TORT & CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY

Job Description:

TORT & CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY

Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

Job Classification: Assistant City Attorney I and Senior Assistant City Attorney II
Section: TORT & CIVIL RIGHTS
Reporting Location: 900 BAGBY
Workdays & Hours: MONDAY - FRIDAY 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM* *Subject to Change

LEGAL DEPARTMENT The Office of the City Attorney for the City of Houston (the “OCA”) provides legal services to the City, its elected and appointed officials, and its employees while adhering to the following guiding principles:

• Quality & Service - Achieving high customer satisfaction as judged by our clients.
• Partnership & Teamwork - Working cooperatively internally and with our clients to achieve the City’s goals.
• Integrity & Candor - Placing honesty and ethical behavior first.
• Dignity & Diversity - Promoting each person’s value.
• Innovation & Imagination - Seeking novel and creative approaches to achieving the City’s objectives.

Composed of approximately 100 of Houston’s finest attorneys working in 10 legal practice sections, the OCA handles personal injury, commercial and civil rights litigation, major commercial and real estate transactions, and a diverse array of human resources, labor and employment matters, while also counseling the municipal corporation on economic development, constitutional, election matters, ethics and quality of life matters, and preparing City ordinances governing Houston and its citizens.

Every member of the OCA is committed to “Service Through Law.” ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: The City of Houston seeks an attorney with at least one first-chair jury trial in state or federal court to join the Torts/Civil Rights section of the OCA. The successful applicant is a high-energy self-starter who will litigate primarily personal injury matters with room for growth in other areas.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Handling written discovery and motion practice in state court.
• Researching and preparing trial court briefs and motions.
• Taking and defending depositions of fact and expert witnesses.
• Identifying experts and assisting in the development of expert testimony.
• Representing the City of Houston and its employees in jury and bench trials.
• Evaluating case value and making settlement recommendations.
• Preparing case memoranda and representing the City in mediations.
• Counseling the client departments and training city employees on the enforcement or meaning of city ordinances and policies.
• Assisting the City Attorney and others with special projects such as drafting City Attorney Legal Opinions.
• Drafting, reviewing, or revising city policies.
• Special projects assigned by management.

WORKING CONDITIONS
This position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc. There are no major sources of discomfort in a normal office environment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATIONAL:
Requires a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association accredited college of law.

EXPERIENCE:
For Assistant City Attorney I: No experience required. *
For Senior Assistant City Attorney II: Six years of experience in the practice of general civil law, specialized municipal law or comparable legal experience are required.

LICENSE:
Must be a member of the Texas State Bar on or about the first day of employment. If selected for this position, official proof of a J.D. degree and membership in the Texas State Bar is required and membership in the state bar must be kept current as a condition of employment.

*License for Assistant City Attorney I : Must, or within 6 months of the first day of employment with the City of Houston, become an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and be eligible for admission to Federal court. License to practice law in Texas must be kept current as a condition of employment.

PREFERENCES

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• At least six years civil, municipal law or other comparable litigation experience.
• Insurance defense litigation experience or experience as an adjuster with an insurance company.
• Excellent writing, oral advocacy, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with state court judges and court practices and procedures.
• Familiarity with Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Must be willing to work extended hours as needed to accommodate case load demands.
• Proficiency with Office 365 Suite, including Word, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, OneDrive, and TEAMS, along with Westlaw Edge.

**Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6**

GENERAL INFORMATION

SELECTION / SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED NoneHowever, the Department may administer skill assessment test.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION No
If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if candidate is promoted into this position, he/she must pass an assigned drug test.

SALARY INFORMATION Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate’s qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.
Pay Grade: Varies

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during posting opening and closing dates shown. Applications must be submitted online at: www.houstontx.gov .

To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call (832) 393-0350.

Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.

All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information.

If you need special services or accommodations, call (832) 393-0350.
If you need login assistance or technical support call (855) 524-5627.

EOE - Equal Opportunity Employment The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan. Benefits include:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Wellness
• Supplemental Insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Retirement pension
• 457 deferred compensation plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• 10 days of vacation each year
• 13 city holidays, plus one floating holiday
• Compensable Sick Leave
• Personal Leave
• Flexible schedules
• Hybrid-Telework for eligible positions
• Professional development opportunities
• Transportation/parking plan
• Section 125 pretax deductions
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
• Paid Prenatal, Parental and Infant Wellness Leaves
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

For plan details, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/benefits.html

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$87,304.88 - $128,899.94 Annually