Associate Counsel (Attorney IV)

Texas Education Agency; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid state holidays

Vacation leave

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Texas Education Agency, Office of General Counsel, seeks an Associate Counsel for Authorizing to provide legal counsel on charter school matters, applications, renewals, and related investigations. The role involves coordinating with the Deputy General Counsel and staff, reviewing contracts, and supporting agency compliance across Texas.

The position requires a JD, Texas bar licensure, and at least four years of regulatory experience, with up to 10% travel and flexible work location within Texas.

Qualifications

• Education: JD from an accredited law school
• Required Licenses: Licensed to practice law in Texas
• Experience: At least four years of relevant work experience

Responsibilities

• Provides legal counsel to the Authorizing Division, the Commissioner, and the State Board of Education on charter schools and related matters
• Provides comprehensive legal support for charter applications, amendments, and renewals before SBOE or the Commissioner
• Prepares and presents contested cases to administrative law judges at SOAH
• Reviews contracts under TEC sections 12.126/12.113 and CSP grant eligibility
• Interprets policies, statutes, rules, and regulations and provides strategic recommendations

Skills

Legal drafting

Oral communication

Attention to detail

Pressure management

Microsoft Office

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Agency Information

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees primary and secondary public education in Texas and is committed to improving outcomes for all public school students by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems across the state.

Core Values

• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in pursuing our primary purpose of improving outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain committed talent that reflects the diversity of Texas, with each individual contributing to our shared vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on outcomes, and continuously improve in pursuit of excellence for students.
• We are Servant Leaders: We are public servants committed to improving opportunities for students and supporting those who serve them.

The 89th legislature approved a 6% salary increase for licensed attorneys hired into positions with this job classification title. The posted salary range for this position already reflects said increase. Upon hire, the selected finalist will receive a starting salary offer and, as a separate line item, the legislatively approved increase that will become part of their base pay. The sum of both will not exceed the positions posted salary range. Only new hires are eligible for this increase.

Job Description

The Associate Counsel for Authorizing works in the Office of General Counsel to provide legal counsel, coordination, and advice to the Deputy Associate Commissioner and staff of the Division of Authorizing on application process, renewal applications, complaints process, amendments, and all other legal matters affecting charter schools and related entities and the students they serve, and by monitoring and participating in agency matters, including assisting the Attorney General in court proceedings related to charter property actions; providing support for charter school investigations and interventions; researching and interpreting the law; developing rules and statutory language; providing legal advice related to monitoring, investigations, school financial audits, academic and financial accountability ratings, and accreditation for charters, and recovery of state property held by closed charters.

Conducts depositions and hearings under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) throughout the state, if a school district or open-enrollment charter school challenges the findings of an agency report.

This position coordinates with and reports to the Deputy General Counsel for Governmental, Fiscal, and Regulatory Matters and works under limited direction, with extensive latitude for initiative and independent judgment.

This position requires up to 10% travel, based on business needs, to support program initiatives, collaboration, and operational priorities.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

Essential Functions

Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1) Legal Support for Authorizing Division and Other Divisions:

Provides legal advice and support to the Authorizing Division, the Commissioner, and the State Board of Education regarding charter schools, including rulemaking and presentations at charter school trainings, as needed. Provides legal support to other agency divisions for matters related to districts of innovation.

2) Legal Support for Charter Applications, Amendments, and Renewals:

Provides comprehensive legal support to Authorizing staff for charter applications and requests for charter amendments and renewals before their consideration by the State Board of Education and/or the Commissioner.

3) Authorizing-related Litigation:

Prepares and presents contested cases under charter school laws and regulations, as well as other applicable laws and regulations, to administrative law judges at the SOAH, schedules hearings, interrogates witnesses, and prepares administrative appeals of decisions and rulings.

4) Charter Contract and Charter-related Grant Legal Review:

Reviews and manages contracts under TEC §12.126, contracts for charter under TEC §12.113, 1882 partnership contracts, and eligibility for CSP grant awards under TEC §7.031.

5) Charter Application, Amendment, and Renewal Legal Review:

Reviews and approves charter applications under TEC §12.101, charter renewals under TEC §§12.113 and 12.115, charter amendments and shared services agreements under TEC §12.114.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Required Licenses: Licensed to practice law in Texas

Experience: At least four (4) years of relevant work experience

Other Qualifications

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
• Preferred legal experience in a regulatory agency involving complaints, dispute resolution, investigations, enforcement actions, and administrative law, including litigation before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
• Licensed to practice law in Texas by the Texas State Bar
• Meticulous attention to detail with an ability to produce high-quality work in a dynamic environment
• Highly organized; ability to manage multiple projects at once and meet deadlines
• Ability to break down complex information into comprehensive parts; ask questions; and synthesize and analyze information
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback, and continuously improve
• Ability to engage in a collaborative, results-oriented team environment
• Highly skilled in Microsoft Office applications and managing the lifecycle of complex technical documents
• Provide sound legal counsel and recommendations to agency clients to assist in business decisions made in the agency and in meeting the state's best interest
• Effectively interpret policies, procedures, statutes, rules, and regulations
• Use negotiating strategies to reach outcomes that gain parties support and acceptance
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships at all organizational levels, including agency management, supervisors, co-workers, internal clients, and external stakeholders
• Self-starter with an outcomes-based approach to completion of duties
• Ability to work under pressure to timely complete assigned tasks and meet deadlines

New hires, rehires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees within the same classification. Offers are based on the candidate's experience and qualifications and consider internal pay equity across employees performing similar work.

The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates whose qualifications exceed the role's requirements. The maximum of the range is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the required and preferred qualifications.

Benefits

TEA employees receive a comprehensive benefits package through the State of Texas and the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS), supporting health, financial security, and work-life balance.

Benefits include:

• Retirement through ERS and employer-paid health insurance for eligible employees
• Optional dental, vision, and dependent coverage
• Paid state holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, and longevity pay
• Wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and professional development opportunities
• Eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

To learn more about benefits available to State of Texas employees, please review the State of Texas Employee Benefits brochure and visit the TEA Compensation and Benefits page .

Military/Veteran Information

Applicants eligible for Military Employment Preference will be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

To explore how military experience may align with this role, applicants may review Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes within the State's Position Classification Plan. Please refer to the Military Crosswalk and select the occupational category that most closely corresponds with the classification listed in this job posting.

Additional Information

TEA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or veteran status.

TEA does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Careers at TEA page .

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept phone calls or respond to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.