Base Pay: $90,688.00 Annual

SUMMARY: Provides assistance and leadership in handling a variety of litigation and non-litigation matters on behalf of the Nueces County Attorney’s office including section 1983 claims, Texas Torts Claims Act litigation, contract and property litigation, and employment claims. Manages and performs all aspects of simple and complex litigation from the initial claim through appeal. Provides legal counsel to County officials on civil and administrative matters and collaborates with senior staff to ensure the County is represented to the highest professional standards. Additional responsibilities include reviewing, communicating and collaborating with external co-counsel, reviewing the County’s compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, and performing other tasks as assigned by County Attorney.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

Conducts legal research, prepares letters, legal briefs, pleadings, and motions, and litigates complex cases in state and federal courts, including trials, depositions, and mediations.

Provides oversight and guidance on claims by and against the County, including directing legal investigations, evaluations, and settlements.

Screens and reviews cases, issues, contracts and other legal documents for legal and factual sufficiency and direct the gathering of additional information.

Assists Chief of Litigation in overseeing the daily operations of the litigation unit, including personnel management, resource allocation, and strategic planning.

Assists in developing and implementing policies and procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the litigation unit.

Conducts legal research and provides opinions on matters brought by the Commissioners Court and/or County Departments, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Conducts research, investigations and negotiations to determine the best court or non-court action under the circumstances.

Collaborates with Chief of Litigation and external counsel and oversee significant litigation cases, including civil rights and employment law matters.

Monitors state and federal caselaw developments relevant to County operations providing timely updates and recommendations to ensure legal compliance and inform decision-making.

Prepares cases for trial or prepares legal questions or issues for other final legal disposition. Prepares cases for administrative hearings.

Researches and briefs law specifically related to civil county case(s) or issues and to any potential appeal.

Takes depositions, drafts and responds to discovery and issues related legal documents, including subpoenas, motions and other related documents.

Represents Department Heads before Civil Service Commission, prepares cases through conclusion including conferring with department heads and witnesses.

Presents cases before Juvenile Board.

Confers with supervisor, clients, opposing counsel, witnesses and other parties concerning discovery, preparation of legal documents and matters germane to litigation or other appropriate disposition.

Responds to inquiries from internal and external sources.

Conducts appeals of litigated cases, including drafting appellate briefs, preparing oral arguments, and representing the County in appellate courts.

Advises department heads and officials on employment and other legal issues including preparing EEOC or Department of Labor responses.

Assists clerical and legal secretarial staff as needed.

May supervise clerical or secretarial staff on the processing of assigned case(s), legal issues, or contracts.

May serve as county representative for collective bargaining.

Represent the County Attorney’s Office at public events and community outreach efforts, as needed.

May assist with training programs for attorneys and staff to ensure continued professional development.

Compile statistical reports and/or utilize relevant and current technology to process, retrieve and disseminate information.

May litigate involuntary civil commitments or protective orders, including conference with family members and with social workers, doctors and other health care staff at health care facilities.

Monitors bond forfeiture docket and, where appropriate, litigates cases before the court, seeking default judgments, abstracts and execution on judgments.

Serves as a resource to other county departments on a variety of legal issues.

Presents cases before appropriate court and/or jury.

Drafts final orders, temporary orders, motions, or other court documents applicable to litigation of civil matters.

Performs additional duties assigned by Chief of Litigation, First Assistant or County Attorney.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Does not supervise other employees; but may assign and review work of Paralegals and Legal Secretaries.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record which meets standards set by the County and the County’s insurance carrier.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: J.D. or L.L.B. degree from an accredited law school and at least three years of work experience as an attorney, preferably in civil law.

Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities, may be considered for current Nueces County employees only.

Knowledge of the following areas is preferred: Child Protective Services procedures and law, Protective Order procedures and law, Juvenile Proceedings and Law, Condemnation, Probate and Property Law and related litigation, Criminal Proceedings and Law, including but not limited to expunctions, surety bonds, vehicles and other asset seizures, Personal Injury Defense, Civil Rights and Employment Litigation, State and Federal Civil and Criminal Procedure and evidentiary rules, including knowledge specifically required for litigation, State and Federal Appellate practice and procedure.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: License from the Texas State Bar to practice law in the State of Texas. License to practice in the Southern District of Texas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit must be acquired within 6 months of employment. Texas Operator's Driver’s License. Attorneys use their own private vehicles, not a county car.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Thorough knowledge of judicial principles and of civil law and procedures including constitutional as well as statutory law.

Depending upon assignment, may require any combination of the following specific knowledge areas: Texas Family Code, Texas Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Tort Claims Act, Texas legislative history, Texas Property Tax Code and/or real estate, construction, general contracts and public law.

Ability to analyze and appraise facts, procedures and legal precedents affecting complex court cases in various areas of specialty.

Ability to present facts and precedents effectively in writing in moderately complex cases.

Familiarity with general investigative techniques.

Ability to make persuasive presentations in court and before juries.

Good judgment and management abilities.

Ability to conduct complex legal research and to apply negotiating skills.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees and officials, court personnel, other attorneys and the general public.

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Employee could possibly be exposed to a dangerous defendant or mentally unstable person capable of violence. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Job Post End Date -

Attorney V, Assistant Chief Of Litigation-County Attorney - J10021 - 11300

Job Description