Description:
The Environmental Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General is looking to add new environmental enforcement attorneys to its team. The Environmental Protection Division prosecutes environmental and natural resource violations; defends cases involving the state's natural resources; and defends public utility and environmental orders issued by Texas administrative agencies. Attorneys in the Environmental Protection Division practice in state and federal courts throughout Texas, and the division prides itself on the quality of the legal services it provides on behalf of the State of Texas.The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State's law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits (https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance) along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) experience the challenge and honor of public service while enjoying a healthy work-life balance; hands-on legal experience; and engaging camaraderie in Austin, the scenic and lively capital of Texas.
Essential Position Functions
- Provides legal advice, counsel, and assistance.
- Represents the State's interest in civil and criminal matters.
- Prepares legal documents, including but not limited to briefs, pleadings, and memoranda.
- Performs legal research and investigations, and reports findings and conclusions.
- Participates in administrative and evidentiary hearings and in the discovery process.
- Represents the Office of the Attorney General before state or federal district and appellate courts.
- Analyzes factual and legal issues and develops evidence through witness interviews, depositions, and other discovery.
- Prepares cases for trials.
- Performs related work as assigned
- Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions
- Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
- Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information
- Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
Assistant Attorney General (AAG) I:
- Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
- Licensed as an attorney by the State Bar of Texas
- Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
- Knowledge of legal principles, practices, and proceedings; and of state and federal laws, regulations, and rules.
- Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in conducting investigations; in mediation and negotiations; in using reasoning and logic; in identifying and solving complex problems; in using judgment to identify courses of action; and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
- Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
- Skill in effective oral and written communication
- Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
- Ability to prepare legal documents, to conduct research, to interpret and apply laws, to summarize findings, to prepare cases for trial, to conduct hearings, and to communicate effectively.
- Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
- Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
- Ability to provide excellent customer service
- Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG work space within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave)
- Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel
- Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
- Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
- Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 20%
Assistant Attorney General II; All the above qualifications for an AAG I, Plus:
- Experience: One year of full-time experience working as a licensed attorney.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience: Two years of full-time experience working as a licensed attorney.
- Experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: Civil Litigation or Environmental Law
