Mental Health Public Defender–Attorney IV

Education and Experience:
J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND four (4) years licensed attorney work experience.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.
Please attach resume and cover letter to application.

Preferred:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Experience working in a public defender office
• Experience with the intersection of serious mental illness/disabilities and the criminal legal system. 

• Applicable law at the intersection of mental health and disabilities with the criminal legal system
• Jurisprudence, criminal and civil law and procedures, including constitutional and statutory law.  
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines, including those requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.
• Enmeshed penalties and collateral consequences trigged by criminal-legal system contact related to housing access, employment/occupational license access, public benefits access, or healthcare access. 
• Best practices in socially and culturally competent representation of marginalized people. 
• Effective techniques for presentation of cases in court or to effectively present facts and precedents verbally and in writing
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages. 
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation. 

• Effective communication with individuals across a continuum of communication styles, abilities, backgrounds, presentations and circumstances
• Appraisal and analysis of facts, law, policy, and procedures 
• Problem-solving and decision-making. 
• Verbal and written communication, including presentations, negotiations, court, meetings.
• Synthesizing complex information, effectively communicating complex information, choices and decisions to others
• Advocacy through collaboration, negotiation and litigation 

• Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically. 
• Present facts, precedents and arguments verbally and in writing and apply negotiation skills. 
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. 
• Work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. 
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities. 
• Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations. 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Work Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Monday through Friday
 
Department: Mental Health Public Defender
 
Location: 1010 Lavaca Street, 4th Floor

Criminal Background Check Required. 


Apply Here:  
attorney iv- mental health public defender | Apply tab | Career Pages (governmentjobs.com)