Legal Employment Attorney III

Overview

This position performs highly complex, senior-level legal work. Responsibilities include overseeing and planning legal activities, preparing legal documents, participating in hearings, interpreting laws and regulations, and providing legal advice and counsel. The role works under limited supervision with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment, and may supervise the work of others.

Responsibilities

• Plan and organize legal activities to manage legal workload, meet deadlines, and support successful agency outcomes.
• Coordinate preparation of legal documents, including legal opinions, briefs, contracts, proposals, notices, memoranda, and reports.
• Conduct legal research on statutes, regulations, case law, and judicial opinions; draft formal and informal memos for agency programs and executive management.
• Coordinate and respond to open records requests.
• Monitor changes in state and federal court cases and rules.
• Participate in administrative, regulatory, evidentiary, and enforcement hearings:
  • Represent the agency in court and administrative hearings (including before the Texas Workforce Commission, as appropriate)
  • Prepare cases for trial, schedule hearings, interrogate witnesses, and prepare pleadings
  • Coordinate specialized legal efforts with appropriate experts
  • Handle formal and informal administrative appeals
  • May draft fair hearing orders for adoption assistance and permanency care assistance denials
  • May draft legal sufficiency reviews for investigation findings that are appealed
• Advise staff and the public on legal matters and interpretation/application of agency regulations and state and federal laws.
• Advise outside parties, including county and district attorneys, on legal matters.
• Provide legal training to agency staff and the legal community.
• Provide information and testimony to agency leadership, legislative committees, state and federal agencies, and other groups, as requested.
• Provide legal assistance on adverse actions.
• Enforce agency regulatory provisions and prosecute violations for agency programs.
• Review drafts of laws, rules, and regulations affecting agency operations, including drafting and reviewing Memoranda of Understanding, policies and procedures, rules, and notices as needed.
• Support compliance by monitoring changes in state and federal agency rules and providing general support to agency programs.
• Schedule hearings, interrogate witnesses, and prepare decisions on administrative appeals.
• Prepare and represent the agency in court matters:
  • Prepare required case documents, including briefs and other court documents
  • Monitor progress of agency cases within assigned responsibility and take steps for timely resolution
  • Prepare and review exhibits and discovery, summarizing materials
• Assist in formulating policies and procedures by consulting with management on legal ramifications of changes in overall practices and procedures.
• Assist with subpoenas requiring witnesses, records, and documents for hearings and civil litigation.
• May draft memoranda for publication in the Texas Register and support the rule adoption process through the Texas Administrative Code.
• May research, draft, or assist with bills and amendments for legislative consideration, including analyzing impacts, gaps in policy or law, and required agency actions.
• May testify and serve as a resource witness during legislative hearings when needed.
• May serve as a liaison with complainants or their authorized representatives in administrative hearings.
• May supervise work of others.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be licensed as an attorney by the State of Texas.
• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
• Two years’ experience in the practice of law.
• Experience in Legal Work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience related to employment law.
• Experience related to open records and litigation.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary Range: $6,377.50 - $10,785.83 (monthly)
• Salary Group: TEXAS-B-26

Benefits for full-time employees include:

• 100% paid health insurance for the employee and 50% paid for eligible family members
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance at rates lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts (including gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment)
• Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Location, Work Schedule, and Other Details

• Location: Austin, 4900 N Lamar Blvd
• Shift: Day
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Full Time/Part Time: Full time
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Telework: Eligible for Telework
• Travel: Up to 5%

Additional Information

• This position is eligible for Internal and External applicants.
• Posting Number: 22285
• Closing Date: 04/12/2027
• Occupational Category: Legal
• MOS Codes: 4402, 4405, 4406, 4407, 4408, 4409, 4410, 4411, 4417, 250X, 27A, 51JX, 92J0, LGL10, LGL11

Screening and Compliance Requirements

• Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and, if applicable, a driver’s record check.
• Selected applicants must comply with State of Texas requirements related to critical infrastructure security training and adherence to agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.
• Staff must be familiar with WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 accessibility standards for Electronic Information Resources (EIR).
• E-Verify is used. Applicants must bring I-9 documentation on the first day of work and provide documentation to show identity and authorization to work in the US.
• Reasonable accommodations are provided during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability in accordance with the ADA.