General Description:

Description The Texas General Land Office primarily serves the schoolchildren, veterans, and the environment of Texas. The agency does so by preserving our history, maximizing state revenue through innovative administration, and through the prudent stewardship of state lands and natural resources. This position is with our Office of General Counsel department.

Performs highly advanced (senior-level) legal work involving examining and preparing legal documents, interpreting laws and
regulations, rendering legal advice and counsel, consulting with trial attorneys, conducting hearings, and preparing cases for agency hearings and/or trials. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

The successful candidate will be an integral part of the Office of General Counsel Department. To be successful the candidate must model the GLO's competencies of Integrity, Open Communications, Teamwork, Innovation and Proficiency.

Benefits:

• Defined Retirement Benefit Plan.
• Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts.
• Medical Insurance - State pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full-time employees and 50% of the premium for their eligible dependents. State pays 50% of the eligible part-time employee’s premium and 25% for eligible dependents.
• Optional Benefits such as dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Minimum of 96+ Hours of Annual Leave a year **Annual leave increases with length of service.
• Telework policy
• Free Parking

Veterans, Reservist or Guardsman with an MOS or additional duties that fall in the fields of Army - 27A Judge Advocate General; Navy - 250X - Judge Advocate General Corps; Coast Guard - 04 - Legal; Marines -4402 Judge Advocate; Air Force - 351JX Judge Advocate or other related fields pertaining to the minimum experience requirement may meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

Additional Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at
http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf

In order to receive Veterans' preference, a copy of Form DD#214 is required at time of interview.

Essential Job Duties:

• Prepares legal opinions and memoranda, correspondence, proposals, and other legal documents related to assigned responsibilities.
• Provides legal counsel and support to the General Counsel for the VLB program areas on legal issues related to state contract and procurement laws, health law, and data privacy.
• Develops contracts, amendments and work orders, describing services to be rendered, evaluating information provided by vendors, and reviewing contract specifications for applicability to the work requested.
• Advises client divisions, and sometimes the public, on legal matters and interpretations of laws affecting the client, particularly the Veterans Land Board.
• Assists the Deputy General Counsel as liaison to the Attorney General's office or outside counsel in the representation of the agency in civil actions on legal matters related to assigned responsibilities and constitutional law.
• Provides legal counsel and support to the General Counsel and all client divisions on legal matters related to data privacy and HIPAA.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of legal principles, practices, and proceedings; of state and federal laws, rules, and regulations; and of agency administrative rules and regulations.

Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in the use of a computer and applicable software; in using reasoning and logic; in identifying and solving complex problems; in prioritizing workloads; and in using judgment to identify courses of action.

Ability to conduct hearings, to prepare opinions and briefs, to prepare cases for trial, to conduct research, to summarize findings, to interpret and apply laws, to use legal reference materials, to communicate effectively, to operate a computer and applicable software and to train others.

Ability to attend work regularly and adhere to established work schedule in accordance with agency leave and attendance.

Physical Requirements:
This position requires the employee to primarily perform sedentary office work; however, mobility (moving around the work-site) is routinely required to carry out some duties. This position requires extensive computer, telephone and client/customer contact and communication. It requires the ability to move and position oneself as needed for filing and similar routine office duties. The job also requires normal cognitive abilities requiring the ability to learn, recall, and apply certain practices and policies. It requires the stamina to maintain attention to detail despite interruptions. Ability to read printed materials and computer screens. The individual must be able to move and transport records, documents, boxes, and all related information and materials, weighing up to 20 pounds when required. The individual must be able to remain stationary for long periods of time when commuting to and from assigned destination and when traveling on state business including fieldwork and training assignments.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

Licensed as an attorney by the State of Texas.

Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

Three (3) years of full-time licensed attorney experience, may substitute one (1) year of experience as a law clerk or experience with procurement law, health law, data privacy or related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

Five (5) years of full-time experience as a licensed attorney in the State of Texas

Experience working with and interpreting federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to Veterans Land Board.

Experience working with and interpreting Texas health law, data privacy and HIPAA.

Experience working with and interpreting Texas contract and procurement laws.

Experience in preparing and reviewing scopes of work, specifications, and conditions for contracts and procurements.