Assistant Criminal District Attorney - Civil Litigator

Tarrant County; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarrant County is seeking an attorney to prosecute and defend civil and criminal matters across trial and appellate courts and administrative forums. The role includes providing legal advice to government clients, drafting instruments with legal implications, and researching and solving complex legal issues.

The attorney will primarily handle employment and litigation matters while mentoring less experienced attorneys and working under supervision to build expertise.

Qualifications

• JD required.
• Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and be a member of the State Bar of Texas.
• Prior experience in the relevant area of law is essential.
• Ability to work efficiently in high-pressure situations.
• Strong analytical, diplomatic, and judgment skills.
• Proficient verbal and written communication with courts, attorneys, investigators, police agencies and citizens.

Responsibilities

• Counsels with clients, victims, or police concerning proceedings in court or related forums.
• Drafts and files pleadings, answers, motions, briefs, and responses for litigation.
• Appears in court to select juries, present and cross-examine evidence, and advocate.
• Identifies and prepares witnesses for testimony in court.
• Advices clients within confidentiality regarding legal issues in litigation.
• Drafts legal instruments and documents with legal implications.
• Negotiates to settle litigation or resolve issues.
• Conducts and supervises investigations in civil and criminal discovery proceedings.
• Develops knowledge in applicable areas of law to keep pace with developments.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Skills

Legal research

Analytical ability

Written communication

Verbal communication

High-pressure work

Diplomacy and tact

Judgment and common sense

Team collaboration

Cooperative with staff

Education

Juris Doctorate (JD)

Licensed to practice law in Texas (State Bar of Texas)

Tools

Computer literacy

Job description

Summary

Prosecute and defend all manner of civil and criminal matters in various levels of trial and appellate courts and administrative forums. May also provide written or verbal legal advice to individual or governmental clients and draft legal instruments or other written documents with legal implications. Investigate facts giving rise to legal issues and bring about solutions to clients' legal problems in a variety of forums. This attorney interacts with departmental supervisors, peers, and other County employees. This licensed attorney generally handles criminal and civil matters of moderate complexity and gravity and begins to take on some mentoring functions with less experienced attorneys. Attorney works under the intermittent supervision of more experienced attorneys in an effort to build knowledge, skills, and expertise.

ADDITIONAL SUMMARY INFO:
This position will assist primarily with employment and litigation matters, but also may provide advice on a broad range of transactional topics unique to county government. An ability to conduct thorough research and to draft compelling pleadings, motions and briefs will be imperative. This licensed attorney represents Tarrant County, and its elected officials, in civil matters and generally handles matters of moderate complexity. This position's duties may include providing written or verbal legal advice to clients, drafting legal instruments or other written documents with legal implications, investigating facts giving rise to legal issues, and bringing about solutions to clients’ legal problems in a variety of forums.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Makes decisions and counsels with clients, victims, or police concerning proceedings in court or related forums.
2. Drafts and files pleadings, answers, motions, briefs, and responses necessary to conduct litigation and proceedings in related forums.
3. Appears in court and forums to select juries, present and cross-examine evidence, make legal arguments, and act as an advocate.
4. Identifies, locates, and prepares witnesses to present testimony effectively in court or related forums.
5. Counsels and advises clients within the bounds of confidentiality, when applicable, regarding legal issues in all phases of litigation and in non-adversarial contexts.
6. Identifies and prepares non-testimonial forms of evidence for use in court and related forums.
7. Drafts legal instruments and documents with legal implications.
8. Negotiates with others to settle litigation or other contested matters or to assist in solving problems with legal implications.
9. Conducts and supervises investigations in civil and criminal discovery proceedings.
10. Develops knowledge, skill, and expertise in applicable areas of law to keep pace with current developments.
11. Strives for experience, knowledge, and skills.
12. Performs all other related duties, as assigned or required.

Minimum Requirements

• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree required.
• Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and be a member of the State Bar of Texas.
• Prior experience in the relevant area of law is essential.
• Good working knowledge and understanding of and the ability to apply applicable laws, procedures, case holdings, and departmental policies is essential.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in high-pressure situations.
• Possess analytical ability, be diplomatic and tactful, and use good judgment and common sense.
• Possess proficient verbal and written skills to communicate information and directions to courts, attorneys, investigators, police agencies and citizens.
• Attorney is responsible for working in a cooperative manner with support staff and investigators.
• Attorney must be computer literate.

CJIS REQUIREMENTS:
The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office is a law enforcement agency. A thorough background, criminal history, and financial check is conducted on all applicants seeking employment. Should any findings not meet the standards for employment, the application will no longer be considered for this position.

Physical Demands and Work Environment & Other Requirements

While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly required to bend, carry, climb, climb stairs, grasp/squeeze, hear, keyboard, lift below the waist, lift between waist and shoulder, lift overhead, lift to the side/twist, tolerate noise, pull, push, reach, reach overhead, perform repetitive tasks, see color, see hear, sit, stand, stoop, talk, twist, use his/her hands, and walk.