Assistant Attorney General I-II | Consumer Protection

****PLEASE NOTE THIS APPLICATION IS EXPRESSING INTEREST IN THIS ROLE AND NOT A FORMAL APPLICATION*****

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Consumer Protection Division seeks a licensed attorney for a highly competitive position based in Austin or San Antonio.

The position requires an aggressive plaintiff’s side litigator ready to take on major corporations in high-stakes consumer protection cases. The ideal candidate will drive complex investigations from inception through trial, including issuing Civil Investigative Demands, taking pre-suit depositions of well-represented opponents, managing extensive document discovery, handling sophisticated motion practice, and trying cases to verdict. You must be comfortable with fast-paced, high-profile investigations that generate significant public interest. The right candidate thinks strategically about case development, can push their case forward, and thrives in court. Courtroom experience, particularly a trial lawyer with multiple bench or jury trials in federal or state court or before SOAH, is a plus.

The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, an agency of the State of Texas, works to protect Texas consumers and the legitimate business community by investigating breaches of fiduciary duties, fraud and deceptive advertising, filing civil lawsuits to enforce state and federal consumer protection and charitable trust laws, and educating Texans on how to spot and avoid possible scams. The Division has regional offices in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio. We provide a highly collaborative work environment where lawyers help one another while managing their own dockets as first and second chair from the initial stages of a case through resolution.

The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits ( along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) experience the challenge and honor of public service while enjoying a healthy work-life balance; hands-on legal experience; and engaging camaraderie in Austin, the scenic and lively capital of Texas.

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) I:

• Files and litigates lawsuits for high-profile civil litigation cases.
• Analyzes complex factual and legal issues and develops evidence through witness interviews, undercover operations, examinations under oath, depositions, requests to examine, civil investigative demands, and other discovery
• Represents the Office of the Attorney General and other state agencies before state and federal district and appellate courts in charitable trust and civil enforcement cases pursuant to the Texas Business Organizations Code, Texas Trust Code, the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other privacy and technology related consumer protection laws
• Performs all phases of civil litigation of consumer protection cases including the drafting of legal documents including but not limited to petitions, motions, pleadings, orders, briefs, discovery, and memoranda; prepares cases for trial
• Participates in administrative hearings and evidentiary hearings and in the discovery process
• Performs legal research and investigations; reports findings and conclusions
• Advises management on factual and legal issues
• Assists in drafting bills and amendments for legislative consideration
• Provides technical guidance to less tenured staff and may help train others
• Maintains knowledge of legal principles and practices relevant to Consumer Protection
• Maintains a low to medium volume of litigation cases and investigations
• Maintains confidentiality of all case-related matters
• Communicates with representatives of state agencies and consumers
• Performs related work as assigned
• Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions
• Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
• Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) II – All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General I, PLUS:

• Maintains a medium to high volume of litigation cases and investigations.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) I:

• Education: Graduation from accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.)
• Licensed as an attorney by the State Bar of Texas
• Must be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and eligible to practice law in Texas by start date.
• Knowledge of law and legal principles, practices, and proceedings; and of state and federal laws, regulations, and rules
• Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
• Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in conducting investigations; in mediation and negotiations; in using reasoning and logic; in identifying and solving complex problems; in prioritizing workloads; in using judgment to identify courses of action; and in using a computer and applicable software
• Skill in working under pressure and cooperatively with other attorneys, supervisors, investigators, and support staff
• Skill in effective oral and written communication
• Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
• Ability to prepare legal documents, to conduct research, to interpret and apply laws, to summarize findings, to prepare cases and present at trial, to conduct hearings and to communicate effectively
• Ability to handle stressful situations
• Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
• Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
• Ability to provide excellent customer service
• Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG work space within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave)
• Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel
• Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
• Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
• Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 20%

Assistant Attorney General (AAG) II - All the above qualifications for an Assistant Attorney General I, PLUS:

• Experience: One year of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: Civil Litigation, Consumer Protection

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience as a Plaintiff’s side litigator.
• Experience as the First Chair in jury or bench trials (Federal, State, or SOAH)
• Experience: Two years of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: corporation law; nonprofit law; charitable trusts; consumer protection; commercial litigation; civil litigation
• Knowledge: of law and legal principles and practices relevant to the Texas Business Organizations Code, Texas Trust Code, nonprofit law, Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and relevant consumer protection statutes, including state and federal privacy laws