Description:

Description:
Do you have a passion for public state service and enjoy making a difference? Don't miss out on this opportunity. The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) is hiring! DWC administers and operates the Texas workers' compensation system. DWC regulates the workers' compensation system, settles disputes, provides customer service, promotes workplace safety, and ensures compliance with state laws. DWC is located in the Capitol Complex, in the Barbara Jordan Building at 1601 Congress Avenue in Austin, near the Texas Capitol.

Benefits of working at TDI:

Flexible work schedules.
Work-life-balance.
96 hours of accrued vacation a year.
96 hours of accrued sick leave a year.
20+ holidays every year.
Career advancement opportunities.
Free parking.
401(k) and 457 Programs.
State of Texas retirement plan with a lifetime annuity through the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).
Free comprehensive medical insurance for full-time employees and 50% off premium costs for dependents (state pays other 50%).
Optional benefits like dental, vision, life insurance, and many more.
Qualified employer for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Before you apply:
Learn about our selection process, our military employment preference, licensing, and credential requirements.

Attorney IV (Staff Attorney)
As a Staff Attorney in our Enforcement Division, you will:

perform advanced (senior-level) legal work for the DWC Enforcement section and provide enforcement input on division rules, policy, and other legal issues.
investigate and litigate administrative enforcement actions against insurance carriers, health care providers, or other system participants for violations of the Texas Labor Code, Texas Insurance Code, or Texas Administrative Code.
manage a docket of cases which will require: legal research, writing, planning legal activities, preparing legal documents for and participating in evidentiary hearings at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), which may include prolonged, complex, or unusual legal cases.
interpret laws and regulations, and render legal advice and counsel. May supervise the work of others.
work under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Key Responsibilities:

Represents the TDI/DWC Enforcement section in enforcement actions concerning health care providers, insurance carriers, and other workers' compensation system participants.
Resolves complaints concerning alleged violations of the Texas Insurance Code, Texas Government Code, Texas Labor Code, or the Texas Administrative Code.
Drafts briefs, pleadings, motions, discovery, and other legal documents.
Prepares for and attends depositions and hearings.
Researches and investigates legal issues and provides legal direction, guidance, and training as a senior attorney, including legal/litigation tactics and strategy, input on workers' compensation law and administrative law and procedures, and provides examples of consent orders, pleadings and discovery;
Prepares Commissioner Orders related to contested cases and hearings.
Participates in rule-making proceedings.
Assists the Office of the Attorney General in preparation of administrative appeals in District Court.
Represents the agency at business meetings, hearings, trials, legislative sessions, conferences, and seminars, or on boards, panels, and committees.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
This position requires:

Graduate from an accredited law school with a J.D. or L.L.B degree.
Four years of full-time legal experience as a licensed attorney.
Three years of litigation experience trying cases at SOAH, or in state and/or federal court.
Experience with the application of complex statutory and rule provisions.
Law clerk experience can be counted toward legal experience.
Regular work attendance.

Registration, License or Certification Required:

Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.
Must be a member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

Preferences for this position include:

Recent litigation or litigation support at the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
Recent administrative, regulatory, health and/or insurance law experience with preference given to experience with workers' compensation law.
Demonstrated skill and experience in all levels of discovery, including evidentiary hearings before the bench.
Demonstrated skill and experience in handling multiple cases, tasks, prioritizing and meeting deadlines, and use of online and electronic document retention and creation software such as Sharepoint, Excel, Microsoft Office and case management software.

This position requires demonstrated knowledge of:

State laws, rules, procedures, and regulations relevant to job requirements.
Civil and evidentiary techniques and procedural requirements, including the Texas Rules of Evidence and Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Legal principles and practices, including but not limited to administrative proceedings, laws, regulations, and rules relating to the agency such as the Texas Workers' Compensation Act, the Texas Administrative Procedures Act, and the Public Information Act.
Legal research methods, including the use of Westlaw and other online resources; and
Experience in the preparation of legal documents and effective legal writing principles, including preparation of pleadings, legal documents and briefs utilizing common standards of grammar, punctuation and style.

This position requires demonstrated skill in:

Problem solving, critical thinking, preparation of sound, clear, logical opinions and persuasive presentation of those opinions both verbally and in writing.
Identifying complex problems, evaluating alternatives, and implementing effective solutions.
Using Microsoft Office software applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
Using personal computers sufficient to enter and extract data from related systems and programs, such as Centralized Accounting Payroll and Personnel (CAPPS) and other systems required to perform the job.
Planning, decision making and problem solving.
Organizing and managing multiple competing priorities.
Negotiation techniques.
Legal research, writing, and analysis.
Communicating and working effectively with all levels of employees, government officials, and the public.
Using virtual meeting technology, such as Zoom and Teams, sufficient to be able to share, review and communicate information and documents in virtual meetings and hearings.

This position requires the demonstrated ability to:

Communicate and work effectively with a wide range of people with varied skills, knowledge, and backgrounds.
Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.
Analyze and solve work-related problems and work independently on a variety of administrative work and technical assignments.
Manage workload and priorities to meet necessary deadlines.
Work both independently and as a team player.
Prepare sound, clear, logical opinions and express those opinions logically, clearly, and persuasively, both verbally and in writing.
Use reasoning and logic to identify and solve problems.
Exercise mature judgment in the analysis of legal problems and prepare sound, clear logical opinions and express those opinions logically, clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
Comprehend and apply the Texas Insurance Code, Texas Labor Code, Texas Government Code and Texas Administrative Code to distinct fact patterns.
Apply critical thinking to analyze and solve legal issues and interpret laws and regulations affecting the agency.
Identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
Follow chain of command and directions.
Organize and manage multiple priorities and cases and meet deadlines.
Provide commitment to public service.

Military Employment Preference
Get help translating your military work experience and training courses (http://www.texasskillstowork.com/) into civilian job terms, qualifications/requirements, and skill sets. Redact personal or sensitive information from all attachments.

To receive a military employment preference, you must submit the following documents, as applicable, with your application. See How to Apply – Military Employment Preference. (https://www.tdi.texas.gov/jobs/apply.html#:~:text=For%20military%20preference%20information,%20contact,not%20have%20a%20greater%20qualification.)

See How to Apply – Military Employment Preference. Applicable Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes are included, but not limited to one of the following:
27A, 250X, 4402, 4410, LGL10

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