Environmental Law Attorney – State Agency Counsel

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Texas; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Optional 401(k) and 457 plans

Insurance: Health, Vision, Dental, and

Paid day(s) off from work on national

Professional development opportunities

Longevity pay based on your years

Wellness Program and Activities

Onsite Nurse Practitioner in HQ

Work-Life Balance

Job summary

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality seeks experienced Attorneys for the Office of Legal Services. This role supports environmental law matters, enforcement litigation, and regulatory issues across the agency.

Attorney I–V levels require Texas Bar admission with progressive experience; the Attorney Hiring Program connects applicants to open positions, and interviews are coordinated by hiring managers. The state offers strong benefits and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Admission to the State Bar of Texas required for Attorney II/III/IV levels.
• Experience in environmental law and regulatory enforcement preferred.
• Ability to work within state agency guidelines and with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel and support to the agency's executive director and programs.
• Assist in environmental law enforcement litigation and related regulatory matters.
• Participate in hiring processes and maintain attorney pool.

Skills

Legal Research

Environmental Law

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Admission to the State Bar of Texas

Job description

Job Description

Are you an experienced Attorney, ready for a unique opportunity to grow with an environmental state agency?

WE ARE TCEQ

Join our team of professionals Attorneys at TCEQ, where protecting the environment is at the heart of everything we do. Our goal is clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste.

Job Description

Are you an experienced Attorney, ready for a unique opportunity to grow with an environmental state agency?

WE ARE TCEQ

Join our team of professionals Attorneys at TCEQ, where protecting the environment is at the heart of everything we do. Our goal is clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste.

TCEQ employees get some great perks, including paid leave, health insurance, and state and federal holidays. See Benefits and Perks at TCEQ.

TCEQ Office of Legal Services

This office manages legal services for the agency in environmental law, enforcement litigation, bankruptcy, the RESTORE Act program, and general agency operations. The office gives legal counsel and support to the executive director, the agency programs, and along with the general counsel and the public interest counsel the commissioners. The office ensures that commission decisions follow the law, and that rules we develop comply with statutory authority and are applied consistently.

ATTORNEY HIRING PROGRAM

This program aims to establish a pool of applicants suitable for filling TCEQ Attorney positions.

How does the Attorney Hiring Program work?

Hiring managers in Office of Legal Services or General Counsel may request candidates with specific legal experience and geographic preferences from the Attorney Hiring pool. You may be connected to all open positions that match your experience. The hiring supervisor schedules interviews and makes a final selection.

TCEQ provides great career advancement opportunities with clear paths for professional growth and development.

Education & Experience

Attorney I

Admission to the State Bar of Texas.

NOTE: Applicants who are graduating and have taken the Texas Bar Exam may be considered for employment in a non-Attorney position while awaiting exam results.

Attorney II

Admission to the State Bar of Texas plus three years of full-time experience in the practice of law, or employment in a responsible position involving legal work as a primary duty, or one year six months in the practice of environmental law or employment involving environmental legal issues.

Attorney III

Admission to the State Bar of Texas plus five years of full-time experience in the practice of law, or employment in a responsible position involving legal work as a primary duty or three years of full-time experience in the practice of environmental law or employment involving environmental legal work.

Attorney IV

Admission to the State Bar of Texas plus seven years of full-time experience in the practice of law, or employment in a responsible position involving legal work as a primary duty or five years of full-time experience in the practice of environmental law or employment involving environmental legal work.

AND

Satisfaction Of One Or More Of The Following Criteria

• Meets six of nine Attorney IIIB career ladder knowledge, skills, and abilities criteria; or
• Demonstrates exceptional knowledge of highly complex area or subject matter, and
• reports directly to Assistant Division Director;
• routinely acts in place of Senior Attorney or other high-level supervisor or;
• supervises the work of other attorneys in the demonstrated area of expertise.
  
  

Attorney V

Admission to the State Bar of Texas plus eight years of full-time experience in the practice of law, or employment in a responsible position involving legal work as a primary duty or six years of full-time experience in the practice of environmental law or employment involving environmental legal work.

AND

Demonstrates exceptional knowledge of highly complex area or subject matter.

Employees in this classification series may research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure, including but not limited to a communication infrastructure system, cybersecurity system, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment system, or water treatment facility. See Tex. Business & Commerce Code Section 117.001(2). Accordingly, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a requirement to be hired for and to continue to be employed with TCEQ.

How To Apply

Candidates must create an account and submit applications in CAPPS Recruit to be considered for employment. Visit CAPPS Recruit to access or create your CAPPS Recruit candidate account. A resume is required to submit job applications.

How long does my application stay on file?

Applications remain on file for one year from the date of receipt. Eligible individuals may submit a new application for an additional one-year period.

What if my transcripts are from an international university?

Applicants who hold an international degree should contact a foreign degree evaluation service to have their course work evaluated prior to submitting for a position with the TCEQ. The service must be a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or acceptable to the Texas State Board of Education Certification.

A photocopy of the evaluation must be included with the job submission in order for it to be considered complete.

WORK SCHEDULE

Standard business hours are M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

This position may offer an opportunity for independent work from approved locations within the state of Texas. Regularly scheduled, bi-weekly staff collaboration days.

Benefits

• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans
• Insurance: Health, Vision, Dental, and optional FSA
• Paid day(s) off from work on national holidays and holidays that the state observes
• Professional development opportunities
• Longevity pay based on your number of years working for the state
• Wellness Program and Activities
• Onsite Nurse Practitioner in HQ
• Work-Life Balance
  
  

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

TCEQ will conduct a criminal history records search, driving history (if required for the job) on candidates offered employment.

In compliance with ADA, if you need accommodation during the employment process, please contact HRSS for assistance at [phone].

MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (M.O.S.) CODES

M.O.S. codes can be found here. Please click the hyperlink under "Occupational Category" for the respective Class Title.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is an Equal Opportunity Employer.