Job Description

****PLEASE NOTE THIS APPLICATION IS EXPRESSING INTEREST IN THIS ROLE AND NOT A FORMAL APPLICATION*****

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, an agency of the State of Texas, works to protect Texas consumers and the legitimate business community by investigating fraud and deceptive advertising, filing civil lawsuits to enforce state and federal consumer protection laws, and educating Texans on how to spot and avoid possible scams. The Division has regional offices in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio. We provide a highly collaborative work environment where lawyers help one another while managing their own dockets as first and second chair from the initial stages of a case through resolution.

The Consumer Protection Division seeks a licensed attorney for a highly competitive position on its Special Enforcement Team and will be based in Austin. Work involves planning and coordinating investigations into high-profile matters, including issuing Civil Investigative Demands, taking pre-suit depositions of well-represented opponents, and navigating privilege and other defenses asserted as part of these investigations. The ideal candidate will also have knowledge of the First Amendment, HIPAA and other privacy-related laws, and preemption. This candidate will also be comfortable driving fast-paced investigations with news-worthy implications.

The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits ( along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) experience the challenge and honor of public service while enjoying a healthy work-life balance; hands-on legal experience; and engaging camaraderie in Austin, the scenic and lively capital of Texas

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS

• Provides legal advice, counsel and assistance to clients and management on factual and legal issues
• Participates in administrative and evidentiary hearings and in the discovery process
• Performs legal research and investigations; reports findings and conclusions
• Performs all phases of civil litigation of consumer protection cases including the drafting of legal documents including but not limited to petitions, motions, pleadings, orders, briefs, discovery, and memoranda; prepares cases for trial
• Represents the Office of the Attorney General in civil matters before state or federal district and appellate courts
• Prepares legal documents, including but not limited to briefs, pleadings, and memoranda; prepares cases for trial
• Analyzes complex factual and legal issues and develops evidence through witness interviews, depositions, and other discovery for filing of consumer protection cases
• Advises management on factual and legal issues
• Assists in drafting bills and amendments for legislative consideration
• Provides technical guidance to less tenured staff and may help train others
• Maintains knowledge of legal principles and practices relevant to Consumer Protection
• Testifies at hearings, trials, and legislative meetings
• Maintains a high volume of litigation cases and investigations
• Performs related work as assigned
• Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions
• Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
• Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) I:

• Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.)
• Licensed as an attorney by the State Bar of Texas
• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and eligible to practice law in Texas by start date.
• Knowledge of law and legal principles, practices, and proceedings; and of state and federal laws, regulations, and rules
• Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
• Skill in effective oral and written communication
• Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
• Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in conducting investigations; in mediation and negotiations; in using reasoning and logic; in identifying and solving complex problems; in prioritizing workloads; in using judgment to identify courses of action; and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Skill in using a computer for word-processing and data entry/retrieval
• Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel
• Ability to work under pressure and respond to deadlines
• Ability to supervise the work of others.
• Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
• Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
• Ability to provide excellent customer service
• Ability to prepare legal documents, to conduct research, to interpret and apply laws, to summarize findings, to prepare cases and present at trial, to conduct hearings and to communicate effectively
• Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG work space within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave)
• Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
• Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
• Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 5%

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) II - All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General I, PLUS:

• Experience: One year of full-time experience as a licensed attorney working in the following (or closely related) fields: Texas Business Organizations Code, Texas Trust Code, charitable trusts; consumer protection; commercial litigation

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) III - All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General II, PLUS:

• Experience: One additional year of full-time experience as a licensed attorney working in the following (or closely related) fields: Texas Business Organizations Code, Texas Trust Code, charitable trusts; consumer protection; commercial litigation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: focus on consumer protection and/or commercial litigation subjects.
• Experience: using electronic document review platforms including Relativity and programs such as Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and Word
• Experience: trial experience in litigation involving the Texas Business Organizations Code, Texas Trust Code, charitable trusts; consumer protection; commercial litigation
• Knowledge: of law and legal principles and practices relevant to the Texas Business Organizations Code, Texas Trust Code, Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and relevant consumer protection statutes, including state and federal privacy laws
• Knowledge: of Probate laws
• Skills: legal research, writing, and analysis; experience with document review platforms
• Abilities: to work collaboratively and to work within a larger organization

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