Attorney I-III - Child Representation Office

The Travis County Child Representation Office provides high-quality legal representation to children and youth involved in the Travis County child welfare system. Attorneys will build professional and trusting relationships with clients, collaborate with a wide variety of other professionals and community members, and advocate for the clients’ needs both in and out of the courtroom.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the first-third in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are moderately complex and may result in moderate consequences with supervision.

• Meet with child-clients and provide legal counsel in a developmentally appropriate manner.
• Attend court hearings on behalf of clients and advocate for their position.
• Review all relevant records and case-related information.
• Communicate regularly with clients, and case contacts such as foster parents, kinship resources, DFPS case workers, service providers, and school personnel.
• Attend case planning meetings.
• Participate in out-of-court advocacy with service providers, schools, placements, and DFPS.
• Draft briefs, motions, orders, subpoenas, and other legal documents, as well as correspondence and reports.
• Respond to discovery requests.
• Prepare cases for trial: collect, organize and prepare evidence, information and other legal materials.
• Represent clients at bench and jury trials: conduct direct and cross examination of witnesses, admit evidence, and make opening and closing statements.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND one to three (1-3) years of licensed attorney work experience.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.
Valid Texas driver's license

Preferred Qualifications: 
Training and mentorship:
New attorneys will have a training and mentorship period before being assigned full caseload.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

Knowledge of:

• The Texas Family Code, The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and other Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines that apply to the work of the Travis County Child Representation Office.
• Methods and practices of pleading cases.
• Techniques to effectively present facts and precedents both verbally and in writing.
• Legal writing and citation standards.
• Policies, practices, procedures, and legal terminology related to the Travis County court system.
• Policies, practices, and procedures of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Skill in:

• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents.
• Verbal and written communication.
• Explaining legal terminology and concepts to children of a variety of ages and development levels.

Ability to:

• Exercise sound judgment.
• Conduct legal research and analysis.
• Present facts, precedents, and arguments in a compelling manner.
• Apply negotiation skills.
• Work as part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team.
• Work compassionately and respectfully with clients, relative caregivers, and foster parents.
• Manage time well and meet deadlines.   
• Work effectively and courteously under high-pressure circumstances.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.
• Travel to various areas in Austin and surrounding counties in Texas as required to visit and represent clients.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Traveling in personal and/or department vehicles to various areas in Austin and surrounding counties.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: The Travis County Child Representation Office acknowledges that the duties and responsibilities of attorney at litem for a child do not conform to an 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule. Staff attorneys are expected to prioritize activities that are required by Texas Family Code and the TCCR Practice Manual and may use flextime and remote work to facilitate that prioritization. In-office work is expected on Wednesdays for staff and attorney meetings. 

Department: Community Legal Services

Location: 1700 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701

Criminal Background Check Required. 

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Sebastian Buantello at [email protected]. 

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.