TRANSACTIONAL ATTORNEY - CONTRACTS SECTION
Salary: $98,162.74 - $152,161.36 Annually
Location: 900 Bagby-City Hall Annex
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 38269
Department: Legal
Opening Date: 02/23/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
DESCRIPTION
Benefits
Questions
POSITION OVERVIEW
Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED
Job Classification: ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY II to SR. ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY III
Section: CONTRACTS
Location: 900 BAGBY, HOUSTON, TX
Workdays & Hours: MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 AM - 5:00 PMSubject to Change
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
The Office of the City Attorney for the City of Houston (the "OCA") provides municipal legal services to the City, its elected and appointed officials, and its employees while adhering to the following guiding principles:
Quality & Service - Achieving high customer satisfaction as judged by our clients. Partnership & Teamwork - Working cooperatively internally and with our clients to achieve the City's goals. Integrity & Candor - Placing honesty and ethical behavior first. Dignity & Diversity - Promoting each person's value. Innovation & Imagination - Seeking novel and creative approaches to achieving the City's objectives.
The OCA handles personal injury, commercial and civil rights litigation, major commercial and real estate transactions, and a diverse array of human resources, labor, and employment matters, while also counseling the municipal corporation on economic development, constitutional, election matters, ethics, and quality of life matters, and preparing City ordinances governing Houston and its citizens.
Every member of the OCA must be committed to "Service Through Law."
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATIONAL
Requires a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association accredited college of law. Requires basic computer skills and working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.
EXPERIENCE
For ACA II: Minimum of 4 years of experience practicing law and must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to Federal court. License to practice law in Texas must be kept current as a condition of employment.
For Sr ACA I: Minimum of 8 years of experience practicing law and must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to Federal court. License to practice law in Texas must be kept current as a condition of employment.
For Sr ACA II: Minimum of 13 years of experience practicing law and must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to Federal court. License to practice law in Texas must be kept current as a condition of employment.
For Sr ACA III: Minimum of 18 years of experience practicing law and must be an active member in good standing of the Texas State Bar and eligible for admission to Federal court. License to practice law in Texas must be kept current as a condition of employment.
LICENSE
Must be a member of the Texas State Bar on or about the first day of employment. If selected for this position, official proof of a J.D. degree and membership in the Texas State Bar is required and a condition of employment.
PREFERENCES
Preference will be given to applicants with:
Exceptional contract negotiation and drafting skills. Excellent analytical and organizational skills. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Experience working with federal, state, and local agencies. General understanding of municipal procurement statutes. Proficiency with the Office 365 suite of programs, including Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, OneDrive Business, as well as other Microsoft collaborative platforms such as SharePoint; and proficiency with electronic legal research tools such as Westlaw Edge, Practical Law, and Drafting Assistant. Willing to work extended hours as needed to accommodate work demands.
All applicants must upload a current resume in addition to completing the application.
Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.
GENERAL INFORMATION
SELECTION/SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED
All applicants will be expected to provide a complete application which must include the following:
A current resume A statement of interest A legal writing sample demonstrating recent transactional experience
SAFETY IMPACT POSITION
No If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.
SALARY INFORMATION
Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidates qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in the appropriate classification.
Pay Grade: Varies Salary Range: Salary will be determined depending on qualifications
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during posting opening and closing dates shown. Applications must be submitted online at: www.houstontx.gov.
To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call (832) 393-6214.
All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information.
Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.
If you need special services or accommodations, call (832) 393-6214.
If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.
EOE - Equal Opportunity Employment
The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individuals sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan. Benefits include:
Medical Dental Vision Wellness Supplemental Insurance Life insurance Long-term disability Retirement pension 457 deferred compensation plan Employee Assistance Program 10 days of vacation each year 13 city holidays, plus one floating holiday Compensable Sick Leave Personal Leave Flexible schedules Hybrid-Telework for eligible positions Professional development opportunities Transportation/parking plan Section 125 pretax deductions Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan Paid Prenatal, Parental and Infant Wellness Leaves Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
For plan details, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/benefits.html
01 Are you a veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces (United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) for more than 90 consecutive days and received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions? Yes No
02 How many years of experience do you have practicing law? I have 4 years but less than 8 years of experience. I have 8 years but less than 13 years of experience. I have 13 years but less than 18 years of experience. I have 18 years or more of experience.
03 Do you possess a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association accredited college of law? Yes No
04 Are you a member of or eligible to become a member of the State Bar of Texas? Yes No
05 Have you ever been disciplined by a State Bar Association? Yes No
06 Has your right to practice law ever been limited? Yes No
07 With respect to academic performance in law school please indicate your placement within your class. Top 25% (1st Quarter) 26 - 50% (2nd Quarter) 51 - 75% (3rd Quarter) Bottom 25% (4th Quarter) I dont know
08 Have you submitted a current resume, a statement of interest, and a legal writing sample demonstrating recent transactional experience in addition to completing the application? Yes No