Assistant County Attorney - Appellate & Civil Rights Division

Harris County; Houston (TX); Sur place; USD 120 000 - 160 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Telework program

Compensatory time

Résumé du poste

The Harris County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) seeks an experienced attorney to join the Appellate & Civil Rights Division. The attorney will handle appeals, draft and edit briefs, argue in state and federal appellate courts, and provide trial support across divisions including jury charge issues. Located in Houston, this full‑time role offers compensatory time for overtime and potential telework; requires a JD, Texas Bar, and at least five years of post‑JD litigation experience.

Qualifications

• JD from ABA-accredited law school
• Active member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas
• Minimum of five years post‑JD experience in litigation, including appellate briefs, research, and argumentation in trial and/or appellate courts

Responsabilités

• Manage all aspects of appeals, including drafting/editing briefs on a range of legal issues
• Present oral arguments in state and federal appellate courts
• Provide trial team support, including advising on jury charge issues
• Conduct legal research on complex and constitutional issues affecting Harris County
• Mentor junior attorneys, paralegals, interns, and law clerks

Connaissances

Appellate litigation

Legal writing

Oral advocacy

Legal research

Civil procedure

Trial support

Jury charges

Formation

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Active Texas Bar admission

Description du poste

General Summary

The Harris County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) is hiring an attorney to join our newly created Appellate & Civil Rights Division that represents the nation’s third largest county, its elected officials, and 19,000 employees in state and federal appellate litigation. The Division seeks an experienced and motivated attorney with stellar writing and advocacy skills. The Appellant & Civil Rights Division handles appeals from various divisions within HCAO, including defensive litigation, employment, affirmative and special litigation and property tax, in addition to complex, high impact matters in a variety of areas, including constitutional law. The attorney will work on appellate matters from drafting and editing the brief through oral argument before Texas and federal appellate courts. The attorney will also provide trial support to various divisions in the office, including advising on jury charge issues and attending trial as third chair. In addition to the ability to earn compensatory time for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek, the selected candidate may be eligible to participate in the HCAO telework program.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of appeals, such as drafting and editing briefs involving a wide variety of legal issues from the office’s divisions, including defensive litigation, employment, affirmative and special litigation, and property tax, in addition to constitutional issues and other special projects
• Present oral arguments in the state and federal appellate courts
• Participate in moot courts in preparation for oral arguments
• Provide legal advice and guidance to trial teams across the office’s various divisions
• Assist with trial court level duties, such as writing and editing complex motions and providing support to trial teams
• Advise and conduct research on complex and constitutional issues affecting Harris County
• Participate in one-on-one sessions with the Division Director to give and receive feedback
• Participate in Division staff meetings
• Encourage and mentor junior attorneys, paralegals, interns, and law clerks
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Other Duties

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail].

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Education and Experience Requirements

• A Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association accredited college of law.
• Must be an active member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas.
• A minimum of five (5) years of post-J.D. experience in litigation, including writing appellate briefs, researching and analyzing complex legal issues, and arguing cases in trial and/or appellate courts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of federal and state rules of civil procedure and evidence
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to communicate professionally and work in a collaborative group
• Excellent ability to coordinate, network and communicate across the office’s divisions and relevant County agencies
• Ability to perform thorough legal and factual analysis and exercise good judgment
• Ability to organize and prioritize assignments and projects to meet deadlines
• Ability to work extended hours to accommodate case load demands
• Ability to comply with office policies and training requirements

About the Harris County Attorney’s Office (HCAO)

Located in downtown Houston, HCAO serves as the chief civil law office for Harris County, Texas’s largest county. The office represents Harris County government, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Harris County Toll Road Authority, and multiple emergency network agencies in civil legal matters. The office also provides legal advice and counsel to County elected officials, appointed officials, departments, and employees. With more than 300 attorneys and staff, the office handles a broad range of public law, including general counsel services, defensive litigation, affirmative and special litigation, employment, environmental enforcement, real estate, property tax, compliance and revenue, child protective services, disability and elder law, hospital district representation, communications and outreach, and the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library. The County Attorney’s Office plays a vital role in protecting the legal interests of Harris County, advising public officials, supporting effective county operations, and serving the residents of Harris County through high-quality, ethical, and professional legal work.

About County Attorney Abbie Kamin

Harris County Commissioners Court appointed Abbie Kamin to serve as County Attorney. She took office on June 15, 2026. Kamin is a native Houstonian, attorney, and public servant who has represented District C on Houston City Council since 2020. Prior to her service on City Council, she practiced law with a focus on general civil litigation and civil rights litigation, including work involving voting rights and Title IX matters. She also served as Associate Regional Director for the Anti‑Defamation League’s Southwest Region and previously worked in Texas Legislature. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from American University Washington College of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from Tulane University. County Attorney Kamin leads the office with a focus on effective legal representation, sound public administration, professionalism, and service to Harris County residents.

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work

• This is a full‑time position.
• Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with occasional weekends and holidays as necessary.
• Hours may vary based on the business needs of the HCAO.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• This job typically operates in a professional office environment.
• The individual in this role uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, scanners/copiers, and phones.
• This is largely a sedentary role that requires standing or sitting for prolonged periods, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, repetitive motions requiring dexterity such as keyboarding, communicating with others to exchange concepts and information, problem solving, decision‑making, organization, the ability to read and write, and the ability to manage workplace stressors, including adversarial interactions.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation

• The base compensation for this position will be commensurate with experience and determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and the pay of other employees in the job function.
• Total compensation includes paid leave programs, health benefits, and retirement plans.
• In addition, the position is eligible for the accrual of compensatory time off for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, consistent with Harris County personnel policies and procedures.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.