Attorney IV: Fourteenth Court of Appeals

Lawyers Worldwide; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 135,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

The Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston, TX, seeks an Attorney IV staff-attorney to review appellate records, perform legal research, and draft orders, opinions, and judgments. Salary ranges from $135,000 to $140,980.08 depending on experience, with health and retirement benefits.

Requirements include a Juris Doctor, an active Texas law license, and at least five years of practicing-attorney experience. The role involves working on appellate cases and attending oral arguments at 301 Fannin,

Qualifications

• Requires a Juris Doctor degree and an active Texas law license.
• Minimum five years of practicing-attorney experience.
• Knowledge of civil and criminal legal principles, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Uniform System of Citation, and the Texas Rules of Form.

Responsibilities

• Review appellate records and motions and draft orders, opinions, and judgments.
• Prepare for oral arguments and attend court conferences.
• Maintain confidentiality while processing court work and handle research, cite-checking, and proofreading.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting opinions

Oral argument prep

Citing & editing

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Texas law license

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

• Attorney IV: Fourteenth Court of Appeals

Attorney IV: Fourteenth Court of Appeals

Company - Fourteenth Court of Appeals
301 Fannin, Room 245, Houston, TX 77002

The Attorney IV staff-attorney role is with the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas. The workplace is 301 Fannin, Room 245, Houston, TX 77002, and annual pay ranges from $135,000 to $140,980.08 depending on experience. The vacancy notice uses posting number 14-26-03-AT and remains open until filled.

The staff attorney reviews appellate records and filings, researches legal issues, advises justices, and prepares draft orders, opinions, and judgments. A Juris Doctor degree, a Texas law license, and at least five years of practicing-attorney experience are required. The anticipated start date was September 1, 2026, depending on experience, and the position is presented as a legal vacancy for an attorney supporting appellate work in Houston.

• Role: Attorney IV, staff attorney
• Employer: Fourteenth Court of Appeals
• Location: 301 Fannin, Room 245, Houston, TX 77002
• Pay: $135,000 to $140,980.08 per year, depending on experience

The staff attorney examines appellate records and filings, conducts legal research, and analyzes statutes, judicial decisions, jurisdictional questions, and special issues. The role advises the justices and turns that analysis into recommendations, memoranda, and initial drafts of orders, opinions, and judgments.

• Review motions and assist with separate writings
• Prepare for oral arguments and attend arguments and court conferences
• Maintain confidentiality while processing court work
• Apply legal research, computer research, cite-checking, writing, editing, and proofreading skills

The work requires independent planning and organization because the attorney moves between record review, written analysis, motion practice, and conference preparation. Clear oral and written communication is paired with working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365.

Attorney IV Qualifications

The minimum profile combines a J.D. from an accredited law school, an active Texas law license, and at least five years of practice. Knowledge of civil and criminal legal principles, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Uniform System of Citation, and the Texas Rules of Form is required.

Previous appellate-court experience is preferred, as are seven or more years in practice, graduation in the top 20 percent of a law‑school class, and law‑review, law‑journal, or other publication experience. The role also requires the ability to identify, analyze, and resolve legal issues without close day‑to‑day direction.

Houston Court Jurisdiction

The Fourteenth Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court with civil and criminal jurisdiction over appeals from lower courts. The court serves Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Waller, and Washington counties, and its civil jurisdiction includes cases where the judgment exceeds $250 exclusive of costs.

The court handles criminal appeals except post‑conviction habeas corpus writs and death‑penalty cases. Established in 1967, it has a chief justice and eight justices at its Houston workplace. The court's public jurisdiction and structure are described in its official court profile.

Compensation And Application Record

The salary range is $135,000 to $140,980.08 per year, with the amount depending on experience. The position includes health insurance, dental insurance, and retirement plans, and the employer participates in E-Verify. The current vacancy notice records the salary and benefits in the current vacancy notice.

Personal interviews occur by invitation only, and the notice identifies military occupational specialty codes for applicants with relevant service backgrounds. Equal-employment and reasonable-accommodation provisions apply to the court's hiring process.

The staff-attorney assignment connects legal research and written judicial work with the records, motions, and arguments that reach an intermediate appellate court. The role's practice setting is the Texas appellate system rather than a private firm's client portfolio.