LITIGATION ATTORNEY – GENERAL LITIGATION SECTION

City of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Houston in Houston, Texas seeks a Senior Assistant City Attorney I–III to manage complex commercial and constitutional matters for the City and its officials. The role involves handling city ordinances, election contests, civil rights work, and supervising outside counsel, coordinating closely with city departments.

Candidates must have a JD from an ABA-accredited school, active Texas State Bar membership, and 8–18 years of experience depending on rank; strong writing, advocacy, and

Qualifications

• Requires a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an ABA-accredited college of law.
• Senior levels require 8, 13 or 18 years of experience in law practice.
• Active membership in the Texas State Bar and eligibility for Federal court admission.

Responsibilities

• Represent the City and City employees in complex commercial and constitutional matters.
• Handle written discovery and motions in federal and state courts.
• Research and prepare trial court briefs and motions.
• Take and defend depositions of fact and expert witnesses.
• Identify experts and assist in developing expert testimony.
• Evaluate case value and make settlement recommendations.
• Prepare case memoranda and represent the City in mediations.
• Prepare for bench trials, evidentiary hearings, and jury trials.
• Supervise outside counsel and counsel city departments.

Skills

Oral advocacy

Legal writing

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Tools

Word

Outlook

Excel

Job description

Applications accepted from

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

Job Classification

SR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY I to SR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY III

Section

GENERAL LITIGATION

Reporting Location

900 BAGBY

Workdays & Hours

MONDAY – FRIDAY 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM* *Subject to Change

About The Department

The City of Houston Legal Department strives to provide the highest quality municipal legal services to the City, its elected and appointed officials, and its employees in the most efficient manner feasible through adherence to the following guiding principles:

• Quality & Service – Achieving high customer satisfaction as judged by our clients.
• Partnership & Teamwork – Working cooperatively internally and with our clients to achieve the City's goals.
• Integrity & Candor – Acting with a commitment to honesty and ethical behavior.
• Dignity & Diversity – Demonstrating esteem for the worth of each individual.
• Innovation & Imagination – Seeking novel and creative approaches to achieving the City's objectives.

Composed of approximately 100 of Houston's finest attorneys working in 10 legal practice sections, the OCA handles personal injury, commercial and civil rights litigation, major commercial and real estate transactions, and a diverse array of human resources, labor and employment matters, while also counseling the municipal corporation on economic development, constitutional, election matters, ethics and quality of life matters, and preparing City ordinances governing Houston and its citizens.

Every member of the OCA is committed to "Service Through Law."

Essential Job Functions

The City of Houston seeks a commercial litigation attorney with at least 8 years of experience to handle civil commercial matters, as well as litigation involving City ordinances, election contests, civil rights and state and federal constitutional issues.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Representing the City and City employees and public officials in complex commercial and constitutional matters.
• Handling written discovery and motion practice in federal and state courts.
• Researching and preparing trial court briefs and motions.
• Taking and defending depositions of fact and expert witnesses.
• Identifying experts and assisting in the development of expert testimony.
• Evaluating case value and making settlement recommendations.
• Preparing case memoranda and representing the City in mediations.
• Preparing for and handling bench trials, evidentiary hearings, and jury trials in state and federal courts.
• Supervising outside counsel.
• Counseling the client departments.
• Assisting the City Attorney and others with special projects such as drafting City Attorney Legal Opinions.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc. There are no major sources of discomfort in a normal office environment.

Minimum Requirements

Educational

Requires a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association accredited college of law.

Experience

For Senior Assistant City Attorney I: Minimum of 8 years of experience practicing law.

For Senior Assistant City Attorney II: Minimum of 13 years of experience practicing law.

For Senior Assistant City Attorney III: Minimum of 18 years of experience practicing law.

License

Must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to Federal court. License to practice law in Texas must be kept current as a condition of employment.

PREFERENCES

Preference Will Be Given To Applicants With

• Jury trial experience, including as first chair.
• Excellent oral advocacy skills.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Familiarity with federal and state court judges and court practices and procedures.
• Expertise with Texas and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Must be willing to work extended hours as needed to accommodate case load demand.
• Proficiency with Word, Outlook, Excel and the use of technology in practice.
• Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Selection/Skills Tests Required

All applicants will be expected to provide a writing sample and transcripts. All applicants must upload a current resume in addition to completing the application.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION

No

Salary Information

Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in the appropriate classification.

Pay Grade: Varies

EOE - Equal Opportunity Employment

The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.