Staff Attorney - Texas Access to Justice Commission

State Bar of Texas; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Staff Attorney at the Texas Access to Justice Commission in Austin assists the Executive Director by developing recommendations to improve access to justice for low-income Texans.

The role involves legal research, drafting memoranda, collaborating with legal aid groups, nonprofits, and government entities, and coordinating programs to reduce barriers to the judicial system. Applicants should have a JD and at least three years of experience.

Qualifications

• Licensed attorney with a minimum of three years of experience.
• Experience in poverty law, legal aid, or public policy preferred.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent writing, editing, and presenting skills.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Willingness to travel occasionally.

Responsibilities

• Assist in formulating recommendations for program development and revisions.
• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda, legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Attend meetings as approved and serve as resource on legal access matters.
• Provide national and statewide research and analysis on self‑represented litigants.
• Help convene and facilitate meetings with diverse stakeholders.
• Strengthen relationships with legal access stakeholders.
• Draft agreements with stakeholders to implement approved laws and policies.
• Understand laws across practice areas affecting low‑income Texans.

Skills

Writing skills

Editing skills

Presenting skills

Analytical thinking

Critical thinking

Partnership building

Excel/PowerPoint familiarity

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

General Description

The Staff Attorney assists the Executive Director of the Texas Access to Justice Commission (“the Commission”) by working with the Executive Director, as directed, on recommendations for the development, coordination, and implementation of initiatives to improve access to justice for low-income Texans.

Primary Functions

As directed by the Executive Director, the Staff Attorney:

1. Assists in the formulation of recommendations for the development, coordination, and implementation of programs of the Commission or revisions in Commission programs, including but not limited to legal training programs for legal aid lawyers and internship and training programs for law students.
2. Assists in legal research including drafting legal memoranda, legislation, rules, policies, procedures, and other documents, in matters related to reducing barriers to the judicial system for low-income Texans.
3. Attends legislative, committee, or court meetings as approved by the Commission, the Commission Executive Committee, or the Commission Chair, and the Executive Director, and serves as a resource on Commission approved information regarding legal access matters.
4. Keeps abreast of developments and recommended best practices in self‑represented litigation across the nation with routine reports to the Executive Director, and confers with experts and stakeholders, including conducting national and statewide research and analysis of laws, legislation, case law, and policy that affect self‑represented litigants.
5. Assists in convening, organizing, and facilitating meetings of diverse stakeholders of the Commission’s strategic goals.
6. Assists in strengthening relationships with legal access stakeholders.
7. Helps to evaluate and draft agreements with diverse stakeholders on the implementation of Commission‑approved laws, policies, and procedures affecting low‑income people in the civil justice system.
8. Possesses the ability to understand laws spanning many practice areas that commonly affect low‑income Texans and their effects on specific populations, such as the elderly, veterans, or persons with disabilities.
9. Assists in collaboration as approved by the Commission and the Executive Director, with lawyers, corporations, bar associations, legal aid and pro bono providers, social service providers, and communication and development professionals to achieve the Commission’s strategic goals.
10. Researches specific practice areas to advise and assist in projects related to legal access.
11. Researches changes in case law, rules, and statutes, on both state and federal levels, to make recommendations for updating forms, including to comply with current law in legal access matters.
12. Prepares drafts for consideration by the Commission and the Executive Director of reports, articles, and other items for publication in various media platforms as well as grant applications for funding particular projects or pilot studies.
13. Performs other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

Must be a licensed attorney with a minimum of three years of experience (preferably in poverty law, legal aid, or public policy in a related area) and a demonstrated commitment to the Commission’s mission. May substitute experience as a policy analyst or similar role for up to one year of law practice. Must have a demonstrated ability to be self‑motivated and adaptable and to work independently and as part of a team without support from a legal administrative assistant or paralegal. Excellent writing, editing, and presenting skills, including the ability to explain law, policy, and data in plain language to a variety of audiences. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, intellectual curiosity, and initiative. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, and ability to complete projects under time constraints. Experience building partnerships with diverse constituencies and working in coalition. Experience with or a commitment to master Excel, PowerPoint, and other common software. Understanding of barriers low‑income people face when they have a legal problem. Requires occasional travel. Experience working for or with nonprofits, legislative bodies, courts, or other government entities preferred.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Please submit an online application, resume, and a writing sample.