Contract Specialty Court Defense Attorney DWI Court

We are seeking an experienced, part-time Specialty Court Defense Attorney to provide dedicated legal representation for participants in our DWI Court. This position requires a minimum of 3 years of criminal defense experience and a strong commitment to therapeutic jurisprudence while working in a team environment.
You will protect participants' constitutional rights while working within a multidisciplinary team to support client rehabilitation and program compliance. The Midland County DWI Court Team includes the judge, law enforcement, court coordinator, peer support, prosecutor, treatment providers, and probation officers

• Participant Representation: Advocate for clients during eligibility assessments, entry hearings, regular status reviews, and sanction or termination hearings.
• Team Collaboration: Attend and actively participate in all pre-hearing team staffings to review participant progress and discuss clinical incentives or supervision adjustments.
• Rights Protection: Ensure due process rights for clients are maintained throughout the non-adversarial court process.
• Legal Counsel: Advise participants regarding program requirements, constitutional waivers, and the legal implications of compliance or non-compliance. Represent participants during modification hearings scheduled in the District Court as related to the terms of the participant’s probation and conditions of specialty court compliance.

• Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Licensure: Active membership and good standing with the State Bar of Texas for a minimum of 3 years.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of criminal defense litigation experience (felony experience preferred).

Specialized Training
Required:

• Must demonstrate a commitment to the nationally recognized Adult Treatment Court Best Practice Standards, emphasizing participant-centered advocacy, procedural fairness, evidence-based practices, and collaborative problem-solving while maintaining the ethical duties of defense counsel.
• Completion of introductory Specialty Court training within six (6) months of hire; if not previously completed.
• Understanding of the ethical considerations unique to collaborative courts, including the role of defense counsel in multidisciplinary team settings.
• Ability to work collaboratively with judges, prosecutors, treatment providers, supervision officers, and community partners while maintaining independent advocacy for clients.

• Schedule: Part-time and in-person; the work schedule is to be determined by the court based on docket times and staffing needs. Typically, Tuesdays 8:30 am -11/12:00 pm weekly with any additional District Court settings as needed. 

• Hours: Estimated 3-4 hours per week.
• Duration: Estimated 42+ weeks per year, aligning with the court's active session calendar.