DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - SENIOR TRIAL ATTORNEY

County of El Paso; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

County of El Paso seeks a Senior Trial Attorney to provide complex general counsel within the District Attorney's Office, handling criminal, civil, and family law matters. The role involves prosecutorial discretion, pre-trial negotiations, and appellate practice, with emphasis on high-quality litigation and public service.

The incumbent will work with diverse government and law enforcement partners, maintain confidentiality, and contribute to leadership development and training across the office.

Qualifications

• JD required with at least 3 years of criminal and/or civil experience; or equivalent combination of education and training with a JD.
• Must be licensed to practice law in Texas and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

Responsibilities

• Review case facts for legal sufficiency and draft motions and documents.
• Research statutes and case law; update documents with new legislation.
• Examine video, file, and physical case evidence.
• Consult with attorneys, law enforcement, and witnesses for case preparation and testimony.
• Edit legal documents prepared by staff; litigate routine to complex hearings, trials, and appeals.
• Prepare and present oral arguments for routine to complex cases.

Skills

Written advocacy

Litigation

Prosecutorial discretion

Research/analysis

Communication skills

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Licensed to practice law in Texas

Tools

Windows

Microsoft Office

Legal research databases (Westlaw/Lexis)

Job description

Acceptable Experience and Education

• Doctor of Jurisprudence and a minimum of three (3) years of criminal and/or civil experience;
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities along with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.

Certificates and Licenses Required

• Must have and maintain a license to practice law in the state of Texas and be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
• Depending on area assigned: must have or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso.

Essential Duties

• Reviews case facts for legal sufficiency, drafts motion statements and prepares required legal documents;
• Researches statutes and case law issues and revises legal documents to reflect new legislation;
• Examines video, file and physical case evidence;
• Confers with attorneys regarding case information and pleadings, law enforcement agencies regarding case investigation and trial preparation, and witnesses regarding case preparation and testimony;
• Edits legal documents prepared by support staff;
• Responsible for litigating routine to complex hearings, trials and appeals;
• Prepares and presents oral arguments for routine to complex cases;
• Frequent handling of confidential legal information and documents;
• Attends and participates in meetings, training and information sessions;
• Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field;
• Commits self to providing excellent customer service and demonstrate commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts; and
• Creates a high quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.

District Attorney Office

• Represents the State of Texas in the prosecution of adult felony, misdemeanor, and asset forfeiture cases, including ancillary criminal and civil proceedings, filed in the justice, county, district, and appellate courts;
• Reviews investigative reports from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and officers, and exercises discretion in determining which cases are accepted for prosecution or declined and appropriate criminal charges and forfeitures;
• Represents the State of Texas in presenting cases to Grand Jury;
• Appears in court and represents the State of Texas at arraignment, pre-trial hearings, trial, sentencing, post-conviction and appellate proceedings, and other related or ancillary criminal and civil proceedings;
• Exercises discretion in determining appropriate trial or other strategies to dispose of felony and misdemeanor cases and engages in pre-trial negotiations and plea bargaining with defense attorneys;
• Drafts and/or reviews the creation of notices, motions, briefs, orders, subpoenas, and other legal documents, correspondence, and reports;
• Coordinates with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officers; prepares them for court appearances; marshals evidence; prepares for pre-trial and post-trial motions and hearings; and issues subpoenas and other legal documents;
• Appears, answers briefs, and argues on behalf of the State of Texas on appeals to the Eighth Court of Appeals, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of the United States;
• Performs legal research and keeps abreast of changes in the law;
• Meets regularly with and works extensively with a variety of government, social service, and law enforcement agencies, organizations, and committees;
• May advise law enforcement agencies and personnel regarding legal requirements for arrest or search warrants;
• Employs sound and independent judgment when exercising prosecutorial discretion in accordance with the law and the policies of the District Attorney; and
• Exercises all prosecutorial discretion and performs all prosecutorial functions in the overriding pursuit of justice--not only for victims of crime and for the accused, but also for the people of the State of Texas.

Summary of Position

The Senior Trial Attorney under general supervision, and depending on area of assignment: provides complex general counsel for various County Offices and staff, depending on area assigned the incumbent; prosecutes criminal, civil and family law cases; provides representation in matters, including civil, or prosecutorial; defends, and advocates for clients accused of a crime; performs complex non-supervisory legal work.

This is the second in a series of three non-supervisory attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family.

Minimum Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: County, state, and federal legal principles, practices, procedures regarding the court system; state and local statutes and codes; case law; rules of evidence; contract terminology and requirements; legal practices and procedures; legal terminology; department policies, procedures and regulations covering specific areas of assignment; County organization, operations, policies and procedures; English usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling; techniques for effective interpersonal communications; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment to include Windows and Microsoft based products. Skill/Ability to: may require strong written advocacy skills and/or experience depending on placement needed within the office; possesses advanced litigation and prosecutorial skills, or equivalent specialized prosecutorial skills; operate a personal computer and various software applications; conduct research, develop appropriate documentation, assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands to meet scheduled requirements; establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers and customers to promote and support a productive work environment; defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts and drawing valid conclusions work efficiently independently and in a team environment to meet established goals and objectives; communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to respond effectively to customers and staff; exercise initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines in performance of daily duties; use initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines; prepare clear, concise and comprehensive written reports; and establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted during the course of work. Pass a background investigation.

Each and every county position requires the following professional skills and abilities as key and necessary elements of performance:

• Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance;
• Work well with others and participate fully in a team oriented environment;
• Interface with other employees and customers in a courteous and respectful manner;
• Maintain strict confidentiality;
• Project positive support of their department and all organizations receiving El Paso County service at all times; and,
• Maintain and enhance the County's commitment to customer service excellence.