TDI Attorney IV (Part-Time Employment Law Attorney)

Do you have a passion for public service and enjoy making a difference? Don’t miss out on this opportunity. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is hiring! Apply now if you’re looking for a rewarding career in public service. We regulate the insurance industry, administer the Texas workers’ compensation system, and educate and protect consumers.

You’ll love the benefits of working at TDI:

· Flexible work schedules.

· Hybrid work schedule, if applicable.

· Work-life balance.

· 48 hours of accrued vacation a year.

· 48 hours of accrued sick leave a year.

· 20+ holidays every year.

· Career advancement opportunities.

· Free parking.

· 50% comprehensive medical insurance for half-time employees and the state pays a partial amount of the premium costs for dependents.

Working at TDI offers many benefits. TDI is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. TDI also offers a lifetime monthly retirement annuity as well as 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. TDI recently moved into the new Barbara Jordan Building at 1601 Congress Ave. The innovative structure is part of the state’s Capitol Complex project.

Before you apply:

Click on the link to learn about our selection process, our military employment preference, and licensing and credential requirements: www.tdi.texas.gov/jobs/apply.html

Attorney IV (Part-Time Employment Law Attorney)

Join our dynamic team of legal professionals at TDI. The General Counsel Division is hiring an attorney to assist our current staff on issues relating to employment law.

The position performs advanced (senior-level) legal work on a part-time basis concerning the agency's human resources department and other program areas to ensure agency compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. Provides legal advice and opinions on employment law and ethics matters. Represents the agency in employment law matters, negotiations, mediation, and litigation. Participates in assigned projects, including but not limited to the development of policies, rules, standard procedures, and forms, the review and implementation of legislative changes, and similar projects. Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

An ideal candidate will have excellent legal research and writing skills, the ability to interpret state and federal laws and apply them to novel legal problems, and the ability to draft thorough and plain language legal documents. The ideal candidate will show a willingness and ability to take on new challenges and subject matter. The candidate must be detail-oriented and an excellent communicator, with good collaboration skills and judgment in the analysis of legal risks.

This position:

· Advises agency staff on federal and state employment laws and regulations.

· Reviews and drafts legal documents and regulations and provides legal advice regarding employment law.

· Advises agency staff concerning legal ramifications of possible changes in human resources practices and procedures.

· Represents the agency in employment law matters, negotiations, and mediations.

· Participates in administrative hearings.

· Assists the Office of the Attorney General in preparing litigation cases.

· Draft substantive legal documents, including opinions, briefs, and memoranda that include analyses of agency authority and requirements under state and federal law.

· Analyzes agency compliance with employment and ethics laws and requirements.

· Drafts and analyzes state and federal legislation.

· Performs other duties as assigned.

This position requires:

· Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.

· Licensure as an attorney to practice law in Texas.

· Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

· Four years of experience with state and federal employment laws.

· Law clerk experience can be counted toward the legal experience.

Additional job details:

This position requires regular work attendance. The position may be eligible for a hybrid work schedule. If eligible, the employee must have a secure, dedicated workspace with reliable broadband internet service. The ideal candidate must be available for weekly meetings and group collaboration via Microsoft Teams and other applications during regular business hours.

You must submit a resume with your application.

Preferences for this position include:

· Recent employment law experience.

· Experience advising in-house staff and management on legal issues.

· Recent experience working on employment-related litigation or administrative complaints or charges.

· Recent experience conducting investigations related to alleged discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or otherwise related to employment issues.

· Recent experience advising clients regarding ethics matters.

This position requires demonstrated knowledge of:

· State laws, rules, procedures, and regulations relevant to job requirements.

· State statutes related to employment law, including the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act, and the Texas Whistleblower Act.

· Federal statutes related to employment law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

· The Texas Government Code, the Texas Insurance Code, and the Texas Administrative Procedure Act.

· The fundamentals of employment law.

· The fundamentals of ethics law.

· Legal analysis, problem-solving, and implementing effective solutions.

This position requires demonstrated skill in:

· Problem-solving and critical thinking.

· Using Microsoft Office software applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.

· Using personal computers sufficient to enter and extract data from related systems and programs such as Centralized Accounting Payroll and Personnel (CAPPS) and other systems required to perform the job.

· Effective oral and verbal communication.

· Legal research, writing, and analysis, including plain English legal writing.

· Reasoning and logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

· Identifying and solving complex problems.

· Independently planning and organizing a moderate workload.

· Using good judgment to analyze legal problems and identify courses of action.

· Project management and/or team leadership.

This position requires the demonstrated ability to:

· Communicate and work effectively with a wide range of people with varied skills, knowledge, and backgrounds.

· Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.

· Analyze and solve work-related problems and work independently on a variety of administrative work and technical assignments.

· Manage and coordinate multiple tasks and priorities to meet necessary deadlines.

· Work both independently and as a team player.

· Apply critical thinking skills to novel and complex legal questions to identify solutions and evaluate risk.

· Interpret laws and regulations affecting the agency.

· Summarize research findings clearly and effectively.

· Use electronic and hard-copy legal reference materials.

· Explain legal concepts to lay persons.

· Respond to dynamic situations on an as-needed and case-by-case basis.

· Use or learn to use agency technology tools, databases, and tracking systems.

Veterans:

Get help translating your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications/requirements, and skill sets. Redact personal or sensitive information from all attachments.

To receive a veteran’s preference, you must submit the following documents, as applicable, with your application.

· Copy of the DD-214; member #4.

· Statement of compensation from the Veteran’s Administration or

· Copy of the DD1300.

Applicable Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes are included, but not limited to one of the following:

27A, 250X, LGL10, 4402, 4405, 4406, 4407, 4408, 4409, 4410, 4411, 4417, 51JX, 92J0

Click or copy and paste the following link into your browser to access Military Crosswalk information:

https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf

How to apply:

All applications must contain complete job histories, including job title, dates of employment, name of employer, manager’s name and phone number, and a description of duties performed. We may reject applications that do not include all of the required information. Resumes do not substitute for this required information.

Submitted through Work in Texas:

Work in Texas (WIT) applicants must complete supplemental questions to be considered for the position. To complete supplemental questions, go to CAPPS Career Center to register or log in and access your profile.