Staff Attorney-Community College Services

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 and 50 community college districts with purposeful resources so they can focus on what matters most — excellent and equitable education for all Texas students. 

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, hybrid 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 with TASB Community College Services you will be responsible for providing legal and policy consulting services to TASB’s community college membership, which includes all 50 Texas public community colleges. The attorney advises community college board members and administrators on legal and policy matters; reviews, drafts, and edits policies; writes and edits publications addressing community college legal and policy issues; conducts legal and policy training; and provides other legal and policy services to TASB community college members.

Strong legal and policy writing, editing, and speaking skills are essential for this position as is the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with minimal supervision. All applications must include a resume, cover letter and writing sample. This position operates in a hybrid work environment, with some travel required. 

A Typical Day 

• Develop and maintain a generalized knowledge of community college law, policy, and best practices. Regularly monitor state and federal case law and statutory and regulatory changes in community college 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 community colleges and colleagues in the analysis of legal and policy issues, in the formulation and implementation of policy and administrative procedure through local district updates or localized policy updates, 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 or during a biannual policy update.
• Collaborate with the team and other TASB divisions on ways to expand services to the community colleges.
• If you're still reading, we'd love to meet you!

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Consult with and advise TASB community college members on legal issues, including answering legal inquiries by telephone, pursuant to procedure. Offer independent legal advice based on general knowledge of community college law.
• Respond in a timely and professional manner to community colleges’ requests for information and guidance pertaining to policy issues and processes, policy samples, and other necessary assistance.
• Develop legal reference policies and model local policies and procedures. Provide legal and practical review of community college members’ unique localized policies when appropriate.
• Serve as a legal and policy resource to other TASB divisions on community college and other higher education matters. Assist, as requested, in the review of publications and other written communications. 
• Develop and provide legal, policy, and governance training, including presentation materials focused on the unique needs of community colleges. 
• Provide bill analysis during and after legislative sessions, including post-legislative update resources and training for community colleges. 
• Research and write legal resource materials for community colleges, including TASB College eLaw resources, TASB publications, and periodicals. Provide legal review and edit materials developed by other division staff, as requested.
• Develop and maintain media and materials to promote TASB services to community colleges.
• 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. 
• Current Texas operator driver's license. 
• Experience in the practice of community college law or a related area of the law strongly preferred.

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. 
• 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 students. 
• Thrive in a culture that promotes bringing your whole self to work every day.  
• 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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