Job Description

Posting number: 27-10982

Department: Civil Courts

Job classification: BRIEFING ATTORNEY III

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Attorney

Summary

Briefing attorney will be assigned to a court and will be responsible for assisting the judge(s) with a wide latitude of civil, family, and juvenile law matters.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the third in a series of three briefing attorney job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the most complex and that may result in the most severe consequences without supervision, but with consultation with judge as to final action. This classification also recommends outcome determinative decisions in cases that are the most complex and may result in the most severe consequences.

Examples of duties

• Assists the judge with management of the court's docket.
• Provides legal opinions and counsel to the judge regarding issues under consideration.
• Assists the judge during courtroom proceedings in connection with complex legal questions.
• Performs legal research. Searches resources including state and federal caselaw, statutes, and rules, administrative rules and procedures, and studies legal documents and records to obtain information applicable to case or issue under consideration.
• Drafts briefs, memoranda, orders, jury charges and other legal documents, as well as correspondence and reports.
• Reviews and prepares summaries and opinions of pending legislation.
• Assists the judge in writing rules and procedures and in providing legal research in conjunction with the judge's administrative responsibilities.
• Assists the judge with preparation of text and materials for seminar presentations including, but not limited to CLE seminars. May also prepare text and materials and present at CLE and other legal gatherings.
• Communicates with counsel regarding case management and procedural requirements.
• May plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.
• Works cooperatively with court personnel.
• Interacts with and responds to inquiries from litigants, public officials, the media and the general public.
• May attend meetings and seminars as the judge's representative.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Briefing Attorney I - $105,000.00 Annually

(JD/LLB from an accredited law school AND up to three (3) years of licensed attorney work experience)

Briefing Attorney II - $113,000.00 Annually

(JB/LLB from an accredited law school AND between four (4) to nine (9) years of licensed attorney work experience.)

Briefing Attorney III - $125,677.53 Annually

(JB/LLB from an accredited law school AND ten (10) years or more of licensed attorney work experience.)

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Knowledge of:

• Jurisprudence, criminal, civil, family, and juvenile law and procedures, including constitutional and statutory law, administrative regulations and procedures.
• Federal, State, Local and County laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Effective techniques for presentation facts and precedents orally and in writing in law related matters to the judge.
• Alternative dispute resolution and the mediation process.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Computer equipment and common application software.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation.
• Federal, state and local laws regarding the confidential handling of certain information.

Skill in:

• Problem solving and decision making.
• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents
• Multitasking and working undertime-pressure.

Ability to:

• Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically.
• Work under limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
• Present facts and precedents orally and in writing and apply negotiation skills.
• Operate a variety of office equipment and a computer, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and inwriting.
• Work independently and efficiently.
• 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 departmental clientele, outside agencies, other county staff and officials, other attorneys and the general public.

Supplemental information

Physical requirements include lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, squatting, pushing, pulling, kneeling, reaching, balancing, repetitive motion and judge/attorney/staff/general public contact 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 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: Travis County Civil and Family Courts, 1700 Guadalupe St., Downtown Austin

Department: Civil Courts

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Jacob.Stokes@traviscountytx.gov

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.