OAG - Consumer Protection| Assistant Attorney General I- III | 25-0576

This Assistant Attorney General I-III position’s work involves representing the State’s interest in charitable trusts, deceptive trade practices and other civil matters; reviewing, evaluating, and rendering legal opinions; preparing cases for trial and assisting in drafting bills for legislative consideration. This position will be based in Houston, Austin, Dallas, or San Antonio.

The Consumer Protection Division works to protect Texas consumers and the legitimate business community by investigating breaches of fiduciary duties, fraud and deceptive advertising, filing civil lawsuits to enforce state and federal consumer protection and charitable trust laws, and educating Texans on how to spot and avoid possible scams. The Division has regional offices in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso, and Houston. The Charitable Trusts Section reviews judicial proceedings involving charities, undertakes investigations, and initiates and participates in litigation to ensure that the public’s interest in charity is served. In addition, the Charitable Trusts sections represents state agencies in matters related to charitable bequests. We provide a highly collaborative work environment where lawyers help one another while managing their own dockets as first and second chair from the initial stages of a case through resolution. The OAG seeks qualified, self-motivated candidates to manage cases from start to finish, including drafting memos, request to examine, civil investigative demands, motions and pleadings, discovery, and settlements; handling witness interviews; appearing at hearings, and more.

The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits (https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance) along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) experience the challenge and honor of public service while enjoying a healthy work-life balance; hands-on legal experience; and engaging camaraderie in Austin, the scenic and lively capital of Texas.

Duties

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) I:

• Analyzes complex factual and legal issues and develops evidence through witness interviews, undercover operations, examinations under oath, depositions, requests to examine, civil investigative demands, and other discovery
• Represents the Office of the Attorney General and other state agencies before state and federal district and appellate courts in charitable trust and civil enforcement cases pursuant to the Texas Business Organizations Code, Texas Trust Code, the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other privacy and technology related consumer protection laws
• Prepares legal opinions, memoranda, briefs, pleadings, motions, petitions, and other legal documents
• Participates in administrative hearings and evidentiary hearings and in the discovery process
• Performs legal research and reports findings and conclusions
• Maintains knowledge of Deceptive Trade Practices Act and a wide variety of related statutes
• Maintains a low to medium volume of litigation cases and investigations
• Maintains confidentiality of all case-related matters
• Communicates with representatives of state agencies and consumers
• Performs related work as assigned
• Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions
• Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
• Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) II – All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General I, PLUS:

• Maintains a medium to high volume of litigation cases and investigations.

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) III – All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General II, PLUS:

• Testifies at hearings, trials, and legislative meetings.

Salary

• $7,083.34 - $8,750/month

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) I:

• Education: Graduation from accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.)
• Licensed as an attorney by the State Bar of Texas
• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and eligible to practice law in Texas by start date.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
• Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in conducting investigations; in mediation and negotiations; in using reasoning and logic; in identifying and solving complex problems; in prioritizing workloads; in using judgment to identify courses of action; and in using a computer and applicable software
• Skill in working under pressure and cooperatively with other attorneys, supervisors, investigators, and support staff
• Skill in effective oral and written communication
• Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
• Ability to prepare legal documents, to conduct research, to interpret and apply laws, to summarize findings, to prepare cases and present at trial, to conduct hearings and to communicate effectively
• Ability to handle stressful situations
• Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
• Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
• Ability to provide excellent customer service
• Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG work space within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave)
• Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel
• Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
• Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
• Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 20%

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) II - All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General I, PLUS:

• Experience: One year of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: corporation law; nonprofit law; charitable trusts; probate, estate, and trusts; consumer protection; commercial litigation; civil litigation

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) III - All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General II, PLUS:

• Experience: One additional year of full-time experience as a licensed attorney working in the following (or closely related) fields: corporation law; nonprofit law; charitable trusts; probate, estate, and trusts; consumer protection; commercial litigation; civil litigation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Focus on wills and estates, trusts, consumer protection and/or commercial litigation subjects.
• Experience: using electronic document review platforms including Relativity and programs such as Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and Word
• Experience: One year of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: corporation law; nonprofit law; charitable trusts; probate, estate, and trusts; consumer protection; commercial litigation; civil litigation
• Knowledge: of law and legal principles and practices relevant to the Texas Business Organizations Code, Texas Trust Code, nonprofit law, Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and relevant consumer protection statutes, including state and federal privacy laws
• Knowledge: estate, probate and trust laws and a wide variety of related statutes
• Abilities: Proven ability leading others; proven ability to work within a larger organization.
• Other Language: Ability to proficiently read, write, and speak Spanish

How to Apply

To apply for a job with the OAG, electronic applications can be submitted through CAPPS Recruit. A State of Texas application must be completed to be considered, and paper applications are not accepted. Your application for this position may subject you to a criminal background check pursuant to the Texas Government Code. Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at

https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf

THE OAG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER