Description:

The Employment Attorney is responsible for providing legal counsel and support on employment law matters. The incumbent will provide employment law and immigration counsel to Organizational Excellence staff and TRS management, provide related training to all levels of staff, assist with defending the agency against employment claims, perform legal research, provide general legal counsel and representation to executive management, and provide administrative law support as needed. The Employment Attorney also provides employment law and immigration support to TRS' UK subsidiary, the Teacher Retirement Investment Company of Texas (TRICOT). This position will proactively work with the Legal & Compliance team, Organizational Excellence, Executive staff, agency staff, and TRICOT personnel.

What you will do:

Employment Law
Supports Organizational Excellence and TRS managers by providing legal counsel and strategic guidance related to leave and accommodation requests, employee complaints and disputes, performance management, corrective actions, grievances, terminations, and other employment actions.
Prepares documents and legal briefs, including corrective actions, termination letters, EEOC responses, Texas Workforce Commission responses, Workers' Compensation responses, and other employment/labor related documents.
Assists with investigating employment-related concerns and supports the resolution of related matters.
Researches and advises on federal and state employment laws and agency policies, rules and regulations.
Assists with reviewing and updating employee-related policies and procedures.
Monitors and analyzes employment law and regulations and advises Organizational Excellence and TRS managers on the degree of risk associated with employment-related claims before administrative agencies, such as Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the US Department of Labor (DOL), or other employment/labor-related hearings.
Assists with defending the agency in employment law related administrative actions.
Works with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in defending TRS in employment law cases filed in federal or state courts.
Evaluates and provides tactical and strategic advice to manage attorney demand letters, complaints, and other employment claims.
Delivers employee training on employment law and compliance related topics, policies, or procedures, as needed.
Creates and maintains updates to job aids, quizzes, and other documents that facilitate and reinforce employment law topics.

International Employment and Immigration Law Support

Supports TRICOT through assisting with secondment letters, TRICOT direct employment agreements and related documents.
Assist with immigration matters including visa applications for secondees and direct employees and maintaining immigration sponsorship licenses.
Assists with drafting, reviewing, and updating employment-related policies and procedures.
Monitors and analyzes international employment law and regulations (focus on UK), and advises the TRS TRICOT Liaison, TRS Executives, and TRICOT manager(s) on degree of risk associated with employment-related claims and legislative changes.
Supports TRICOT directors and managers and the TRS TRICOT Liaison by providing legal counsel and strategic guidance related to leave and accommodation requests, employee complaints and disputes, performance management, corrective actions, grievances, terminations, and other employment actions.
Assists with and coordinates investigations of employment-related concerns and supports the resolution of related matters.
Assists with and coordinates defending TRICOT in employment law related administrative actions and litigation.

General Research and Support

Reviews proposed state or federal legislation and regulations, and drafts research memoranda for review and approval by agency management.
Provides advice and assistance regarding all applicable existing or proposed federal, state, and agency laws, rules, and policies.
Conducts legal research and analysis with respect to assigned or referred matters, including work with other Legal & Compliance teams.
Assists with preparing audit inquiry responses on behalf of the agency, as assigned.
Coordinates and reviews the related work of legal assistants, specialists, and support staff with regard to specific areas of responsibility.
Participates in special projects, as assigned.

Performs related work as assigned.

What you will bring:
Required Education:
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.

Required Experience:
Five (5) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in employment law or related experience.

Required Registration, Certification, or Licensure
Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas, or must obtain a license to practice law in the State of Texas within six (6) months of hire date; or hold a valid, active law license issued by another state and be eligible for Texas licensure under Board of Law Examiners Rule XIII: Attorneys from Other Jurisdictions (candidate must obtain Texas license within six (6) months of hire date).

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with employment-law related litigation in state and federal courts, including taking depositions, motion practice, and trial.
Experience with business immigration and visa-related legal advice.
Experience working at a large law firm or in-house in an employment-law, litigation, or international support role.
Experience effectively and succinctly communicating with a high-level audience, such as a governing board or executive management.
Knowledge of the Texas legislative process, open government laws, statutory interpretation and code construction, and public entity authority issues.
Experience supporting employment law and immigration matters for UK offices

Knowledge of:

Legal issues and concepts in the area of law relevant to employment.
Federal, state, local employment laws and regulations, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, USERRA, and related statutes.
Legal research methods, statutory interpretation, and legal writing principles.
Risk management, ethics, and compliance principles related to employment matters.
Legal document drafting, contract review, and negotiation techniques.

Skills in:

Performing legal research and analysis of relevant information and in rendering advice based on sound legal judgment.
Effective written and verbal communications in developing and advocating legal positions, giving advice, and preparing and presenting complex legal documents or reports.
Analyzing problems and devising effective solutions.
Negotiating, mediating, and resolving conflicts.
Using a computer in a Windows environment with Microsoft Office word processing, spreadsheet, and other business software, including using software for electronic research and producing briefs, correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Task management and organization, including prioritizing work assignments to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced and changing environment, meeting deadlines, and completing detailed work with a high degree of accuracy.
Handling litigation and/or administrative hearings, motion practice, conducting discovery and e-discovery, and drafting pleadings, briefs, motions, and affidavits.

Ability to:

Manage incident investigation teams composed of various stakeholders.
Manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
Work extended and/or irregular hours and travel as needed due to internal and external obligations.
Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, TRS staff, and external contacts.
Work effectively in a professional team environment.