Assistant County Attorney – Affirmative & Special Litigation Division
Harris County
Assistant County Attorney – Affirmative & Special Litigation Division
SALARY
Depends on Qualifications
LOCATION
Houston, TX
JOB TYPE
Regular Full-time
JOB NUMBER
12005
DEPARTMENT
County Attorney’s Office
OPENINGDATE
02/06/2024
CLOSINGDATE
3/6/2024 11:59 PM Central
Position Description
The Harris County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) is hiring an attorney to join our Affirmative & Special Litigation Division which represents the nation’s third largest county, its elected officials, and 18,000 employees in state and federal litigation. The Division seeks an experienced and motivated attorney with stellar writing and advocacy skills. The Affirmative & Special Litigation Division represents Harris County in complex, high-impact matters in a variety of areas, including constitutional rights, consumer protection, nuisance, fraud, elections, and contractual matters. The Division also investigates potential claims and regulatory enforcement against businesses and individuals. Our goal is to advance and protect, through litigation, the well-being, health, and safety of Harris County residents. The attorney will work on civil litigation matters from case inception through discovery and motion practice, trial, and appeal including arguments before Texas and federal trial and appellate courts.
In addition to the ability to earn compensatory time for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek, the selected candidate may be eligible to participate in the HCAO telework program, which currently allows employees to work from home a few days per week.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Conducts legal research and reviews case law relevant to issues as they develop in cases.
Drafts legal documents including petitions, answers, discovery questions, responses, motions, and briefs. Participates in hearings, depositions, court hearings, and trial.
Identifies pertinent case documents and records.
Develops and manages relationships with clients, courts, the public, and other work groups related to assigned cases.
Monitors cases to ensure that all discovery requests including requests for interrogatories, admissions, disclosures, and production are timely handled.
Reviews and responds to motions filed by opposing counsel. Prepares witnesses before hearings or trials.
Investigates facts and obtains evidence in cases.
Performs multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining an effective balance of priorities and high productivity.
Ensures proficiency with technology and legal tools such as Westlaw, Microsoft Word, Adobe, PowerPoint, Excel, and Microsoft Teams.
Maintains case files electronically in OpenText.
Responds promptly to phone calls, emails, and other correspondence.
Participates in one-on-one sessions with the Managing Attorney of the Division to give and receive feedback.
Participates in Division staff meetings.
Encourages and mentors attorneys, paralegals, interns, and law clerks. Performs other duties as assigned.
Other Duties:
This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email [email protected].
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements
Supporting Job Application Documents:
Applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references with their application.
A Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association-accredited college of law.
Must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to Federal court. A minimum of five (5) years of experience practicing law.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Excellent research, writing, and courtroom skills.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to communicate and work in a collaborative group. Proficiency with technology and legal tools such as Westlaw, Microsoft Word, Adobe, and PowerPoint.
Experience drafting pleadings and motions.
Experience gathering, objecting to, and producing discovery.
Knowledge of federal and state rules of civil procedure and evidence.
Ability to perform thorough legal and factual analyses and exercise good judgment. Occasional ability to work extended hours to accommodate case load demands.
Ability to organize and prioritize assignments to meet deadlines. Ability to comply with office policies and training requirements.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. “See Resume” will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
Preference will be given to applicants who have experience in constitutional law and election law.
General Information
Located in downtown Houston, the Harris County Attorney’s Office represents Harris County government, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Harris County Toll Road Authority, and the Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network in all civil matters, including lawsuits. The office also provides legal advice to county officials and employees.
Position Type, Typical Work Schedule, and Work Environment:
This is a full-time position.
Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with occasional weekends and holidays as necessary.
Hours may vary based on the business needs of the HCAO.
This job typically operates in a professional office environment, and the individual in this role uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, scanners/copiers, and phones.
Physical and Mental Demands:
This is largely a sedentary role that requires standing or sitting for prolonged periods, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body, repetitive motions requiring dexterity such as keyboarding that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, communicating with others to exchange concepts and information, problem-solving, decision-making, organization, the ability to read/write, and the ability to manage workplace stressors such as adversarial interactions.
Compensation:
The base compensation for this position will be determined on the candidate’s qualifications and the pay of other employees in the job function. Total compensation includes attractive paid leave programs, health benefits, and retirement plans.
In addition, the position is eligible for the accrual of compensatory time off for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, consistent with Harris County personnel policies and procedures.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
