Attorney Position
The Harris County Attorney's Office (HCAO) is hiring an attorney to join our Defensive Litigation Division which represents the nation's third largest county, its elected officials, and 18,000 employees in state and federal litigation. We defend suits ranging from state tort actions to federal civil rights suits, and other unique and imaginative cases. This attorney will have the opportunity to refine their civil litigation skills from case inception through discovery and motion practice, trial, and appeal.
In addition to the ability to earn compensatory time for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek, the selected candidate may be eligible to participate in the HCAO telework program, which currently allows employees to work from home a few days per week.
Duties and responsibilities include first and second chair litigation assignments, representing parties in litigation cases from intake through final judgment including trials and/or appeals as needed, advising clients, managing all aspects of assigned litigation such as drafting answers, issuing and responding to discovery, taking and defending depositions, motions practice to include dispositive motions, and other necessary court documents. The attorney will also remain current on applicable caselaw and ethical obligations, conduct research assignments, present or defend witnesses and evidence at administrative hearings, depositions, court hearings, mediation, and trial, develop exhibits and witnesses for use in dispositive motions, develop and maintain relationships with clients (including elected officials, individual employees and agency representatives), courts and court staff, the public and other work groups related to assigned cases, perform multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining an effective balance of priorities and high productivity, make use of technology and other legal tools, respond promptly to phone calls, emails, and other correspondence, participate in one-on-one sessions with the supervisor and/or manager to give and receive feedback, participate in Division staff meetings, encourage and mentor attorneys, paralegals, interns, and law clerks, and perform other duties as assigned.
Other duties may include management discretion to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need special services or accommodations, please call or email This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Supporting job application documents include a cover letter, resume with three professional references, and at least one writing sample. Education and experience requirements include a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association accredited college of law, must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to Federal court, and a minimum of three years of litigation experience. Knowledge, skills, and abilities include excellent research, writing, and courtroom skills, excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to communicate and work in a collaborative group, proficiency with technology and legal tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, Westlaw, and Adobe, motion practice experience, experience conducting discovery, knowledge rules of civil procedure and evidence, analytical skills to include ability to perform thorough legal and factual analyses, ability to exercise good judgment, occasional ability to work extended hours to accommodate case load demands, ability to organize and prioritize assignments to meet deadlines, and ability to comply with office policies and training requirements.
Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated tort litigation experience.