Attorney V - VII - Appellate

Practices civil or criminal law for Texas County or District government.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the seventh in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the most complex and that may result in the most severe consequences without supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Preparation of appellate briefs, motions, petitions, and writs to the intermediate state courts of appeals, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. Provide legal advice to assistant county attorneys on appellate matters.
• Prepare and present oral argument in the various appellate courts.
• Provide legal representation and advice to the County Attorney, the District Attorney, and county agencies in (civil) expunction and non-disclosure trial and appellate proceedings.
• Performs advanced legal work. Conducts investigations to determine best court or non-court action. Performs complex legal research.
• Prepares appellate briefs and argues before appellate courts. Makes punishment recommendations based upon contact with victims and office policy.
• Creates documents including answers, motions, orders, writs and other related documents. Represents the state at expunction/writ/nondisclosure hearings.
• Conducts training, mentoring, and educational presentations regarding legal and community justice issues of concern to the County for staff, other government employees, and civic organizations.
• Confers with top management and judges in all matters concerning prosecution of cases, advising of clients, and matters that will impact the policies and procedures of the division.
• 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. Represents the State at docket calls.
• Prepares cases for trial. Collects, organizes and prepares evidence, information and other legal materials.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Attorney V: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND six (6) years licensed attorney work experience. Salary starting at $99,345.18.

Attorney VI: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND eight (8) years licensed attorney work experience. Salary starting at $106,310.90.

Attorney VII: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND ten (10) years licensed attorney work experience. Salary starting at $113,755.98.

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

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 specialty.
• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.

Ability to:

• 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.

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.

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.