Attorney VI

Job Summary

The Alternate Defender Office will provide quality legal defense to persons magistrated in Travis County under Article 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Once fully staffed, the office will represent approximately 14,000 clients each year in these limited-scope proceedings. This is an opportunity to help create a holistic, client-centered public defender office from the ground up.

The Attorney VI will represent clients at magistration proceedings and supervise attorneys and core staff providing that representation. This is sixth in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorney job family. The Attorney VI will be a full-time employee of Travis County. Outside legal work is prohibited.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Helps ensure that the office provides high-quality criminal defense representation that complies with state and federal constitutions, state statutes, ethical rules, and state and national standards.
• Provides client-centered representation in proceedings held under Article 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Supervises attorneys and core staff in the representation of clients in proceedings held under Article 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to achieve client-centered goals.
• Communicates professionally with clients, conducts legal research, and advocates on behalf of clients in court.
• Interacts professionally with judges, prosecutors, and court personnel.
• Prepares clients and their cases for magistration.
• Wisely uses County services, equipment, facilities, and finances in advocating for clients.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:
J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND eight (8) years licensed attorney work experience.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

PREFERRED: 

• Three (3) years of supervisory, management, or leadership experience.
• Application with a cover letter detailing interest in the position, including why applicant wants to work for Travis County.
• Hearing and trial experience consistent with years of practice.
• Mission-aligned experience (work or lived) advocating on behalf of indigent clients.
• Effective management skills and rapport-building techniques.
• Performs well in a high-volume, high-conflict area of litigation.
• Effective litigation techniques for presentation of cases in court and the ability to present facts and arguments verbally and in writing.
• Policies, practices, procedures, and legal terminology related to criminal law.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and practices related to criminal defense
• Philosophy and practices of client-centered and holistic defense practices.
• Principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research.
• Applicable federal, state, local, and county laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Methods, practices, and applications of criminal defense and effective litigation techniques.
• Criminal law, criminal procedure, and the rules of evidence.
• Investigative techniques.
• Policies, practices, and legal terminology related to the court system.
• National standards, including the ABA Defense Function Standards and ABA Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System.
• Computer equipment, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and case management software.

Skill in:

• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents in area of specialty.
• Verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• 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.
• Manage time well and perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities.
• Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients, clients’ family and friends, and other departments.

Work Environment & Other Information

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.

Work Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (Telework eligible)
Department: Community Legal Services / Office of Parental Representation
Location: 1700 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas 78701

Criminal Background Check, Education and Employment Verification Required

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.