| Salary | Starting at $139,974 | Location | Boerne, TX |
| Job Type | Full-Time | Job Number | CDA – A6 |
| Department | Commissioners Court | Opening Date | 04/15/2025 |
| Reports To | County Judge & Commissioners | Status | Exempt |
| Classification | 28 | Job Description Date | 04/15/2025 |
General Counsel
Kendall County is a small to mid-sized county located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, with nearby access to San Antonio. Kendall County welcomes employees who conduct themselves according to the highest professional and ethical standards. Kendall County values our employees and strives to create a positive and enjoyable work environment.
Summary
The General Counsel position is appointed by the Kendall County Commissioners Court, and under the general supervision of the County Judge and Commissioners. The purpose of the position is to serve as legal counsel to the Commissioners Court. Persons in this classification are responsible for providing complex legal work to include legal advice and opinions to the Commissioners Court and other duties as assigned by the Court.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Responsible for managing the day-to-day legal responsibilities of Kendall County by providing legal counsel and support to the Kendall County Commissioners Court, Kendall County Elected Officials, and County Departments. Kendall County, as a government entity, is subject to a wide range of local, state, and federal rules and regulations.
- Maintains the highest level of professional ethics.
- Demonstrates legal and ethical stature, maturity, sound judgment, competence, and confidence to operate with credibility at all levels of the County.
- Functions as primary legal counsel to the County Judge, Commissioners Court, and County Departments.
- Provides legal counsel to elected officials when requested on policy decision making.
- Views issues and concerns through Kendall County’s perspective and focuses on the right outcome for Kendall County at all times.
- Identifies key issues and proposes multiple possible solutions or resources needed to reach optimum solution for Kendall County.
- Decision-making based on core concepts and fundamental principles rather than historical practices and established procedures.
- Conducts legal research and able to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and rules.
- Reads and reviews statutes, legal opinions, and other documents to maintain knowledge of local, state, and federal legislation and jurisprudence affecting County operations, programs, and activities.
- Renders oral and written legal opinions to the County Judge and Commissioners on matters relating to the operation of County government.
- Renders legal decisions to the County Judge and Commissioners that have Countywide, and/or long-term implications.
- Reviews agendas for public meetings to ensure compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act for public and executive session meetings.
- Attends regular and special meetings of the Commissioners Court as directed to provide legal advice and clarify County policy.
- Assists the County Judge’s Office in the preparation of minutes and/or certified agendas of the meetings of the Commissioners Court.
- Drafts, tracks, and analyzes proposed federal and state legislative matters for consideration on behalf of Kendall County.
- Remains informed of state, federal legislation, and/or judicial decisions that might impact County government.
- Manages, drafts, reviews, and negotiates all major contracts and business negotiations on a regular basis; ensures all County contracts comply with applicable laws to minimize risks and maximize Kendall County’s legal rights.
- Drafts or reviews deeds, easements, rights-of-way, releases, and other legal instruments that involve the County.
- Maintains objectivity while driving appropriate outcomes, manages multiple stakeholder requests, and promotes high business and legal standards.
- In addition to the County Judge and County Commissioners, regularly advises and works with:
- Criminal District Attorney
- County Purchasing Agent
- Information Technology
- Facilities
- Human Resources
- Emergency Management
- County Engineer
- Road and Bridge
- County Fire Marshal
- Emergency Medical Services
- Assists Commissioners Court with the selection, retention, management, and evaluation of all outside counsel.
- Assists with overseeing all aspects of outside counsel, including directing outside counsel, coordinating responses to discovery requests, and tracking the status/stages of the litigation.
- Coordinates and collaborates with outside counsel on legal matters requiring specialized legal expertise, ensuring that delivery, quality and budgetary standards are maintained.
- Provides proactive advice in connection with areas such as purchasing, finance, contracts, real estate, labor and employment issues, litigation, government regulations, and technology and licensing agreements; anticipates issues and estimates risks strategically.
- As directed, attends meetings with County officials, employees, representatives of other governmental units, businesses, and/or the public
- Represents the County in land purchases, sales, and leases.
- Serves on committees responsible for drafting and amending County personnel policies and development rules.
- In coordination with the Criminal District Attorney, oversees the management of Texas Public Information Act, requests Attorney General Opinions, and trains County personnel on TPIA and applicable Records Retention laws.
- Functions as liaison with legal personnel at the Attorney General’s office, the Texas Association of Counties and legal departments of other offices concerning civil matters.
- Prepares and monitors the Office of General Counsel’s annual budget.
- Serves as probate staff attorney for County Judge upon request.
- Represents or assists in the representation of the County in all civil legal matters.
- Provides excellent customer service to the County’s internal and external customers.
- Manages assigned personnel.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Note: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific
statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is assigned by the supervisor.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The General Counsel must be knowledgeable in a wide range of local, state, and federal rules and regulations applicable to County governments in the State of Texas.
Knowledge:
- General legal limitations of Texas Counties and local governmental entities.
- Understanding of County government structure and administrative rules and regulations.
- Federal, state, and local laws and protocols related to Commissioners Court.
- Federal, state, and local laws related to public officeholding.
- State laws that relate to the operation of Texas Counties including but not limited to laws relating to competitive bidding, open meetings, public information, ethics, elections, parks, libraries, and emergency management.
- Knowledge of procurement law, public finance, transportation, real estate, construction law, regulatory compliance, fire code, land use, economic development, and conservation laws.
- County orders, policies and procedures, and resolutions.
- Knowledge of Federal and State Employment Law
- Laws and regulations relating to the employment of public employees.
- Employment at Will.
- FLSA
- Title VII
- ADA and ADEA.
- FMLA and other leave.
- ACA and COBRA.
- Extensive Knowledge of
- Texas Constitution and State laws applicable to Counties.
- Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act.
- HIPAA & HITECH, Texas Medical Privacy Act, and Texas Emergency Health Care Act
- Government contracts and procurement.
- County Regulatory Authority: Land Use; Public Safety and Sanitation; Commerce; and Transportation.
Ability to:
- Manage time to effectively meet deadlines consistently.
- Adhere to deadlines and efficiently complete task.
- Diligently and proactively follow up on assigned tasks.
- Proactive approach to work, translating plans in to action and tangible results.
- Read, understand, interpret, explain, and follow
- Federal and state laws and regulations related to Texas counties and the Commissioners Court.
- County orders, policies, procedures, and other legal documents.
- Local regulations and codes.
- Draft and revise County regulations at the direction of Commissioners Court.
- Prepare, organize, and maintain legal records such as:
- Contracts,
- Court orders and resolutions, and
- Legal memos, in a manner that allows for expedient retrieval and access.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the members of the Commissioners Court, Elected Officials, and County employees.
- Negotiate with others in an amicable manner and resolve disputes.
- Prepare and follow departmental budget.
- Follow standard office procedures.
- Operate standard office equipment, such as computers, calculators, and telephones.
- Supervise any assigned employees and provide evaluation and counseling in regards to performance of job duties.
- Exercise clear/good judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in stressful situations.
- Communicate effectively verbally and in writing to people with varying levels of legal understanding, education, and experience.
- Follow safe work practices including workplace safety policies and procedures.
- Communicate effectively with the general public, department heads, elected officials, and Kendall County personnel.
- Be on-call outside of standard work hours as needed.
Education and/or Experience
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year college or university
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited school of law. Experience
At least 3 years representing State, County or local governmental entities.
You can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience, through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- License to Practice Law in the State of Texas and in good standing with the Texas Bar Association
- Possess a valid Texas Driver’s License or Texas Identification Card
Additional Information
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents; Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints; Ability to write speeches and articles using innovative techniques or style; Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentation on controversial or complex topics.
MATHEMATICAL: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume; Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use fingers, hands, reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee is required to sit. The employee may occasionally be required to stand and lift and move up to twenty-five pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.TECHNICAL/COMPUTER SKILLS: Proficient in MS Office tools (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), e-mail and Internet. Ability to learn new applications quickly including organization-wide information systems and department-specific software applications.
| How to Apply: E-mail your cover letter, resume, writing sample and application to [email protected]. |
Kendall County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals and employees with disabilities.
Kendall County will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, including lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender status, age, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status, disability, or any other condition or status protected by law in hiring, promotion, demotion, raises, termination, training, discipline, use of employee facilities or programs, or any other benefit, condition, or privilege of employment except where required by state or federal law or where a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) exists. Employees who need an accommodation as a result of a condition or status protected by law should advise their Elected Official, Appointed Official, Department Head, or the Human Resources Department.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, the interview process, or otherwise participating in the selections, please direct your inquiries to Kendall County Human Resources at (830) 249-9343.
Disclaimer: This is an “at will” position with no civil service or other appellate rights. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.
Rev. 04/12/2025 ddr