Staff Attorney - Texas Access to Justice Commission

State Bar of Texas

Austin, TX
8 days ago

Full-time

Highlights

To apply: Visit https://careers-texasbar.icims.com . Starting salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Numbers & Facts

Location	Austin, TX
Job Type	Full-time
Company Size	201 - 500
Headquarters	Austin, TX, US
Website	https://www.texasbar.com/

Description

The Staff Attorney assists the Executive Director of the Texas Access to Justice Commission (“the Commission”) with recommendations for the development, coordination, and implementation of initiatives to improve access to justice for low-income Texans.

Starting salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

To apply: Visit https://careers-texasbar.icims.com

Job Responsibilities

As directed by the Executive Director, the Staff Attorney:

Assists in the development, coordination, and implementation of Commission programs, including but not limited to legal training programs for legal aid lawyers and internship and training programs for law students.
Conducts legal research as assigned including drafting legal memoranda, legislation, rules, policies, procedures, and other documents, in matters related to reducing barriers to the judicial system for low-income Texans.
Attends legislative, committee, or court meetings and provides written reports on them to the Executive Director.
Keeps abreast of developments and recommended best practices in national access to justice efforts relevant to Texas with routine reports to the Executive Director, including conducting national and statewide research and analysis of laws, legislation, case law, and policy that affect self-represented litigants.
Assists in convening, organizing, and facilitating meetings of diverse stakeholders related to the Commission’s work.
Helps to evaluate and draft agreements with diverse stakeholders on the implementation of Commission-approved laws, policies, and procedures affecting low-income people in the civil justice system.
Possesses the ability to understand laws spanning many practice areas that commonly affect low-income Texans and their effects on specific populations, such as the elderly, veterans, or persons with disabilities.
Prepares drafts of reports, articles, and applications as assigned.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Must be a licensed attorney with a minimum of three years of legal experience and a commitment to the Commission’s mission. With approval of the Chair of the Commission and the Executive Director, other experience relevant to the Commission’s work may be deemed as a substitute for up to one year of required legal experience.

Must have a demonstrated ability to be self-motivated and adaptable and to work independently and as part of a team. Demonstration of appropriate writing, editing, and presenting skills, including the ability to explain law, policy, and data in plain language to a variety of audiences. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, intellectual curiosity, and initiative. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, and ability to complete projects under time constraints. Appropriate experience in the utilization of common computer programs. Requires occasional travel. Experience working for or with nonprofits, legislative bodies, courts, or other government entities is helpful.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Please submit an online application, resume, and a writing sample.

Skills

Benefits

Paid Time-Off, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Parental Paid Leave, 401K, Retirement / Pension Plans, Employee Events, Paid Sick Days, Parking, Professional Development, Medical, Dental, Vision

About Company

The State Bar of Texas is a public corporation and an administrative agency of the judicial department of the Texas government. The phrase “member of the Bar” means a person licensed to practice law in Texas. The State Bar does not purport to speak on behalf of all persons licensed to practice law in Texas.

The mission of the State Bar of Texas is to support the administration of the legal system, assure all citizens equal access to justice, foster high standards of ethical conduct for lawyers, enable its members to better serve their clients and the public, educate the public about the rule of law and promote diversity in the administration of justice and the practice of law.

With more than 100,000 active members, we are one of the largest state bars in the United States. The State Bar Act, adopted by the Legislature in 1939, provides that the State Bar is composed of all attorneys licensed to practice law in Texas.