Associate Counsel (Attorney IV)

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

The 89th legislature approved a 6% salary increase for licensed attorneys hired into positions with this job classification title. The posted salary range for this position already reflects said increase. Upon hire, the selected finalist will receive a starting salary offer and, as a separate line item, the legislatively approved increase that will become part of their base pay. The sum of both will not exceed the position’s posted salary range. Only new hires are eligible for this increase.

Position Overview: The Associate Counsel works in the Office of General Counsel to provide legal counsel, coordination, and advice to the Deputy Associate Commissioner and staff of the Division of Authorizing. This work covers matters related to the application process, renewal applications, complaints process, amendments, and all other legal matters affecting charter schools and related entities and the students they serve.

The Associate Counsel also monitors and participates in agency matters. This includes assisting the Attorney General in court proceedings related to charter property actions and providing support for charter school investigations and interventions. Additional responsibilities include researching and interpreting the law; developing rules and statutory language; providing legal advice related to monitoring, investigations, school financial audits, academic and financial accountability ratings, and accreditation for charters, and recovery of state property held by closed charters. This position also conducts depositions and hearings under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) throughout the state, if a school district or open-enrollment charter school challenges the findings of an agency report.

This position coordinates with and reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Governmental, Fiscal, and Regulatory Matters and works under limited direction, with extensive latitude for initiative and independent judgment.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume and a tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Essential Functions
Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Legal Support for Authorizing Division and Other Divisions: Provides legal advice and support to the Authorizing Division, the Commissioner, and the State Board of Education regarding charter schools, including rulemaking and presentations at charter school trainings, as needed. Provides legal support to other agency divisions for matters related to districts of innovation.
2. Legal Support for Charter Applications, Amendments, and Renewals: Provides comprehensive legal support to Authorizing staff for charter applications and requests for charter amendments and renewals before their consideration by the State Board of Education and/or the Commissioner.
3. Authorizing-related Litigation: Prepares and presents contested cases under charter school laws and regulations, as well as other applicable laws and regulations, to administrative law judges at the SOAH, schedules hearings, interrogates witnesses, and prepares administrative appeals of decisions and rulings.
4. Charter Contract and Charter-related Grant Legal Review: Reviews and manages contracts under TEC §12.126, contracts for charter under TEC §12.113, 1882 partnership contracts, and eligibility for CSP grant awards under TEC §7.031.
5. Charter Application, Amendment, and Renewal Legal Review: Reviews and approves charter applications under TEC §12.101, charter renewals under TEC §§12.113 and 12.115, charter amendments and shared services agreements under TEC §12.114.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State’s Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military “occupational category” that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Employment at TEA page.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov"; to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.