Description:

Overview:
The Associate Counsel will assist the Senior Counsel, General Counsel, and other attorneys with a variety of legal matters affecting the organization, with a primary focus on employment law and commercial litigation. The Associate Counsel will assist with employment-related investigations and litigation/disputes, providing legal advice to business leaders and human resources professionals, and various commercial litigation matters.

25 Days PTO

Medical * Dental * Vision
401k 100% Match up to 6%

This is an in office only opportunity in Pearland.

The job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Assist with matters arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and other applicable federal, state, and local employment laws
Assist with employment litigation, including investigations, pleadings, motions, discovery, depositions, hearings, trials, and appeals
Prepare responses to charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and comparable state and local agencies
Conduct and provide legal support for internal investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour issues, employee misconduct, and other workplace complaints
Work on commercial disputes and litigation involving contracts, vendors, construction matters, property tax, real estate matters, business torts, and other issues
Manage or assist with pre-suit disputes, demand letters, subpoenas, preservation notices, litigation holds, discovery requests, and document collection
Must be able to handle matters in-house and also coordinate with outside counsel and internal stakeholders regarding litigation strategy, discovery, budgeting, case status, and resolution
Draft, review, and negotiate settlement agreements, separation agreements, releases, confidentiality agreements, and other legal documents
Advise human resources professionals, managers, and business leaders regarding federal, state, and local employment laws and workplace issues
Provide legal guidance concerning hiring, discipline, performance management, accommodations, leaves of absence, wage-and-hour compliance, workplace investigations, and termination decisions
Review and assist in developing employment policies, procedures, forms, agreements, and training materials
Provide legal counsel regarding contractual rights, obligations, enforcement, and dispute-resolution provisions
Identify and assess legal risks and recommend practical, business-oriented solutions
Collaborate with all departments to deliver timely and responsive legal services
Maintain familiarity with current and proposed employment laws, litigation developments, regulations, and relevant case law
Research specific legal issues and communicate findings and recommendations to the legal team and business stakeholders
Maintain organized matter files and track litigation, agency, contractual, and other critical deadlines
Assist other attorneys in the legal department with a variety of matters
Return phone calls and emails and participate in or prepare for meetings, interviews, hearings, mediations, and other legal proceedings
Maintain the confidentiality of attorney-client communications, employee information, litigation materials, and other sensitive information
It is an essential function of this job for the employee to work in office/in the employee's assigned work site. No remote work is available

Perform other duties as required or assigned

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

The position requirements include, but are not limited to:

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school
Licensed and in good standing to practice law in Texas, or licensed in another state and eligible to become licensed in Texas within one year
Two to five years of relevant legal experience
Experience advising employers regarding employment law matters or handling employment disputes and litigation
Experience with commercial litigation, including legal research, drafting, discovery, depositions, and case management
Strong legal research, analytical, writing, and oral communication skills
Ability to provide practical legal advice in a fast-paced business environment
Ability to manage multiple matters, competing priorities, and deadlines
Sound judgment and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information
Proficiency with Microsoft applications
Proficiency with legal research platforms such as Lexis or Westlaw
Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements is preferred