weekends; the schedule is flexible/hybrid.

Department: Community Legal Services
Location: 1700 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas 78701

Criminal Background Check, Education and Employment Verification Required