Description:

Job Summary:
A Government Entity County Attorney department is seeking to fill the Appellate Assistant Division Director position with an authentic and dynamic leader.

Directs the operation of one of the divisions of the County or District Attorney's Office. Manages all daily activities involving personnel, case handling and resources. Develops and implements policies and procedures for the operation of the division and plans for future development. Oversees and participates in preparation, presentation and disposition of cases and appellate briefs, contract preparation and review, development and review of County policies and procedures, and planning and implementation of community justice projects and other community projects related to the legal representation of the County.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
This is second in a series of two County/District Attorney-related job classifications within the Senior Management/Middle Management job family. This classification functions as a division director in either the County or District Attorney's Office. Incumbents have management and administrative responsibilities in addition to functioning as high level attorneys.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Supervise and review preparation of appellate briefs, motions, petitions, and writs to the intermediate state courts of appeals, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court.
Provide legal advice to assistant county attorneys on appellate matters.
Prepare and present oral argument in the various appellate courts.
Provide legal representation and advice to the County Attorney, the District Attorney, and county agencies in (civil) expunction and non-disclosure trial and appellate proceedings.
Manages and directs the divisions' professional and support personnel, equipment, facilities and finances. Evaluates personnel and services of the division. Allocates division resources and plans for the future services and budgetary needs of the division.
Directs and advises division legal staff on issues of law and the disposition of cases.
Performs advanced legal work. Conducts investigations to determine best court or non-court action. Performs complex legal research. Presents cases to the Grand Jury and prepares indictments. Serves as lead counsel in trials of major cases of particular difficulty or importance.
Prepares appellate briefs and argues before appellate courts. Makes punishment recommendations based upon contact with victims and office policy.
Takes depositions, responds to discovery requests, oversees the creation and issuance of legal documents including subpoenas, motions, orders, writs, warrants, contracts, official policies and other related documents. Represents the state at docket calls.
Acts as primary liaison and representative for the department with law enforcement agencies, regulatory agencies, criminal justice agencies, Texas Legislature, other elected officials within the County, and the community at large. Provides legal advice to law enforcement and regulatory agencies and other Elected Officials within the County.
Participates in program development and implementation of the department's mission and goals, including community justice initiatives.
Conducts training, mentoring, and educational presentations regarding legal and community justice issues of concern to the County for staff, law enforcement, other government employees, and civic organizations.
Formulates and supervises the implementation of procedures and policy for the daily operation of the division.
Confers with top management and judges in all matters concerning prosecution of cases, advising of clients, and matters that will impact the policies and procedures of the division.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:
Education and Experience:
J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND ten (10) years licensed attorney work experience, including three (3) years of mid- to senior level supervisory management experience;
OR,
J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND ten (10) years licensed attorney work experience, including three (3) years of supervisory or management experience, and including five (5) years experience in prosecution of felony offenses.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

**Preferred experience - 10 plus years of appellate practice.
**Writing sample required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:

Management and supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
Jurisprudence, criminal and civil law and procedures, including constitutional and statutory law.
Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines pertaining to area of assignment.
Methods and practices of pleading cases and of effective techniques for presentation of cases in court or to effectively present facts and precedents orally and in writing in law related matters.
Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to court system.
Accounting, purchasing and budgetary theory, principles and practices.
Investigative techniques.
Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
Business English, spelling and arithmetic, letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

Supervising others, allocating resources and evaluating programs.
Problem-solving and decision-making.
Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents in area of specialty.
Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.

Ability to:

Motivate, train, supervise and develop attorneys and support staff.
Analyze and appraise facts, procedures, and legal precedents affecting complex court cases in area of specialty.
Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically.
Present facts, precedents and arguments orally and in writing and apply negotiation skills.
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Work independently and efficiently.
Manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities.
Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.