Messer Fort | Municipal Prosecutor & City Attorney
About The Position
In Abilene, you are not one of forty attorneys assigned to a city. You are the attorney the city calls. Messer Fort's West Texas office handles the full legal life of its client cities, and this position covers both halves of it: prosecuting in municipal court and handling the transactional work that keeps a city running. This position is based in Abilene. The firm wants someone with ties to the Big Country or a real interest in building a career in West Texas. Strong candidates approaching the two-year mark with prosecution experience and regional ties are encouraged to apply. Texas licensure and Texas land use experience are required.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and Texas law license in good standing.
- Two or more years of legal experience including municipal prosecution or comparable criminal prosecution experience.
- Courtroom experience handling dockets, plea negotiations, and bench or jury trials.
- Willingness to be based in Abilene, with local ties or a well founded relocation plan.
- Texas licensure and Texas land use experience are required.
Nice To Haves
- Municipal prosecution experience specifically, with familiarity with Chapter 45 procedure and municipal court practice.
- Some city attorney office experience or exposure to municipal work alongside prosecution.
- Experience with code enforcement cases and working with city departments as witnesses.
- Ties to Abilene, the Big Country, or West Texas generally.
- Interest in growing into broader city attorney work over time.
Responsibilities
- Municipal prosecution: prosecuting Class C misdemeanors and city ordinance violations in municipal court under Chapter 45 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, including traffic offenses, code enforcement cases, animal control matters, and related dockets.
- Court operations: managing prosecution dockets, working with municipal judges, court clerks, and police officers, handling trials before judges and juries, and advising on court procedure.
- City attorney work: drafting ordinances, resolutions, and contracts, reviewing agenda items, and providing day to day advice to city councils and staff.
- Open government: advising on the Texas Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, including handling public information requests and attorney general rulings.
- Meetings: attending city council and board meetings for client cities in the region, with some regional travel.
Benefits
- Compensation is dependent on qualifications and experience and is supported by a robust benefits package.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
