Messer Fort | Municipal Prosecutor & City Attorney

clearcareerprofessionals; Abilene (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Messer Fort's West Texas office in Abilene seeks an early-career attorney to prosecute municipal matters and advise city departments. The role combines courtroom work with transactional duties, including drafting ordinances and contracts, and guiding clients through Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act obligations.

The ideal candidate will have a Texas JD and license, 2+ years of prosecution experience, local ties or a clear relocation plan, and a commitment to serving West Texas

Qualifications

• Texas licensure in good standing is required.
• Two or more years of legal experience including municipal prosecution or comparable criminal prosecution experience.
• Courtroom experience handling dockets, plea negotiations, and bench or jury trials.
• Willingness to be based in Abilene, with local ties or a well founded relocation plan.

Responsibilities

• Municipal prosecution: handle Class C misdemeanors and city ordinance violations in municipal court.
• Court operations: manage dockets, collaborate with judges, clerks, and police.
• City attorney work: draft ordinances, resolutions, and contracts; advise city councils and staff.
• Open government: advise on Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act matters and requests.
• Attend city council and board meetings with regional travel.

Skills

Municipal prosecution

Courtroom experience

Open government

City attorney exposure

Texas license

Abilene ties / relocation plan

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Texas license in good standing

Job description

Acceptance of applications closes at 5 p.m. on Wednesday September 23, 2026. Materials received after that time will not be considered.

In Abilene, you are not one of forty attorneys assigned to a city. You are the attorney the city calls.

Messer Fort's West Texas office handles the full legal life of its client cities, and this position covers both halves of it: prosecuting in municipal court and handling the transactional work that keeps a city running.

This position is based in Abilene. The firm wants someone with ties to the Big Country or a real interest in building a career in West Texas. Strong candidates approaching the two-year mark with prosecution experience and regional ties are encouraged to apply.

Texas licensure and Texas land use experience are required.

Core responsibilities

• Municipal prosecution: prosecuting Class C misdemeanors and city ordinance violations in municipal court under Chapter 45 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, including traffic offenses, code enforcement cases, animal control matters, and related dockets.
• Court operations: managing prosecution dockets, working with municipal judges, court clerks, and police officers, handling trials before judges and juries, and advising on court procedure.
• City attorney work: drafting ordinances, resolutions, and contracts, reviewing agenda items, and providing day to day advice to city councils and staff.
• Open government: advising on the Texas Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, including handling public information requests and attorney general rulings.
• Meetings: attending city council and board meetings for client cities in the region, with some regional travel.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate is a practical, personable early-career attorney seeking responsibility and variety in West Texas. This attorney brings confident courtroom fundamentals, versatility across prosecution and city attorney matters, sound judgment, and self-sufficiency. Community presence, professionalism, and a long-term commitment to Abilene matter as much as legal skill. Strong candidates approaching the two-year mark with prosecution experience and regional ties are encouraged to apply.

Minimum qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and Texas law license in good standing.
• Two or more years of legal experience including municipal prosecution or comparable criminal prosecution experience.
• Courtroom experience handling dockets, plea negotiations, and bench or jury trials.
• Willingness to be based in Abilene, with local ties or a well founded relocation plan.

Preferred qualifications

• Municipal prosecution experience specifically, with familiarity with Chapter 45 procedure and municipal court practice.
• Some city attorney office experience or exposure to municipal work alongside prosecution.
• Experience with code enforcement cases and working with city departments as witnesses.
• Ties to Abilene, the Big Country, or West Texas generally.
• Interest in growing into broader city attorney work over time.

Location and compensation

Based in the firm's Abilene office with regional travel. Messer Fort serves clients across Texas, and the attorney may work on matters statewide. Compensation is dependent on qualifications and experience and is supported by a robust benefits package.

Acceptance of applications closes at 5 p.m. on Wednesday September 23, 2026. Materials received after that time will not be considered.