Closing Date: 25th April, 2024
Description:
A Government Entity is hiring an attorney to join our Affirmative & Special Litigation Division which represents the nation's third largest county, its elected officials, and 18,000 employees in state and federal litigation. The Division seeks an experienced and motivated attorney with stellar writing and advocacy skills. The Affirmative & Special Litigation Division represents Harris County in complex, high-impact matters in a variety of areas, including constitutional rights, consumer protection, nuisance, fraud, elections, and contractual matters. The Division also investigates potential claims and regulatory enforcement against businesses and individuals. Our goal is to advance and protect, through litigation, the well-being, health, and safety of Harris County residents. The attorney will work on civil litigation matters from case inception through discovery and motion practice, trial, and appeal including arguments before Texas and federal trial and appellate courts.In addition to the ability to earn compensatory time for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek, the selected candidate may be eligible to participate in the HCAO telework program, which currently allows employees to work from home a few days per week.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conducts legal research and reviews case law relevant to issues as they develop in cases.
- Drafts legal documents including petitions, answers, discovery questions, responses, motions, and briefs.
- Participates in hearings, depositions, court hearings, and trial.
- Identifies pertinent case documents and records.
- Develops and manages relationships with clients, courts, the public, and other work groups related to assigned cases.
- Monitors cases to ensure that all discovery requests including requests for interrogatories, admissions, disclosures, and production are timely handled.
- Reviews and responds to motions filed by opposing counsel.
- Prepares witnesses before hearings or trials.
- Investigates facts and obtains evidence in cases.
- Performs multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining an effective balance of priorities and high productivity.
- Ensures proficiency with technology and legal tools such as Westlaw, Microsoft Word, Adobe, PowerPoint, Excel, and Microsoft Teams.
- Maintains case files electronically in OpenText.
- Responds promptly to phone calls, emails, and other correspondence.
- Participates in one-on-one sessions with the Managing Attorney of the Division to give and receive feedback.
- Participates in Division staff meetings.
- Encourages and mentors attorneys, paralegals, interns, and law clerks.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
Supporting Job Application Documents:
Applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references with their application.
Education and Experience Requirements:
- A Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association-accredited college of law.
- Must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to Federal court.
- A minimum of three (3) years of experience practicing law.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Excellent research, writing, and courtroom skills.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to communicate and work in a collaborative group.
- Proficiency with technology and legal tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, Westlaw, and Adobe.
- Experience drafting pleadings and motions.
- Experience gathering, objecting to, and producing discovery.
- Knowledge of federal and state rules of civil procedure and evidence.
- Ability to perform thorough legal and factual analyses and exercise good judgment.
- Occasional ability to work extended hours to accommodate caseload demands.
- Ability to organize and prioritize assignments to meet deadlines.
- Ability to comply with office policies and training requirements.
