OAG - Opinions | Assistant Attorney General VI | 2

About the role

The Office of the Attorney General's Opinion Committee researches and drafts formal legal opinions publicly issued by the Attorney General in discharge of his constitutional and statutory duty to provide legal guidance to authorized requestors. The Opinion Committee engages in a wide array of challenging and novel legal issues and works closely with executive administration and the Attorney General to ensure formal legal opinions are of the highest quality and provide all Texans with sound legal advice. Although the Attorney General's formal legal opinions are non‑binding, they are considered persuasive authority in Texas and are routinely relied on by state agencies and local governments as quasi‑judicial interpretations of law.

The Deputy Chief performs advanced senior‑level work by assisting the Division Chief with managing the division, meeting with government officials, legislators, and their staff, and reviewing and drafting opinions. This is a selective leadership opportunity for an attorney with strong research and writing skills and is ideally suited for applicants with clerkship experience, experience as a staff attorney in the judicial branch of government, or with appellate or local‑government experience. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits (view benefits) and a healthy work‑life balance while serving the State of Texas.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Division Chief in supervising the development of legal opinions, rulings, memoranda, correspondence, and publications.
• Assist the Division Chief in reviewing opinion request letters, assigning opinions to drafters, and scheduling internal deadlines; support attorney development.
• Manage open‑government initiatives, including coordinating the Open Meetings Act hotline and training submission review; assist in coordinating participation in the Open Government Conference.
• Draft complex formal legal opinions, rulings, memoranda, correspondence, and publications.
• Research and analyze legislation and statutes, or supervise such research; report findings and conclusions to the Division Chief and Executive Management; serve as a resource to legislators as requested.
• Review opinions and submit comments to the drafter.
• Participate in public speaking at conferences.
• Comply with all agency policies and procedures, including security, safety, ethics, and integrity standards.
• Maintain relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions and attend work regularly in compliance with the agreed‑upon schedule.
• Ensure security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Minimum qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• Licensed to practice law by the State of Texas and a member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas by the start date.
• Six years of full‑time experience working as a licensed attorney and appellate clerkship.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws affecting state agencies and local governments.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines.
• Skill in effective oral and written communication (writing sample required at interview, if selected).
• Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision‑making.
• Skill in performing complex legal research.
• Skill in using a computer for word‑processing and data entry/retrieval.
• Ability to identify relevant legal issues and render clear and accurate legal advice.
• Ability to analyze legislation and statutes.
• Ability to write under pressure and respond to deadlines.
• Ability to verbally communicate legal arguments.
• Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to work in person at the assigned OAG work location for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave), including collaborating, training, and mentoring.
• Ability to arrange personal transportation for business‑related travel.
• Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA.
• Ability to lift and relocate 30 lb.
• Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 15 %.

Preferred qualifications

• Judicial clerkship or staff‑attorney experience in a federal or state appellate court.
• Excellent legal analysis, judgment, and written work product; skill in identifying relevant issues and rendering clear and accurate legal opinions.
• Experience in public speaking.
• Management or leadership experience.