Assistant County Attorney – Children's Protective Services Division

The Harris County Attorney’s Office (HCAO) is seeking an Attorney to join our Children’s Protective Services (CPS) Division which provides legal representation in the Family and Juvenile courts regarding cases involving abused or neglected children and other such matters concerning the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) as outlined under the Texas Family Code subject to approval by the Harris County Attorney. The Attorney in this role is responsible for displaying sound legal judgment while developing and maintaining a professional relationship with client representatives with DFPS leadership and personnel, including DFPS Regional Legal Counsel. The attorney in this role is also responsible for working professionally and cordially with a number of other stakeholders including District Court Judges and court personnel, protective service providers, drug and parentage testing providers, attorney ad litems, guardian ad litems, opposing counsel, and other entities in the handling of child welfare cases. 

In addition to the ability to earn compensatory time for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek, the selected candidate may be eligible to participate in the HCAO telework program. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Follows all policies, procedures, rules and guidelines established by the HCAO and CPS Division Management Team.
• Staffs results of investigations of allegations of abuse and/or neglect with DFPS employees to determine the appropriate pleading to be filed based on the facts stated by the DFPS caseworker.
• Drafts and/or reviews notices, petitions, motions, orders, decrees, jury charges and discovery requests when such requests are deemed appropriate.
• Reviews and responds to motions filed by opposing counsel.
• Participates in telephone consultations with DFPS representatives to advise and respond to legal questions regarding cases and the sufficiency of grounds to file legal pleadings.
• Represents DFPS at contested and uncontested emergency hearings, adversary hearings, status hearings, permanency hearings, other special hearings, bench trials and jury trials.
• At the conclusion of hearings and trials, completely documents case summaries with significant case facts, developments and testimony, as well as upcoming court dates and tasks necessary for the Court Representative and assigned Paralegal to take to advance the case’s disposition.
• At the conclusion of hearings and trials, accurately completes orders reflecting court action taken.
• Assists with and promotes Consular Relations.
• Resolves pending matters through mediation at the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) or with a court-appointed mediator.
• Attends and participates in depositions.
• Presents legal training/seminars to DFPS employees, Child Advocates and at Texas District and County Attorney Association conferences.
• Conducts pre-trial staffings with client representatives.
• Prepares witnesses for testimony during trial and drafts and issues witness subpoenas.
• Reviews case files and documentation in preparation for pre-trial staffings.
• Identifies records appropriate for and signs subpoenas.
• Conducts legal research and reviews case law relevant to issues in cases.
• Monitors assigned cases to ensure that all responses and supplements to discovery requests, including requests for interrogatories, admissions, disclosures, and production are timely.
• Argues Motions to Quash, if filed, and facilitates the execution of TRCP Rule 11 agreements where appropriate.
• Prepares outgoing discovery requests when deemed appropriate (by way of the Attorney’s own decision making and/or the Management team).
• Reviews and/or revises all discovery responses to ensure that all answers and witness lists are complete and accurate.
• Reviews all discovery for trial preparation purposes and mines all discovery to determine what witnesses and/or expert witnesses to call and/or challenge in connection with any statutory review hearing and/or trial.
• Reviews, responds to and initiates e-mail inquiries from and to client representatives, other team members, appointed and retained counsel, Child Advocates, Inc., HCAO superiors and HCAO administration.
• Responds to telephone calls and voicemail messages from caseworkers, supervisors, program directors, attorneys, regional counsel, team members, Child Advocates, Inc., custodians of records, medical professionals and pro se parties.
• Trains and mentors new attorneys and attorneys new to child protective legal practice. If the attorney is licensed to practice less than 10 years, the attorney must be amenable to being mentored as well.
• Consults with fellow attorneys regarding hearing and trial strategy and tactics.
• Ensures that cases are closed to completion.
• When exercising job-related duties, communicates with persons inside and outside the section in a prompt, positive and professional manner, regardless of whether that communication is in person, or by telephone, e-mail, facsimile transmission, texting, or otherwise.
• Assist in all courts as requested by the Management team.
• Contacts DFPS client via telephone and/or email relating to staffing/discussing/understanding the DFPS client’s position prior to the Attorney appearing in court. Attorney shall be responsible for knowing the client’s position before the day of any court appearance.
• Attorney shall be responsible for preparing and reviewing each case no later than two weeks prior to each court setting. Preparation should include but not be limited to communication with client group, review of file and completion of all required motions etc.
• Attorney shall consult the Texas Family Code, DFPS online handbook and follow all recommended guidelines available in the child welfare space to make decisions and offer advice. In the event the Attorney is unable to independently think/advise the Attorney shall consult a more senior level Attorney on the team and/or Management.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Other Duties:

• This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
  https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
 If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
 
 This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

• Experience in handling child welfare matters is preferred.  
  

• Some related experience in handling cases in family courts or guardianship matters in probate court may be accepted in lieu of direct child welfare experience.