County Attorney Division Director - Civil Enforcement

Travis County•Austin, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The County Attorney Division Director directs the operation of a division within the County or District Attorney's Office. The position manages daily personnel, case-handling, and resource activities; develops and implements division policies and procedures; and plans for future services and development. This is a division-director role in the Senior Management/Middle Management job family, combining administrative and management responsibilities with high-level legal work. The director oversees and participates in case preparation, presentation, and disposition; appellate brief preparation and argument; contract preparation and review; County policy development and review; and community justice initiatives and other projects related to the County's legal representation. The director manages division staff, equipment, facilities, and finances, directs legal staff, and serves as a primary departmental liaison to government and community partners. The position requires a J.D. or LL.B. from an accredited law school and a Texas law license, along with ten years of licensed attorney experience and qualifying supervisory or management experience. Work is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Ned Granger Building in Austin, Texas. Employees may be assigned to business continuity work outside their normal job functions.

Requirements

J.D. or LL.B. from an accredited law school.
Ten years of licensed attorney work experience.
Either three years of mid- to senior-level supervisory management experience, or three years of supervisory or management experience together with five years of experience prosecuting felony offenses.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.
Knowledge of legal practice, government law, and litigation in state and federal courts.
Knowledge of the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act.
Knowledge of management and supervisory principles, practices, and techniques.
Knowledge of jurisprudence, criminal and civil law and procedures, constitutional and statutory law, and applicable federal, state, local, and County laws and regulations.
Knowledge of legal pleading and effective courtroom and oral and written presentation techniques.
Knowledge of court-system policies, practices, procedures, and legal terminology.
Knowledge of accounting, purchasing, and budgetary principles and practices, and investigative techniques.
Knowledge of computer equipment and word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and software packages.
Knowledge of business English, spelling, arithmetic, letter writing, grammar, punctuation, and report preparation.
Ability to supervise staff, allocate resources, evaluate programs, solve problems, and make decisions.
Ability to analyze facts, policies, procedures, and legal precedents, including in complex court cases.
Skill in verbal and written communication, including presentations.
Ability to motivate, train, supervise, and develop attorneys and support staff.
Ability to conduct legal research and analysis manually and electronically; present facts, precedents, and arguments; and apply negotiation skills.
Ability to work independently and efficiently, manage time, handle multiple tasks, organize activities, work under pressure, and exercise tact.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, outside agencies, County employees and officials, and the public.
Physical ability to lift or carry up to 25 pounds occasionally and perform the listed activities needed for essential functions, including standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, and squatting.
Visual acuity, speech, hearing, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment.
Criminal, driving, education, and employment background checks are required.

Responsibilities

Manage and direct the division's professional and support personnel, equipment, facilities, and finances.
Evaluate division personnel and services; allocate resources and plan for future service and budgetary needs.
Direct and advise division legal staff on legal issues and case dispositions.
Perform advanced legal work, conduct investigations, determine appropriate court or non-court action, and perform complex legal research.
Present cases to the Grand Jury and prepare indictments.
Serve as lead counsel in major or particularly difficult trials.
Prepare appellate briefs and argue before appellate courts.
Make punishment recommendations based on contact with victims and office policy.
Take depositions, respond to discovery requests, and oversee preparation and issuance of subpoenas, motions, orders, writs, warrants, contracts, official policies, and other legal documents.
Represent the state at docket calls.
Serve as the department's primary liaison and representative with law enforcement, regulatory and criminal justice agencies, the Texas Legislature, County elected officials, and the community.
Provide legal advice to law enforcement and regulatory agencies and other County elected officials.
Participate in developing and implementing the department's mission, goals, and community justice initiatives.
Conduct training, mentoring, and educational presentations on legal and community justice issues for staff, law enforcement, government employees, and civic organizations.
Formulate and supervise implementation of policies and procedures for daily division operations.
Confer with top management and judges regarding prosecution, client advice, and matters affecting division policies and procedures.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.