TCEQ - Attorney II (ID: 00043395)

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Paid time off/holidays

Professional development

Job summary

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is seeking an enforcement attorney to join the Litigation Division. You will develop administrative enforcement litigation and represent the Executive Director at hearings and meetings.

The role involves negotiating orders, advising staff, and preparing cases for hearings, with opportunities to work on unique environmental issues within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Admission to the State Bar of Texas and 3 years of full-time practice in law.
• Or 1 year 6 months in environmental law or related environmental legal issues.

Responsibilities

• Develop administrative enforcement litigation and help return entities to compliance.
• Represent the Executive Director at hearings and agency proceedings.
• Negotiate agreements and orders with regulated entities.
• Assist OCE and AG's office in preparing cases for hearings or trials.
• Conduct legal research and prepare opinions on novel issues.

Skills

Legal research

Litigation

Negotiation

Education

State Bar of Texas

Job description

Company Description

WE ARE TCEQ

Are you ready to make a positive impact in Texas? At TCEQ, protecting the environment is at the heart of everything we do. Choose a career where your perspective, passion, and skills are valued. We strive to protect our state’s public health and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development. Our goal is clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste. TCEQ employees get some great perks, including a hybrid work schedule, paid leave, health insurance, and state and federal holidays. See Benefits and Perks at TCEQ.

TELEWORK

This position offers an opportunity for a hybrid work schedule with a minimum 2-day work in office.

Job Description

YOUR FUTURE TEAM

TCEQ’s Office of Legal Services manages legal services for the agency in environmental law, enforcement litigation, bankruptcy, 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.

This position is for placement into an enforcement section in the agency’s Litigation Division. See details about what we do.

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING...

Enforcement attorneys in the Litigation Division represent the Executive Director and principally TCEQ’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement (OCE). In this role, you would develop administrative enforcement litigation, helping to ensure regulated entities return to compliance. You would use your skills and experience to:

• Represent the Executive Director at contested case hearings, agency agenda meetings, alternative dispute resolution proceedings and/or other agency proceedings;
• Negotiate agreements and orders;
• Assist OCE and occasionally the Office of the Attorney General in preparing cases for contested hearings or court trials;
• Advise agency staff on legal matters usually related to investigations and enforcement, and on related agency projects; and
• Conduct legal research and prepare legal opinions and briefs for longer term projects or matters involving novel legal issues.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 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.

Career Ladder Progression

• One year and six months of full-time experience as an Attorney I for the TCEQ.

TRANSCRIPTS / COLLEGE HOURS or COURSE WORK

See instructions on how to attach documents. A copy of your official college transcript or evaluation of foreign credentials in CAPPS is required if needed to meet the qualifications listed above.

Do you think you are good fit for our team?

We would love to talk to you!

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

CURRENT TCEQ EMPLOYEES

This position is also available as a lateral transfer opportunity (LTO) to TCEQ employees within the Attorney II,III,IIIB state classification. The selected candidate must meet the minimum qualifications of the corresponding job in the Attorney II,III,IIIB series.

Additional Information

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 any special accommodations during the employment process, please contact HRSS for assistance at [phone].

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes can be found at

https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

Please click the hyperlink under ‘Occupational Category’ for the respective Class Title.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.