Assistant County Attorney - Appellate & Civil Rights Division

Harris County • Houston, TX

4d

About The Position

The Harris County Attorney’s Office is hiring an experienced attorney for its newly created Appellate & Civil Rights Division. The division represents Harris County, its elected officials, and its employees in state and federal appellate litigation. It handles appeals from multiple office divisions, including defensive litigation, employment, affirmative and special litigation, and property tax, as well as complex, high-impact matters involving constitutional law and other areas.

The attorney will manage appellate matters from brief drafting and editing through oral argument before Texas and federal appellate courts. The role also provides trial support to other divisions, including advice on jury-charge issues and attendance at trials as third chair. The attorney may be eligible to participate in the HCAO telework program and may accrue compensatory time for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

HCAO is the chief civil law office for Harris County, located in downtown Houston. It represents Harris County government and affiliated agencies and advises county officials, departments, and employees. The office has more than 300 attorneys and staff and handles a broad range of public-law matters.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
• At least five years of post-J.D. litigation experience, including writing appellate briefs, researching and analyzing complex legal issues, and arguing cases in trial and/or appellate courts.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of federal and state rules of civil procedure and evidence.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to communicate professionally and work collaboratively.
• Ability to coordinate, network, and communicate across office divisions and relevant County agencies.
• Ability to conduct thorough legal and factual analysis and exercise good judgment.
• Ability to organize and prioritize assignments and projects to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work extended hours to accommodate caseload demands.
• Ability to comply with office policies and training requirements.
• Application must include a cover letter, resume, unofficial law school transcript, at least one writing sample, and three professional references.
• Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on the job application; resume-only qualifications and “See Resume” entries will not be accepted.

Responsibilities

• Manage appeals, including drafting and editing briefs on matters from the office’s divisions and on constitutional issues and special projects.
• Present oral arguments in state and federal appellate courts.
• Participate in moot courts to prepare for oral arguments.
• Provide legal advice and guidance to trial teams across the office’s divisions.
• Write and edit complex motions and provide other trial-court support to trial teams.
• Advise on and research complex and constitutional issues affecting Harris County.
• Participate in one-on-one feedback sessions with the Division Director and in division staff meetings.
• Encourage and mentor junior attorneys, paralegals, interns, and law clerks.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Paid leave programs
• Health benefits
• Retirement plans
• Eligibility to accrue compensatory time off for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
• Potential eligibility to participate in the HCAO telework program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree