Staff Attorney

Why Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)

We come from humble beginnings — picture a one-person organization created in 1949 to advocate for excellence in public education on behalf of Texas school board members. Flash forward to today, and we have over 500 employees working together to provide 1,024 school districts with purposeful resources so they can focus on what matters most — excellent and equitable education for all 5.4 million Texas students. 

As TASBeans (our internal name for employees), we feel privileged to work alongside talented team-members who are passionate about education and enjoy learning from new and different perspectives.  We believe what makes our organization highly successful is the rich diversity our employees collectively bring to TASB with different backgrounds, skillsets, cultures and ethnicities, gender identities, interests, abilities, and work styles. And our passion for education and learning doesn’t end there. Our culture has always encouraged employees to grow and become their best selves both professionally and personally through a variety of innovative and collaborative development opportunities. You’re likely beginning to see why we’ve been regularly named by Austin Business Journal as a Top Ten Best Places to Work! 

TASB offers competitive pay, rich benefits (including retirement matching of 2:1 up to 5% after one year. This means that if you contribute 5% to the plan, TASB will contribute 10%), onsite daycare, onsite gym, wellness program, tuition reimbursement, remote work options, flexible schedules, and more. 

Every role at TASB thoughtfully complements our mission and the educational impact being made in communities across Texas. If you consider your work exceptional and want to help drive our mission forward, keep reading!

About You

As a Staff Attorney, you will bring to TASB’s Legal Services Division knowledge of public school law to provide legal assistance to TASB members through various legal publications, policy review and drafting, legal training, and telephone consultation.  

Strong legal writing, editing, and speaking skills are essential for this position as is the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with minimal supervision. This position reports to the division director of TASB Legal Services and requires in-person work at TASB headquarters in Austin, Texas. This position operates in a hybrid work environment, with some in-state travel required. 

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references with your application.

A Typical Day 

• Develop and maintain a generalized knowledge of school law, policy, and best practices. Regularly monitor state and federal case law and statutory and regulatory changes in school law, including constitutional issues, personnel, student issues, governance, elections, financial matters, business, and other critical areas. 
• Exercise good judgment and a high-level of discretion in providing sound guidance to school district decision makers and colleagues in the analysis of legal and policy issues, in the formulation and implementation of policy and administrative procedure, and when engaging in the development of educational materials and training. The tasks may require work outside of normal work hours to meet deadlines, particularly following a state legislative session.
• Collaborate with the team and other TASB divisions as a legal resource on school law matters.
• If you’re still reading, we’d love to meet you!

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Consult with and advise TASB members on legal issues, including legal inquiries by telephone, pursuant to procedure. Offer independent legal advice based on general knowledge of school law.
• Provide legal review and exercise discretion regarding whether to comment on legal risks in members’ unique localized policies and procedures.
• Develop and provide presentations and related materials on a variety of legal topics for members at TASB training events.
• Research and write legal resource materials for school district decision makers, including TASB school law eSource, TASB publications, and periodicals. Provide legal review and edit materials developed by other division staff, as requested.
• Serve as a legal resource within TASB and to relevant entities in the interest of our members. Assist, as requested, in the review of publications and other written communications. 
• Advise members in order to minimize legal costs and risks and to establish effective legal practices, limiting the potential for lawsuits to the maximum extent possible.
• Participate in required professional development, maintain Texas law license in good standing, and comply with high ethical requirements as set out in the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. 

Skills for Success

Education and Experience: 

• Graduation from an accredited law school. 
• Texas law license in good standing. 
• Background in public education or school law; experience working in special education. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Accurate legal analysis and writing.
• Judicious, courteous, and confidential client counseling.
• Sound independent judgment, and commitment to offering legal guidance in keeping with standards set by the division.
• Ability to communicate complex information to diverse audiences by phone, in person, and in writing.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with minimal supervision and to collaborate with other staff on specific projects. 
• A working knowledge of standard computer software and technology, including the Microsoft Office suite, and the ability to learn new computer applications.

The TASB Difference

• Enjoy competitive pay and rich benefit offerings.
• Be part of a collaborative environment where every contribution impacts Texas public schoolchildren. 
• Thrive in a culture that promotes bringing your whole self to work every day and emphasizes healthy boundaries and work-life balance.  
• Learn and grow individually and together through frequent professional development; diversity, equity, and inclusion panels; wellness seminars; and more. 
• Work alongside transparent leaders with an open and consistent feedback approach.
• Celebrate as a team with meaningful (and fun) events and tokens of appreciation throughout the year. 

Posting Notices

• The health and safety of our employees and members, is our top priority. 
• TASB is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of an individual's race, color, disability, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other personal characteristic protected by law.  
• This position does not qualify for visa sponsorship. 
• Any job offer is contingent upon receipt of results of a satisfactory background check. 

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