General Counsel Attorney

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

Serving as city attorney for various cities, attending meetings with city officials and employees to discuss legal issues, drafting contracts, real estate documents, ordinances, resolutions, and other municipal related legislation, drafting and filing briefs with the Texas Attorney General, and reviewing Texas Public Information Act requests and drafting responses. Prosecuting class C misdemeanors and city code violations through municipal court, including defendant briefing and pleas, analyzing cases to determine options, preparing and defending against any motions or requests filed in municipal court, and ultimately presenting those cases to a judge or jury.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the following essential functions – under the assistance and supervision of senior attorneys:

· Attending meetings with city officials and employees to discuss legal issues.

· Drafting contracts, real estate documents, ordinances, resolutions, and other municipal related legislation.

· Attending public meetings of city councils, boards, or commissions, providing legal advice, and making public presentations.

• Conducting research, studying newly-enacted legislation and recently decided case law, and preparing legal letters, memoranda, and draft opinions.

· Traveling to cities for handling municipal court, and meetings and to perform the functions herein.

• Handling municipal court prosecutions to include code enforcement, conducting pre-trial hearings, preparing and defending against motions, and handling jury and bench trials.
• Prepare and defend against motions and requests filed with the court, prepare police officers and other witnesses for testimony, and represent cities and State of Texas in prosecuting cases before a judge or jury.
• Conduct pre-trial hearings in municipal court to educate defendants on options for disposing of their citations, which includes reviewing cases to determine which options may be made available to each defendant and negotiating with defense attorneys regarding pleas and facts of cases.
• Reviewing and timely responding to requests for information made under the Texas Public Information Act, drafting responses to such requests, and drafting and filing briefs with the Texas Attorney General for opinion.
• Train police officers, city employees and other witnesses on effective testimony, presentation and courtroom skills.
• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance to all job assignments, meetings and appearances.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
• Texas driver’s license, valid car insurance, and no arrests in past five years.
• Work history with a district attorney’s office, municipal court, or city attorney’s office preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge of criminal law, administrative law, and Texas Government Code, and a general understanding of local governments and the democratic political process.
• Knowledge of civil and criminal procedures and rules of evidence.
• Ability to communicate and present analysis and information both orally and in writing in a clear and effective manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all level of city employees and other governmental agencies.
• Ability to conduct timely, thorough and accurate legal and factual research relevant to the job assignment.
• Ability to track multiple job assignments by prioritizing, calendaring, and executing the job assignments, and ability to keep supervising attorney up-to-speed on all job assignments.
• Ability to effectively keep track of time spent on each task and job assignment and enter that time accurately and timely for billing purposes.
• Ability to travel using personal vehicle during the week, on weekends, and in the evenings for client meetings, interviewing witnesses, and professional conferences.
• Ability to work with a team, to jump into tasks and provide support, and to delegate and communicate effectively with co-workers on job assignments.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to organize and track case files.
• Ability to exercise good judgement and reasoning skills.
• Professionalism at all times.
• Possess good moral character and honesty.
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office based, and Adobe based applications.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to operate a motor vehicle for extended periods of time, sit for extended periods of time, and operate a computer, keyboard, and mouse for extended periods of time. Visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computer keyboard, basic office equipment, and other essential functions of an attorney. Must be able to load and unload file material and boxes containing documents that weigh up to 50 pounds each.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The office environment is one of teamwork and applicant must be able to effectively work in a team-based environment. Employee has the option of a standing or sitting desk and music is kept at a reasonable level. The work environment is stressful at times and employee regularly attends municipal court and public meetings, which can be emotionally charged and/or hostile.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Doctorate (Required)

License/Certification:

• Texas Bar Card (Required)
• Driver's License (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: In person