Assistant Attorney General IV | Opinions

Texas Attorney General; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Attorney General's Office in Austin, TX seeks an attorney for the Opinion Committee to draft formal legal opinions, research complex issues, and advise state agencies and legislators. The role emphasizes rigorous writing, collaborative review, and adherence to ethics and confidentiality.

Applicants should have a J.D., active Texas bar status, and strong research and communication skills. The position offers opportunities to handle challenging issues under peer review in a dynamic state

Qualifications

• Requires graduation from an accredited law school with a J.D.
• Must be in good standing with the Texas State Bar and eligible to practice law in Texas at start date.
• Ability to perform high-quality legal research and writing.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel up to required extent.

Responsibilities

• Performs complex research in all areas of law; drafts, edits, and reviews complex formal opinions, rulings, memoranda, correspondence, and publications.
• Reviews opinions and provides edits and comments to drafters; participates in opinion discussions with division, agency reviewers, and Executive Management.
• Researches and analyzes legislation and statutes and reports findings and conclusions to Division Chief and Executive Management; serves as a resource to legislators as requested by Division Chief.
• Assists in open government training, including preparing materials for and presenting at agency and outside conferences on the Open Meetings Act, reviewing training materials, and preparing the Open Meetings Act handbook.
• Maintains knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions.
• Attends work regularly in compliance with schedule; ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive information.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Oral communication

Written communication

Time management

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Judgment & decision making

Computer literacy

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Tools

Word processing

Job description

GENERAL DESCRIPTIO

NThe Office of the Attorney General’s Opinion Committee researches and drafts formal legal opinions publicly issued by the Attorney General in discharge of his constitutional and statutory duty to provide legal guidance to the Legislature, state agencies, certain government officials, and other authorized requestors. The Opinion Committee engages in a wide array of challenging and novel legal issues and works closely with the Attorney General and his executive team to ensure that formal legal opinions are of the highest quality and provide all Texans with sound legal advice. Although the Attorney General’s formal legal opinions are non-binding, they are considered persuasive authority in Texas and are routinely relied on by courts, state agencies, and local governments. Attorneys in the Opinion Committee work in a highly collaborative environment in which work product is improved through a peer-review process and evaluated by the entire Committee. This is a unique opportunity for an attorney with strong research and writing skills and is ideally suited for applicants with clerkship experience, experience as a staff attorney in the judicial branch of government, or with appellate or local-government experience

.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 (https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance) 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 FUNCTIO

• NSPerforms complex research in all areas of law; drafts, edits, and reviews complex formal opinions, rulings, memoranda, correspondence, and publication
• s.Reviews opinions and provides edits and comments to drafter; participates in opinion discussions with division, agency reviewers, and Executive Managemen
• t.Researches and analyzes legislation and statutes and reports findings and conclusions to Division Chief and Executive Management; serves as a resource to legislators as requested by Division Chief. Reviews, analyzes, and tracks bills during legislative sessio
• n.Assists in open government training, including preparing materials for and presenting at agency and outside conferences on the Open Meetings Act, reviewing third-party Open Meetings Act training materials, and assisting with preparation of the Open Meetings Act handboo
• k.Performs related work as assigne
• d.Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job function
• s.Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedul
• e.Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected informatio
• n.Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrit

y.
Qualificati

onsMINIMUM QUALIFICATI

• ONSEducation: Graduation from an accredited law school with a J
• .D.Experience: Three years of full-time experience as a licensed attor
• neyLicensed as an attorney by the State of Te
• xasMust be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and eligible to practice law in Texas by start da
• te.Knowledge of federal and state laws affecting state agencies and local governme
• ntsOutstanding legal research and writing ski
• llsSkill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadli
• nesSkill in effective oral and written communication [Writing sample required at time of interview, if select
• ed]Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision mak
• ingSkill in using a computer for word-processing and data entry/retrie
• valAbility to proffer constructive criticism and to accept same and incorporate into written work prod
• uctAbility to identify relevant legal issues and render clear and accurate legal adv
• iceAbility to analyze legislation/statu
• tesAbility to write under pressure and to respond to deadli
• nesAbility to verbally communicate legal argume
• ntsAbility to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environm
• entAbility to arrange for personal transportation for business-related tra
• velAbility to provide excellent customer serv
• iceAbility to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the F
• LSAAbility to lift and relocate 30 l
• bs.Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to

5%
PREFERRED QUALIFICAT

• IONSJudicial clerkship or staff-attorney experience in a federal or state appellate c