General Counsel

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Performs advanced (senior-level) legal work as the Texas Civil Commitment Office (TCCO) General Counsel providing in-house legal and administrative service to TCCO based on the current needs of the agency. Represents the agency and performs complex legal work regarding Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 420A of the Texas Government Code and other applicable laws. Work involves providing legal advice to the agency board members and agency staff on matters involving civil commitment laws, open government, contracting, employment and legislative changes. Coordinates legal activities, prepares legal documents, provides legal opinions and advice, interprets laws and regulations and renders general legal advice and counsel. Prepares and disseminates information related to the agency and sex offender civil commitment. Responsible for responding to complex inquiries and requests for information from external stakeholders, media, and legislators. Responsible for coordinating and communicating with multiple local, state, and federal agencies regarding legal matters. Acts as the agency’s liaison with the Special Prosecution Unit and the Independent Office of Inmate Counsel regarding civil commitment processes and cases. Serves as the agency's ethics advisor and Public Information Officer. Plans, assigns, and/or supervises the work of others. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Requires on-call availability 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited law school with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
Experience practicing government or administrative law.
Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
Must possess a license to practice law in the state of Texas.
Valid Texas Driver's License.
Knowledge of the legal principles, practices and laws, regulations, and rules related to the agency.
Knowledge of Texas civil and criminal law and procedures.
Knowledge of the Administrative Procedures Act, Open Meetings Act, and Public Information Act.
Knowledge of laws relating to the civil commitment of sexually violent predators.
Skill in planning, organizing, and managing legal services.
Skill in identifying problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Skill in providing training and presentations to others.
Skill in conducting legal analysis.
Skill in interpreting and applying statutes and regulations.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
Skill in prioritizing workloads to handle multiple projects and meet tight deadlines with rapidly changing priorities.
Skill in communicating orally and in writing.
Skill in planning and assigning the work of self and others.
Skill in legal writing.
Ability to work independently and maintain organizational systems.
Ability to plan and organize work.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to plan, assign, or supervise the work of others.
Ability to direct and organize the effective and efficient provision of legal services.

Nice To Haves

Public information act request experience preferred
State experience preferred

Responsibilities

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
Organizes and coordinates legal activities for the Texas Civil Commitment Office.
Provides legal counsel and advice to the TCCO Executive Director and the agency’s governing board on matters affecting the agency to include the identification and management of risk, strategic planning and policy decision-making.
Manages litigation including interacting with the Office of Attorney General in monitoring cases and recommending strategies for litigation cases and all legal issues and functions.
Coordinates and advises on the preparation of legal opinions, briefs, contracts, proposals and reports.
Attends court proceedings as the agency's representative.
Maintains a thorough knowledge of agency policies, procedures and programming. Maintains a thorough knowledge of rules, regulations, and statutes impacting agency operations, including but not limited to, Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 420A of the Texas Government Code, and Chapters 42 and 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Provides legal advice and legal opinions on policy decision-making and identifies appropriate legal solutions.
Drafts and reviews legal documents, administrative rules, and bills for legislative consideration. Reviews all filed legislation for potential impact to the agency. Prepares bill summaries for relevant bills, tracks bills through the legislative process.
Coordinates and communicates with multiple agencies and individuals including, but not limited to, TCCO Board members, TCCO Staff, Special Prosecution Unit, Office of the Attorney General, Independent Office of Inmate Counsel, District Attorneys, District Courts, Defense Attorneys, Texas Department of Criminal Justice staff, Health and Human Services Commission staff and law enforcement agencies.
Responds to subpoenas requiring the appearance of witnesses, records, or documents for hearing, criminal cases and civil litigation. Prepares employees for testimony. Coordinates with the Office of the Attorney General regarding motions to quash.
Tracks the status of each SVP Client's appeals, monitors and reviews appellate decisions regarding SVP appeals. Researches, monitors and reviews court decisions regarding civil commitment nationwide.
Ensures compliance with biennial review deadlines and files biennial reviews with the court of commitment.
Plans, develops, interprets and evaluates agency policies, procedures, rules and statutory mandates. Assists in the implementation of agency policies and procedure. Participates in the agency’s strategic planning process. Provides legal consultation and expertise to the Executive Director and governing board to identify and manage strategic risks. Consults with agency management to develop appropriate solutions to the legal needs of agency operations. Serves on various agency committees and task forces; testifies at hearings and legislative meetings.
Serves as the agency's legal counsel for contracting. Maintains knowledge of state contracting and procurement processes and regulations. Approves draft solicitations for procurement. Drafts agency contracts and maintains a thorough knowledge of all agency contracts. Provides legal advice regarding contract issues and identifies appropriate legal solutions.
Prepares, reviews, edits, and approves agency reports and studies. Drafts and reviews legal documents, administrative rules, and bills for legislative consideration. Reviews laws, rules, and regulations affecting agency operations and administration. Conducts interviews and testifies at hearings. Prepare cases for trial. Confers with legislators, legislative staff, other state agencies and federal entities and responds to inquiries in accordance with direction from executive leadership.
Acts as agency Public Information Officer, responsible for the coordination and response to all Public Information Act requests and release of agency information. Prepares information in response to Public Information Act requests and submits requests for an opinion to the Office of the Attorney General as appropriate. Tracks all incoming Public Information Act requests. May act as agency spokesperson or representative in interviews with members of the media.
Develops agenda items and publishes agendas of meetings in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Advises the TCCO Board and Executive Director concerning the Open Meetings Act and ensures compliance with the Open Meetings Act.
Manages the rulemaking process including the development of new rules and review of existing rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act. Ensures compliance with the Administrative Procedures Act.
Hires, manages, and develops staff, and recommends appropriate personnel actions. Provides direct reports with work assignments, clear direction and information on responsibilities and work performance expectations, and carries out other expected human resources and supervisory activities relating to direct reports.