Texas Attorney General
Associate Deputy General Counsel - Assistant Attorney General V-VI
Texas Attorney General, Austin, Texas, United States
PLEASE NOTE THIS APPLICATION IS EXPRESSING INTEREST IN THIS ROLE AND NOT A FORMAL APPLICATION The General Counsel Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) seeks a very experienced lawyer for advanced and/or managerial legal work to provide legal advice and assistance to the OAG and client state agencies. Prior experience as general counsel or in-house counsel is welcomed. The selected applicant will work alongside OAG leadership on issues of critical importance to the state. The General Counsel Division’s work is diverse with both transactional and research-related projects with primary focus on the following areas: Executive-level policy support and implementation, novel legal research, contracting and procurement, administrative law, , legislative analysis, and rulemaking. The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits (https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance) along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) experience the challenge and honor of public service, flexible work schedules, a healthy work-life balance, hands-on legal experience, and camaraderie with other talented OAG staff. The position is headquartered in Austin, the scenic and lively capital of Texas. Job Description Provides legal advice to the Office of the Attorney General, client state agencies, boards, and officials Assists Executive Administration and the General Counsel Division in ensuring the agency’s compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, court decisions, and legal opinions Assists the Division Chief in daily operations of the General Counsel Division Supervises the work of others and assists in training less tenured attorneys and staff Prepares and reviews legal opinions, administrative rules, contracts, purchase orders, grants, invoices, procurements, and other legal documents for the Office of the Attorney General and client state agencies Participates or assists in the negotiation of agreements on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General and client state agencies Assists agency’s participation in the state and federal rulemaking process and provides related research, counsel, and document preparation Assists in analyzing legislation and drafting proposals and amendments for legislative consideration Assists with employment law issues and formal complaints on behalf of the agency Assists with subpoenas, public information requests, and records retention issues on behalf of the agency Performs legal research and reports findings and conclusions Reviews laws, rules, and regulations affecting agency operations and administration Communicates with, and gives advice as appropriate, to agency attorneys and staff, to outside state agencies, universities, and local governmental entities, and to members of the public Maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, attorneys, client agencies, vendors, and opposing counsel Performs related work as assigned Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity Minimum Qualifications: Assistant Attorney General (AAG) V: Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) Licensed as an attorney by the State Bar of Texas Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas Experience: Six years of full-time experience as a licensed attorney in the following (or closely related) fields: state or federal agency, local government, litigation, or law enforcement Knowledge of laws and legal principles and practices relevant to state government procurement, state contracting, public information, rulemaking, legislative analysis, and transactional work. Experience of maintaining legal billing and submitting legal-billing documentation on a timely basis Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making Skill in effective oral and written communication [Writing sample required at time of interview, if selected] Skill in conducting effective research Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines Skill in working cooperatively with other attorneys, supervisors, investigators, and support staff Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG workspace within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave) Ability to arrange for 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 lbs. Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 5% Assistant Attorney General (AAG) VI – All of the above functions for an AAG V PLUS: One additional year of full-time experience as a licensed attorney PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Previous experience in general counsel or in-house counsel Previous experience advising a state agency and its Executive Administration on legal issues Previous supervisory experience with less tenured attorneys and staff Previous employment law experience Strong legal research and writing skills