COURT INVESTIGATOR/ATTORNEY V, Probate Court 2

The Court Investigator/Attorney V is responsible for assisting with the daily functions of the Probate Court including performing the legal procedures for each guardianship case from the initiation of the investigation into the need for guardianship through trial and continues with annual monitoring of the established guardianship until it is closed when the ward dies, moves out of county, or is restored.  Coordinates and counsels with state agencies and local agencies under contract with the county to provide legal solutions for incapacitated persons.  Coordinates court appointed attorney and guardian ad litem for guardianship litigation.   Educates the community regarding guardianships and alternatives.  Mentors and supervises guardianship staff, and any volunteer social work and law students and legal interns. Ensures legal compliance of guardianship cases transferred to Tarrant County from other counties and states. Researches legal issues pertaining to guardianship and related law for the Court   Writes statutory required reports to the Court on sufficiency of guardianship applications filed by attorneys and annual reviews of the conditions of incapacitated persons who are wards under guardianship. Assists with monitoring of trusts, trust litigation, and ancillary matters. Researches and suggests orders for guardianship, trusts, and ancillary litigation matters. This is a statutory mandated position. Reports to Judge. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Inquires whether a less restrictive alternative to guardianship exists in every new case successfully meeting the mandate in the Texas Estates Code.
• Counsels other Tarrant County departments regarding guardianship issues and policies.
• Researches and recommends guardianship policies, procedures, practices and specific actions to best deal with critical issues.
• Researches and recommends actions or orders on pending and continuing trust matters.
• Researches and recommends actions or orders on ancillary litigation matters. 
• Provides leadership and guidance to staff, interns, and law students.
• Maintains contact with state and local agencies to develop legal solutions for incapacitated persons.
• Implements procedures to maintain the court visitor program protecting the wards and successfully meeting the mandate in the Texas Estates Code with economic efficiency.    
• Prepares legal documents, pleadings, and proposed orders.
• Maintains court actions if needed to remove non-compliant guardians.
• Coordinates attorneys and court-appointed ad litems. 
• Establishes creative procedures to manage increasing case load within budgetary constraints. 
• Counsels with new guardians and provides creative training to successfully educate them on legal requirements. 
• Maintains high quality investigations of cases to successfully complete legal proceedings for the protection of incapacitated persons.
• Reviews and when appropriate, prosecutes guardianship cases received through suggestions of need.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in high-pressure situations and ability to communicate effectively; excellent, advanced oral and written communication and trial skills.
• Possess advanced senior professional level of analytical ability and be very well professionally polished and versed in the art of being diplomatic and tactful in addition to the use of good judgment and common sense.
• Able to handle all stressful situations with an even temperament and work effectively with others in achievement of tasks
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Organized and know how to prioritize the workload.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Competency with computers and Microsoft Office 365 Suite.
• Ability to obtain 15 hours of continuing legal education required annually, plus self-study and training to maintain current knowledge of a variety of fields pertinent to guardianship, trust, and litigation issues.
• Possess necessary writing skills at a well-advanced and professional level to communicate information to attorneys, agencies and citizens.
• Has solid, up to date working knowledge and understanding of guardianship, and trust statutes, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Texas Rules of Evidence, and other relevant state laws as well as full comprehension of case holdings and departmental policies.

• Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.
• 2 years of experience in the relevant areas of law (Guardianship, Trust and/or Civil Litigation).
• License to practice law in the state of Texas and are a member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.