Description:
Description:Employment Type: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Grade or Range: Competitive; commensurate with experience
Reports to: Supervising attorney, municipal litigation section
Summary:
Olson & Olson LLP provides legal services to municipalities and other governmental entities throughout Texas. The municipal litigation practice group represents cities and other governmental entities, public officials, and governmental employees in a broad range of disputes, including constitutional, tort, employment, civil rights, land use, and regulatory matters, in state and federal courts from case inception through all levels of appeal. The attorney position focuses on all aspects of local government defense, offering significant responsibility, hands-on trial experience, and direct client interaction.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Research and analyze legal issues
- Draft memoranda
- Draft and argue motions, including dispositive motions, in state and federal court
- Conduct discovery, including taking and defending depositions
- Assist in trial preparation and participate in trial
- Participate in mediation
- Negotiate and draft settlement agreements
- Manage assigned cases with appropriate supervision based on experience
- Provide legal counsel to clients as necessary
- Meet with municipal clients, including public officials and employees
- Report to supervising attorneys, partners, and clients regarding case status as necessary
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
- Ability to handle multiple cases and deadlines in an active litigation practice
- Sound judgment in advising governmental clients
- Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with clients, courts, and the general public
- Works well both independently and collaboratively, as needed
Education, Licensure, and Experience:
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas
- Licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- 1-10 years litigation experience, including conducting discovery, and drafting and arguing dispositive motions
Preferred licensure and experience:
- Strong academic credentials, including membership on a law review or other legal journal, and/or participation in moot court, mock trial, trial advocacy or similar program
- Experience with briefing and/or proceedings in state or federal appellate courts
- Licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern, Eastern, Western Districts of Texas, and Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Familiarity with governmental immunity, qualified immunity, local government proceedings, the Texas Tort Claims Act, 42 U.S.C. 1983, ordinance enforcement, land use regulations, and employment law principles
