Appellate Attorney – State & Postconviction Appeals Expert

TDCAA; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Appellate Division, seeks a full-time appellate attorney. You will handle direct appeals, postconviction matters, and expunction-related work for state and county entities.

The role requires a J.D. from an accredited law school, Texas licensure, and at least one year of practice, plus familiarity with MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, and Westlaw. Office in Dallas County, Texas, with extensive appellate duties.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and Texas bar admission.
• One year of legal experience required.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and Westlaw.

Responsibilities

• Represent the State of Texas in direct appeals from final judgments and other trial-court orders in criminal cases.
• Handle postconviction habeas corpus proceedings and postconviction DNA testing motions.
• Represent the Department of Family and Protective Services in appeals and participate in expunction proceedings.
• Provide general trial support to felony prosecutors and attend hearings and oral arguments.
• Engage in special duties including out-of-state subpoenas, extraditions, and draft/testify on proposed legislation.

Skills

Appellate litigation

Legal research

Court procedures

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Texas license to practice law

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access)

Adobe Acrobat

Westlaw

Job description

The Appellate Division of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office is recruiting for a full-time appellate attorney position.

EMPLOYER AND LOCATION:

The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office serves the 2.6 million residents of Dallas County, the 8th largest county-level jurisdiction in the United States.

The Appellate Division carries out the day-to-day responsibilities of representing the State of Texas, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and the District Attorney’s Office in various appellate and postconviction proceedings arising from Dallas County cases.

POSITION AND SALARY:

Represent the State of Texas in (1) direct appeals from final judgments and other appealable trial-court orders in criminal cases, (2) postconviction habeas-corpus proceedings under Chapter 11 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and (3) postconviction motions for forensic D.N.A. testing under Chapter 64 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Represent the Department of Family and Protective Services in direct appeals from final orders terminating parental rights.

Represent the District Attorney’s Office and other county entities in expunction proceedings under Chapter 55 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Provide both general trial support to felony prosecutors and trial support on specific matters as assigned by the Appellate Division Chief.

Attend all meetings and training.

Perform special duties as assigned, including duties related to out-of-state witness subpoenas, extraditions, abatement hearings, drafting and testifying about proposed legislation, and more.

The duties set out above require the attorney to (1) cultivate and maintain expert-level knowledge of the Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, select provisions of the Family and Government Codes, and the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, (2) accurately identify, thoroughly research, and promptly respond to various issues raised in briefs and applications filed by or on behalf of defendants in both trial and appellate courts, and (3) attend hearings in trial courts and oral argument in appellate courts.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

J.D. from an accredited law school.

License to practice law in Texas.

One year of experience practicing law.

Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Access, etc.), Adobe Acrobat, and Westlaw.

Candidates who do not meet the minimum qualifications for this position are still encouraged to submit an application.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Two years and six months of full-time experience as an appellate attorney or judicial staff attorney.

Board certification in criminal law or criminal appellate law.

Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, Access, etc.) and Adobe Acrobat.

Advanced knowledge of Westlaw and significant skill in legal research resources unrelated to Westlaw.

APPLICATIONS:

Applicants should submit (1) a current resume, including three references and (2) an unedited writing sample that does not exceed 15,000 words. Submit these materials by email to Jessie Allen ( [e-mail] ).