OAG - Tort Litigation | Assistant Attorney General III-IV | 24-0694

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The OAG’s Tort Litigation Division specializes in defending state agencies and employees throughout the state against claims involving personal injuries, including medical malpractice, premises liability, auto accidents and workers’ compensation.

The OAG seeks qualified, self-motivated candidates to manage cases from inception to conclusion, including drafting motions and discovery, appearing at hearings, trying cases, negotiating settlements, and handling appeals, as well as assisting other AAGs.

We provide a highly collaborative work environment where lawyers help one another while managing their own dockets as first chair from the initial stages of a case through any appeal.

The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law.

OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits ( along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. .

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS

Assistant Attorney General III :

Evaluates and defends against claims made against state agencies under the Texas Tort Claims Act and the Workers’ Compensation Act at all stages of litigation, including pre-litigation claims, administrative hearings, jury trials in district and county courts, and appellate work;

assesses and files claims and suits on behalf of state agencies to recover subrogation interests and property damage claims

• Reviews medical records, researches appellate decisions and related case law, and drafts summary reports, and legal memorandum
• Provides legal advice, counsel and assistance to client state agencies
• Analyzes complex factual and legal issues and develops evidence through witness interviews, depositions, written discovery and document review
• Prepares for and performs routine duties of legal counsel in evaluating claims made against state agencies and works under moderate supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
• Conducts jury trials
• Prepares legal documents, including but not limited to briefs, pleadings, and memoranda
• Performs legal research and investigations, and reports findings and conclusions
• Participates in administrative and evidentiary hearings and in the discovery process
• Analyzes factual and legal issues and develops evidence through witness interviews, depositions, and other discovery
• Performs related work as assigned
• Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions
• Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
• Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and / or protected information
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity

Assistant Attorney General IV All of the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General III, PLUS :

May mentor and review work by less tenured staff

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Attorney General III :

• Education : Graduated from an accredited law school with a J.D.
• Licensed as an attorney by the State of Texas
• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas
• Experience : Two years full-time experience as a licensed attorney
• Knowledge of legal principles, practices, and proceedings; and of state and federal laws, regulations, and rules
• Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in conducting investigations; in mediation and negotiations; in using reasoning and logic;

in identifying and solving complex problems; in prioritizing workloads; and in using judgment to identify courses of action

• Skill in effectively managing a moderately heavy caseload in all stages of development
• Skill in using a computer for word-processing and data entry / retrieval
• Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
• Skill in effective oral and written communication skills Writing sample required at time of interview
• Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
• Ability to prepare legal documents, to conduct research, to interpret and apply laws, to summarize findings, to prepare cases and present at trial, to conduct hearings, and to communicate effectively
• Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
• Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
• Ability to provide excellent customer service
• Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG work space within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.

g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave)

• Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel
• Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
• Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
• Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 50%

Assistant Attorney General IV All of the above qualifications for an Assistant Attorney General III, PLUS :

Experience : One additional year of full-time legal experience as a licensed attorney

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• First Chair jury trial experience
• Experience handling workers’ compensation law
• Experience handling personal injury cases
• Experience using MS Word, Adobe Acrobat, Excel, SharePoint, and LCMS
• Experience with Shepardizing, Westlaw, Lexis Nexis and other related computerized legal research tools
• Knowledge of the Texas Tort Claims Act and practices relevant to the cases handled by the Tort Litigation Division of the Office of the Attorney General
30+ days ago