Legislative Counsel I

NCSL Juvenile Justice Principles Work Group; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telecommuting opportunities

Excellent health, vision, and dental保险

Job summary

The Texas Legislative Council seeks an attorney for a Legislative Counsel I role. You will draft bills and amendments, advise legislators, and draft analyses of proposed laws. Remote work is available weekly, with training and mentoring provided by experienced council attorneys.

Candidates must hold a law degree and be licensed to practice in Texas. Strong writing skills, independence, and teamwork are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Law degree from an accredited law school.
• Ability to analyze and interpret statutes and legislation without AI.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Texas bar licensure to practice law is required.

Responsibilities

• Drafting bills, amendments, and other legislative documents in assigned subject areas.
• Reviewing legislative documents and providing legal advice to legislators and staff.
• Communicating with legislators and staff about proposed legislation.
• Drafting analyses of proposed constitutional amendments and other legal analyses.
• Providing guidance on constitutionality, preemption, and consistency with existing law.

Skills

Legal writing

Communication

Teamwork

Analytical thinking

Education

Law degree

Job description

Range: $6,772 - $11,735 monthly, based on relevant experience and qualifications.

State of Vermont - Office of Legislative Counsel

Are you interested in an intellectually challenging career? Would you like to work with supportive and knowledgeable colleagues in a collaborative environment? Do you have excellent writing skills, a strong work ethic, and a heart for public service? Then bring your talents to the legal division of the Texas Legislative Council!

We are now seeking an attorney to fill a Legislative Counsel I position. Both new and experienced attorneys are encouraged to apply. (Due to the approaching regular legislative session, early applications are strongly encouraged. We will begin conducting interviews before the closing date for selected applicants who submit all the required materials.) Note: An applicant may include a completed electronic TLC Application for Employment without signing it. The applicant’s signature may be provided at a later date. The applicant must disclose any use of artificial intelligence to create all or part of the writing sample or other application materials. Please include the name of the program used and describe the extent to which it was used.

Legislative Counsel I attorneys receive comprehensive training in legislativedrafting and ongoing mentoring from council attorneys with extensiveexpertise. Attorneys generally work independently in drafting legislation butare encouraged to seek guidance from and share information withcolleagues in a collegial setting. Attorneys are able to indicate subject areaassignment preferences from over 40 possible subject areas before eachregular legislative session. Subject areas include topics such as agriculture,ethics and campaign finance, primary and secondary education, water andnatural resources, elections, criminal law, utilities, probate, labor, property,and parks and wildlife.

The council’s legal division allows for remote work opportunities each
week, particularly during the legislative interim, at the discretion of thedivision director.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities for this position include:

• Drafting bills, amendments, and other legislative documents, usually in employee’s primary subject areas.


• May review some legislative documents in employee’s primary subject areas.


• Consulting with legislators and the lieutenant governor and their staffs about proposed legislation and, at the direction of a legislator, the lieutenant governor, or a staff member, consulting with others about that legislation.


• Meeting with legislators and the lieutenant governor on the floor of the house or senate to provide advice and prepare amendments to legislation to be considered.


• Providing written and oral information about current or pending law, including codes and proposed legislation.


• In connection with the drafting of proposed legislation, providing legal advice to legislators and the lieutenant governor and theirstaffs regarding issues such as constitutionality, preemption, and consistency and interaction with existing law.


• Providing legal advice to legislators and the lieutenant governor concerning the powers, duties, legal limitations, and liabilities of their offices.


• Examining, investigating, and researching legal and other issues for bill drafting and in response to questions.


• Reviewing contracts to which the council is party.


• Revising statutes into codes, generally involving non-substantive changes of the law.


• Drafting and reviewing analyses of proposed constitutional amendments.


• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Experience and Education

• Law degree from an accredited school of law.

Minimum qualifications for this position include:

• Skill in written and oral communication without the use of artificial intelligence.


• Ability to analyze and solve legal problems and to interpret statutes and legislative documents without the use of artificial intelligence.


• Ability to deal effectively with others.


• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.


• Ability to work overtime and flexible hours.


• Ability to maintain confidentiality of material and information.


• Ability to accept constructive criticism of work product by peer reviewers and supervisors.


• Ability to maintain regular attendance.


• Ability to keep up with current trends in areas of expertise and willingness to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills.

License or Certification

• Must be licensed to practice law in Texas to maintain continued employment.

Preference given to applicants who:

• are licensed to practice law in Texas; or


• passed the Uniform Bar Examination in July 2026 and otherwise qualify for admission to the Texas Bar.

The Robert E. Johnson Building includes free on-site covered parking andaccess to a bike cage, fitness facilities, workout classes, and on-site showers.The University of Texas Capitol Complex Child Development Center isconveniently located next door in the Barbara Jordan Building.

$7,500.00 per month. The council provides exceptional benefits, includingpaid vacation, sick leave, compensatory time, and state and federalholidays, excellent health, vision, and dental insurance, telecommutingopportunities, and a generous retirement plan. Council attorneys arecurrently eligible to participate in the federal public service loan forgivenessprogram. A generous benefit package is also available.

About the Organization

The Texas Legislative Council is a nonpartisan agency providing full legal services to the Texas Legislature. Most work as a Legislative Counsel I attorney involves drafting legislation and amendments to legislation in theattorney’s assigned subject areas for thebiennial legislative session andresearching legal issues related to legislation. Attorneys in the council’s legaldivision also provide a variety of other legal services to legislators and thelieutenant governor and their staffs, including providing any necessarycounseling and analysis regarding legal matters and working on statutoryrevision projects.