Civil Attorney-Family

Closing Date: 4th May, 2024

Description:

Job Summary:
Reporting directly to the Civil Division Chief, responsible for representing the State in a broad range of civil matters, such as mental health civil commitment cases, Adult Protective Services matters, state guardianship matters, and bond forfeiture proceedings. Reviews responsive information in Public Information Act requests from responsive departments and provides legal redactions as necessary. Prepares information for submission in exhibits submitted to the Attorney General's Office for a ruling.

Examples of Work Performed:

• Provides support and assistance to the Civil Division Chief in performing all duties related to defense representation of the County or County officials in civil litigation, tort claims, civil rights claims/Section 1983 litigation, employment claims, and other civil issues, including discovery, mediations, trials, and appeals
• Provides in-depth research briefs on a wide variety of topics pertaining to civil law
• Provides legal advice and counsel to county officials on legal inquiries and requests for opinions related to varied areas of law and the official's duties pursuant to law
• Executes responsibilities for communication with claimants or attorneys representing claimants regarding conclusions
• Drafts pleadings and response motions to include but not limited to Motions to Quash, plea to the Jurisdiction, Motions to Transfer, and Application for Appointment of Guardian
• Provides representation and assistance to the Bail Bond Board
• Conducts legal research and analysis in preparation for legal briefs, pleadings, and motions to be filed and argued in court regarding litigation pending against the County and/or County officials and employees
• Performs contract or document review, or preparation of contracts and other legal documents
• Prepares training materials and provides training and counsel to local law enforcement agencies on legal matters pertaining to the investigation and processing of criminal and civil matters
• Communicates with outside agencies and county personnel, including department heads, law enforcement, elected officials, county employees, attorneys, and opposing attorneys
• Interfaces with other law enforcement agencies and governmental departments for interagency transfers
• Provides back-up duties and responsibilities as needed for all other attorneys within the Civil Division (i.e., Juvenile, Public Information Requests, Mental Health, Civil Litigation, Family Justice Division) and represents county departments, cross trains to basic proficiency in each of these areas
• Periodically attends Commissioner's Court open and executive sessions to offer legal advice and counsel
• Attends all meetings and trainings, as required
• Performs special duties as assigned

Mental Health Assignment

• Performs work on mental health matters and litigation related to representing the State in mental health civil commitment cases
• Represents the State in Probable Cause and Civil Commitment hearings which includes evaluating updated medical records, communicating with mental health facilities, and interviewing, preparing, and eliciting testimony from social workers, doctors, family members, and other witnesses as necessary
• Represents the State on Applications for Court Order to Administer Psychoactive Medication hearings, including reviewing and providing legal analysis on filing determinations on Applications for Court Order to Administer Psychoactive Medication and orders to receive restoration treatment
• Conducts legal research on nuanced and complex mental health issues and presents findings to assist other prosecutors in the office
• Conducts legal analysis in reviewing of applications for emergency detention and commitment hearings
• Represents the State in Adult Protective Services matters and state guardianship matters, which requires compiling and reviewing documents, drafting pleadings, preparing witnesses, and appearing on behalf of the State for all cases involving Williamson County residents where the Health and Human Services Commission is seeking appointment as permanent guardian
• Communicates with officials from the Local Intellectual Developmental Disability Authority and the Williamson County Jail, preparing and eliciting testimony from jail staff, social workers, doctors, mental health professionals, and others, utilizing Application for Admission to Residential Care Facility, Determination on Intellectual Disability, Interdisciplinary Team Report, Application to State Supported Living Center, medical records, letter from accepting facility, ICAP booklet and report, incident reports, pharmacological records, 16.22 reports, competency reports, criminal history, and other documents to create exhibits for use at trial
• Drafts pleadings and response motions, including but not limited to Application for Appointment of Permanent Guardian, Proposed Order Setting Hearing, Proposed Order Appointing Attorney Ad Litem, and other legal documents necessary for all mental health hearings
• Participates as representative from the County Attorney's Office at the Crisis Response Team Meetings, Mental Health Round Table Meetings, Strategic Intercept Mapping (SIM), and Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings
• Creates and presents trainings to medical and mental health facility staff on relevant issues that are targeted to facilitate efficient processing of cases and collaboration between the facility and County Attorney's Office

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) from an accredited law school
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, LexisNexis, and Westlaw

Licenses and Certifications:
Required:
State Bar of Texas
Valid driver's license

Required within six (6) months of employment

• Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) certification
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) certification

Preferred Qualifications:
Working knowledge of Odyssey and Digital Evidence management System (DEMS)

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