Attorney

VIA Metropolitan Transit; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

VIA Metropolitan Transit is seeking an Attorney (Claims, Tort, and Litigation) to join the Administration division. The role concentrates on litigated matters across multiple courts, providing strategic legal guidance to minimize liability and financial risk for the transit system.

The successful candidate will hold a JD, be licensed in Texas, and bring at least five years in public law and tort litigation, with strong writing, research, and negotiation skills to support VIA's legal operations.

Qualifications

• Requires JD degree and Texas bar license; 5+ years in public law and tort litigation.
• Ability to provide strategic legal recommendations to minimize liability, risk, and costs.
• Strong drafting, analytical, and interpretive skills for complex legal documents.

Responsibilities

• Represents VIA in litigation and manages tort and special litigation.
• Coordinates with Risk Management and outside counsel.
• Drafts pleadings, motions, discovery responses, and legal opinions.
• Performs discovery and deposition of witnesses and experts.
• Provides legal guidance to VIA staff, Board of Trustees, and departments.

Skills

Legal research

Analytical thinking

Legal writing

Oral communication

Negotiation

Education

JD degree

Texas license to practice law

5+ years public law and tort litigation

Tools

Westlaw/Legal research databases

Job description

JOB TITLE: Attorney (Claims, Tort, and Litigation)

JOB GRADE: 15

DIVISION: Administration

LEVEL IN ORGANIZATION: Upper Management

FLSA STATUS: Managerial

SAFETY STATUS: Non-Safety Sensitive

REPORTS TO: General Counsel/Senior Vice President Legal Services

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Responsible for legal work involving research, professional judgement, legal opinions, and tort

litigation in District Court, County Court, and Justice of the Peace Court. May be assigned to

perform any legal work needed, although assignments are usually of a specialized type. Required to

provide strategic legal advice on liability exposure and facilitate minimizing legal, operational,

and financial risks for the transit system.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Represents VIA in specified litigation matters, working collaboratively with Risk Management and,

when engaged, outside counsel.

Manages all VIA tort and special litigation and coordinates the assignment of cases to outside

counsel as appropriate.

Prepares, drafts, and reviews a wide variety of legal documents and instruments, including

pleadings and motions, discovery responses, medical analyses, legal opinions, contracts,

agreements, and other legal documents.

Performs all phases of discovery including written discovery, prepares and deposes witnesses and

expert witnesses and collects legal and medical research.

Assists in the implementation of pre-litigation strategies in coordination with General Counsel,

Risk Management, and outside counsel in preparation for participation in litigation matters

representing VIA's interests in hearings, mediations, and court trials.

Participates in or advises participants in hearings.

Assists Risk /and interpretation of accident/incident reports.

Provides legal counsel and guidance on behalf of General Counsel to VIA staff attorneys, VIA Board

of Trustees, and other VIA departments as required on other legal matters as assigned.

Assists in resolving Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issues or concerns to ensure

compliance.

Assists Human Resources with benefit related matters, including Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA),

Worker's Compensation, and Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO) to ensure compliance with

settlement agreements, state laws, federal laws, and plan requirements.

Performs legal research and legal writing.

Provides briefings and updates to General Counsel, Senior Executives, and the members of the VIA

Board of Trustees.

Attends VIA/ATD board meetings as required.

This job description excludes marginal functions that are incidental to performing the job. Other

duties may exist.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree, license to practice law in the State of Texas, and at least

five (5) years' experience in public law and tort litigation, or equivalent combination.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to research, reach independent judgements, and advise management of the most advantageous

course in view of statutes, regulations, contracts, and case law.

Ability to draft complex legal documents, including but not limited to contracts, agreements, and

legal opinions ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance with laws and regulations.

Ability to manage outside counsel and multiple, complex caseloads.

Ability to read, understand, and analyze complex legal material, including but not limited to

statutes, regulations, contracts, and case law.

Ability to maintain and exhibit honesty, integrity, and high ethical standards while upholding

fiduciary obligations and safeguarding sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.

Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms, supported by strong research,

writing, and organizational skills.

Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to convey

effectively with personnel, counsel, VIA Board of Trustees, Senior

Management/Executive Management teams, and external clients when providing legal advice,

participating in meetings, counseling, and presenting complex legal matters in a clear and

professional manner.

Excellent analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

Must know the principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research. Must be

intelligent/Unindustrious.

Must be able to maintain good work attendance. Safety Accountability Statement:

- Employees must consider safety in all tasks performed, as well as demonstrate safe judgment and

decisions that not only maintain their own safety; but that of fellow employees and customers.

- Demonstrate a professional commitment to assure compliance with all organizational policies,

practices, and programs related to safety, health, and system security.

- Employees have a responsibility to identify and report hazards, as well as potentially unsafe

conditions, to your immediate supervisor or Safety Department.

- Employees are responsible, and required, to stop a job/task to prevent an unsafe incident or act

from occurring. This acknowledges the threat of potential injury, property damage and the

opportunity for better judgment to be used.

Must comply with and support all applicable VIA EEO Policies and Procedures.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical ability required to be mobile, bend, stoop, stand, reach, and occasionally lift 5-25

pounds of objects, such as files, equipment and supplies, and books.

Position requires sitting, standing, and ability to move within VIA facility and to attend off

property work related business.

WORK ENVIRONMENTS

Work involves deadlines and multiple priorities.

Works within normal office environment.