Attorney - Construction and Public Procurement

Leon, Alcala, Morse & Reynolds, PLLC; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Medical coverage

Dental and vision

401(k) plan

Paid vacation

Job summary

Leon, Alcala, Morse & Reynolds, PLLC seeks an experienced attorney with a background in construction law, including contract drafting and litigation, and public procurement to advise Texas school districts and public entities on procurements and building projects. The role involves taking on meaningful responsibility from the start and working with our partners.

The ideal candidate is licensed in Texas (or has a strong explanation for pending status) with excellent written and verbal

Qualifications

• Experience in construction law and public procurement.
• Texas law license required; pending license considered with explanation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Independent, self-motivated with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Advise public entity clients on construction delivery methods, design, and procurement.
• Draft, review, and negotiate construction contracts using AIA templates.
• Draft procurement documents and develop guidelines and contract terms for public projects.
• Review vendor and interlocal agreements and procurement through cooperative programs.
• Analyze contracts and conduct pre-litigation dispute resolution planning.
• Handle construction defects, contract, and surety disputes as needed.
• Assist with related real estate matters and training for administrators and board members.

Skills

Construction law

Contract drafting

Litigation

Communication skills

Research skills

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Tools

AIA templates

Public procurement guidelines

Job description

Open Position:

Attorney – Construction and Public Procurement Law

Firm:

Leon, Alcala, Morse & Reynolds, PLLC (https://www.leonalcala.com/)

Location:

Austin Office, DFW Metroplex (Arlington) Office, Houston Office, or Tyler Office (on-site). We will consider other satellite office locations for candidates with extraordinary experience or portable business.

Job Type:

Full-Time

Job Duration:

Indefinite

Minimum Education:

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Required Travel:

10%–20%

Salary Type:

Yearly salary. The posted salary range is broad. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Salary is negotiable for candidates with extraordinary experience or portable business.

Firm Overview:

Leon, Alcala, Morse & Reynolds, PLLC is a full-service education law firm that provides comprehensive legal services to public school districts, junior college districts, Education Service Centers, and related entities across the State of Texas. The Firm was established in April 2019 and has quickly built an excellent reputation for delivering top-quality legal counsel and representation to more than 100 public school districts and other educational entities. From our offices in Austin, Houston, the DFW Metroplex, and Tyler, we serve large, medium, and small educational entities throughout the State in both routine and complex legal matters. The Firm is a woman-owned business.

What sets our Firm apart is the depth of our experience in the wide range of legal issues that affect public education, including general school law, employment law, special education, construction and procurement, real estate, litigation and appeals, economic development, and public finance. We pride ourselves on getting to know the communities we serve and understanding their unique issues and circumstances, and we believe that lawyers should identify solutions, not obstacles. Attorneys in the Firm work collaboratively; we find that our clients are best served when we work together. Our collaborative culture means that each attorney can learn from the experiences of the others. Our team is united in the common purpose of providing top-quality legal services to our clients.

Position Summary:

Leon, Alcala, Morse & Reynolds, PLLC seeks an experienced attorney with a background in construction law, including construction contract drafting and construction litigation, as well as public procurement and government contracting, to join its growing practice. The attorney will work directly with the Firm’s partners to advise Texas school districts, Education Service Centers, purchasing cooperatives, and other public entities on procuring, contracting for, and building public projects, and will be expected to take on meaningful responsibility for client matters from the start.

Responsibilities:

• Advising public entity clients on construction delivery methods, design, and the procurement of construction and professional services.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating construction-related contracts, including owner-contractor and owner-architect agreements based on American Institute of Architects (AIA) templates.
• Drafting procurement-related documents, such as Requests for Competitive Sealed Proposals and Requests for Qualifications, and developing procurement guidelines, policies and contract terms for public construction programs.
• Reviewing and drafting vendor, purchasing, technology, and interlocal agreements, including contracts procured through cooperative purchasing programs.
• Analyzing construction contracts and fact patterns to assess the parties’ rights and obligations, evaluate potential claims, and develop pre-litigation dispute resolution strategies.
• Handling construction defect, contract, and surety disputes when litigation or alternative dispute resolution is needed.
• Assisting with related real estate matters, such as school site acquisitions, easements, and infrastructure agreements, and with construction- and procurement-related requests for public information.
• Preparing and presenting training for school administrators and board members on construction and procurement topics.

Candidate Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in construction law, including construction contract drafting and construction litigation, as well as public procurement or government contracting, and the skill to guide our school and public entity clients through a project from procurement to closeout. We are looking for a motivated self-starter. The candidate must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong drafting, research, and analytical skills. The candidate must be highly motivated, confident, independent, and able to work with minimal supervision. The candidate must be licensed to practice law in Texas; a pending Texas license may be considered with sufficient explanation and background.

Compensation & Benefits:

Compensation is highly competitive, with performance-based bonuses and room for immediate performance-related growth. Additional benefits include Firm contributions toward medical coverage; dental and vision coverage; a 401(k) plan with a generous Firm contribution; paid vacation; and other workplace benefits.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience drafting and negotiating construction contracts on behalf of owners, including AIA-based agreements.
• Familiarity with Texas public procurement and construction delivery requirements, including Texas Education Code Chapter 44 and Texas Government Code Chapter 2269.
• Experience in a procurement, contracting, or general counsel role with a state agency, a school district or other political subdivision, or a purchasing cooperative.
• Experience with construction disputes and litigation in state or federal court or in alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
• Experience representing or working for Texas school districts or other public entities.