Attorney II - County Attorney

Williamson County•Georgetown: 405 MLK, TX

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting directly to a Lead Attorney or Director, the Attorney II handles adult misdemeanor prosecutions from intake through appeal and represents the State on behalf of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking in protective-order applications. The role screens new cases, makes charging and filing decisions, and represents the State of Texas in court proceedings, plea negotiations, evidence review, trial preparation, and witness interviews. The position includes criminal and protective-order assignments. Criminal work includes case intake and investigation follow-up, charging decisions, court dockets, hearings, plea negotiations, and representing the State in Justice of the Peace Courts. Protective-order work includes reviewing applications, negotiating with opposing counsel or self-represented respondents, and preparing for and conducting contested hearings in County and District Courts. The work is primarily indoors in an air-conditioned environment, with some travel between work sites and weekly travel to Justice of the Peace Court. The regular office schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; work outside those hours may be required. Regular attendance is required, and the employee may be deemed essential personnel during an emergency.

Requirements

Doctor of Jurisprudence from an accredited law school.
One year of criminal law experience, including experience with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Rules of Evidence.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, LexisNexis, and Westlaw.
State Bar of Texas membership/license required.
Valid driver’s license required within 30 days of employment.
Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) certification required within six months of employment.
Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) certification required within six months of employment.
Pass the required post-offer criminal background check and motor vehicle record check.
Regular attendance is required.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience as a criminal attorney, preferably with a Criminal District or County Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor.
Working knowledge of Odyssey and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS).

Responsibilities

Prepare and conduct contested court hearings, including reviewing evidence, interviewing witnesses, preparing and responding to motions, preparing exhibits, and conducting hearings.
Conduct legal research using statutes, codes, analytical books, online case research, and specialized practice guides.
Interview and communicate with victims and witnesses and answer questions about the criminal justice system.
Draft motions, pleadings, orders, plea paperwork, legal memoranda, search warrants, and administrative documents.
Communicate with county personnel, elected officials, judges, defense attorneys, victims and witnesses, law enforcement agencies, and the general public.
Attend required meetings and trainings and perform special duties as assigned.
Handle announcement and plea dockets, discuss cases with defense attorneys and Adult Probation Officers, file court documents, and respond to the Judge’s questions and requests.
Conduct case intake and screening, follow up on investigations, and review police reports and evidence submitted by law enforcement agencies.
Draft investigative requests for additional evidence, make charging decisions, and file charging instruments.
Conduct plea negotiations and correspondence with defense attorneys, including reviewing evidence and criminal histories, making offers, negotiating terms and conditions, and responding to discovery requests.
Conduct open-court hearings on motions to revoke probation, amend bond conditions, and increase bond.
Handle pretrials, announcement dockets, and first-appearance dockets.
Represent the State in Justice of the Peace Courts, including weekly travel to court, processing criminal cases set for pretrial or trial, negotiating with defense attorneys and self-represented defendants, and conducting bench and jury trials.
Represent the County Attorney’s Office on behalf of victims in protective-order applications involving domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking in Williamson County.
Review protective-order applications and represent the State in matters relating to protective orders.
Negotiate on behalf of victim-applicants with opposing counsel and self-represented respondents to resolve cases effectively and timely.
Prepare for and represent the State on behalf of victims in contested protective-order hearings in County and District Courts.