Attorney VI - General Counsel (Juvenile Probation Employees only)

As General Counsel for Travis County Juvenile Probation Department, this position provides legal advice to the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Juvenile Board, managers, Juvenile Probation Officers, and line staff to ensure operations comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations and guidelines while protecting the Department from potential risk or liability.

Responsibilities

• Interpret County rules, state/national standards, state/federal laws, and regulations.
• Render legal opinions on complex topics in memo, email, and brief form.
• Assist with drafting policies, procedures, contracts, and proposed legislation.
• Respond to oral and written inquiries from TCJPD staff, judges, prosecutors, attorneys, state agency officials, legislative staff, law enforcement, school administrators, and other juvenile justice professionals.
• Serve as the TCJPD Public Information Officer, interacting with the news media and general public.
• Provide legal and legislative trainings as needed.
• Manage and oversee the Court Administration Division, the Accreditation and Compliance Unit, and supervise two staff attorneys.
• Oversee TCJPD internal investigations mandated by state/federal law.
• Assume legislative-related duties during Texas Legislative sessions.
• Participate on TCJPD management and leadership teams, and attend stakeholder meetings.
• Perform legal research and study legal records to obtain information applicable to cases or issues.
• Draft briefs, motions, orders, subpoenas, contracts, and other legal documents, as well as correspondence and reports.
• Take depositions and respond to discovery requests.
• Oversee the creation and issuance of legal documents, including subpoenas, motions, orders, writs, warrants, contracts, and official policies.
• Represent the State at docket calls and prepare cases for trial.
• Collect, organize, and prepare evidence, information, and other legal materials.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school.
• Eight (8) years of licensed attorney work experience.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Skills

• 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 effective techniques for presentation in court or legal matters.
  • Policies, practices, procedures, and legal terminology related to the court system.
  • Computer equipment, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and various software packages.
  • Business letter writing, grammar, punctuation, and report preparation.
  • Federal and state laws requiring confidential handling of certain health information (if applicable).
• Skill in:
  • Problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures, and legal precedents.
  • 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, applying negotiation skills.
  • Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
  • Work independently and manage time well while performing multiple tasks and organizing diverse activities.
  • Work under pressure and exercise tact in challenging situations.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, outside agencies, County employees, officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

• 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, and squatting to perform essential functions.
• Employees may be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Schedule

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Location

2515 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704

Criminal, driving, education, drug, alcohol, and employment background checks required.