Attorney I – III – Travis County

Title of the Job: Attorney I – III

Location: Austin, TX

Job Description: Job SummaryThe Alternate Defender Office will provide quality legal defense to persons magistrated in Travis County under Article 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Once fully staffed, the office will represent approximately 14,000 clients each year in these limited-scope proceedings. This is an opportunity to help create a holistic, client-centered public defender office from the ground up.Attorney I – III provide zealous representation for clients at a critical moment in the criminal legal process.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:Attorney I: This is the first in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences with supervision.Attorney II: This is the second in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences without supervision.Attorney III: This is the third in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences without supervision and handles cases and matters that are moderately complex and may result in moderately severe consequences with supervision.
Salary InformationAttorney I Salary: $66,183.967 – $86,089.16 annuallyAttorney II Salary: $70,819.70 – $92,065.62 annuallyAttorney III Salary: $81,074.79 – $105,397.23 AnnuallyDuties and Responsibilities

• Provides high-quality criminal defense representation that complies with state and federal constitutions, state statutes, ethical rules, and state and national standards.
• Provides client-centered representation in proceedings held under Article 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Works collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to achieve client-centered goals.
• Communicates professionally with clients, conducts legal research, and advocates on behalf of clients in court.
• Interacts professionally with judges, prosecutors, and court personnel.
• Prepares clients and their cases for magistration.
• Wisely uses County services, equipment, facilities, and finances in advocating for clients.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Minimum RequirementsEducation and Experience:
Attorney I: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school.
Attorney II: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school and 18 months’ licensed attorney work experience.
Attorney III: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school and 3 years’ licensed attorney work experience.Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.PREFERRED:

• Applications with a cover letter detailing interest in the position, including why applicant wants to work in public defense for Travis County.
• Hearing and trial experience consistent with years of practice.
• Mission-aligned experience (work or lived) advocating on behalf of indigent clients.
• Effective client management skills and rapport-building techniques.
• Performs well in a high-volume, high-conflict area of litigation.
• Effective litigation techniques for presentation of cases in court and the ability to present facts and arguments verbally and in writing.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to child welfare law or other indigent client-related area of advocacy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and practices related to criminal defense
• Philosophy and practices of client-centered and holistic defense practices.
• Principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research.
• Applicable federal, state, local, and county laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Methods, practices, and applications of criminal defense and effective litigation techniques.
• Criminal law, criminal procedure, and the rules of evidence.
• Investigative techniques.
• Policies, practices, and legal terminology related to the court system.
• National standards, including the ABA Defense Function Standards and ABA Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System.
• Computer equipment, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and case management software.

Skill in:

• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents in area of specialty.
• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.

Ability to:

• Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically.
• Present facts, precedents and arguments verbally and in writing and apply negotiation skills.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Work independently.
• Manage time well and perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other InformationPhysical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.Work Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (Telework eligible)Department: Community Legal Services / Office of Parental RepresentationLocation: 1700 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas 78701Criminal, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.FY2025 Travis County Benefit GuideIn this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.Insurance
Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County’s current policy is to pay 100% of the employee’s health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.On the regular payday on or after the employee’s fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:January – March3 personal holidaysApril – June2 personal holidays
July – September1 personal holidayOctober – DecemberNone
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:0 to 5 years4.0 hours per pay period6 to 10 years4.5 hours per pay period11 to 15 years5.0 hours per pay period16 to 20 years5.5 hours per pay period21 plus years6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.Workers’ Compensation
The county provides all employees workers’ compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

Company Name: Travis County

Salary: $86089.16 per year

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