• Job Description

  Req#: 00056264

  Do you have a passion for public service and enjoy making a difference? Don’t miss out on this opportunity. The Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) is hiring! Apply now if you’re looking for a rewarding career in public service.

  You’ll love the Benefits of Working at OIEC:

  • 96 hours of accrued vacation a year

  • 96 hours of accrued sick leave a year

  • 20+ holidays every year

  • Career advancement opportunities

  • Free parking

  • Free comprehensive medical insurance for full-time employees and 50% off premium costs for dependents (state pays other 50%)

  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

  OIEC is the state agency that helps injured employees with their Texas workers’ compensation claims. The agency assists, educates, and advocates on their behalf. OIEC provides services in 20 offices across the state. Agency services include advocacy, customer service, and dispute assistance through OIEC’s Ombudsman Program.

  General Counsel (General Counsel I) - Austin

  The General Counsel performs moderately complex (journey-level) legal work and ensures the agency is compliant with state and federal laws and regulations. Participates in assigned projects, including the development of policies, rules, standard procedures and forms, review and implementation of legislative changes and similar projects. Interprets laws and regulations, prepares legal documents; rendering legal advice and counsel; and consulting with attorneys. Demonstrates integrity, sound judgement, respect for others, and the highest ethical standards of public service. Represents OIEC professionally in litigation matters. Works under general supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

  This position:

  • provides counsel to the Director of Legal and Staff Services on matters related to employment law, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended Act (ADAAA)

  • advises agency staff on federal and state employment laws and regulations as well as other legal matters. Reviews and drafts legal statements and provides legal advice on discrimination matters, and mediations as well as other legal matters

  • reviews drafts of laws, rules, and regulations affecting agency operations

  • participates in unemployment telephone hearings

  • advises Public Counsel on interpretation of the Texas Labor Code and related statutes and laws

  • reviews and prepares agency’s responses to open record requests

  • provides timely and accurate analysis and communication of legal issues with thorough research of statutes, case law, agency, and staff objectives

  • performs other duties, as assigned

  • graduation from an accredited law school with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree
  • licensed as an attorney in good standing with the State Bar of Texas

  • five years’ full-time legal experience

  Additionally, preferences for this job are:

  • five years’ full-time legal experience with a State of Texas agency

  • four years’ experience with Public Information Act

  • five years of workers’ compensation law experience

  • four years’ experience with employment law, FMLA, and ADAAA

  • experience with agency retention and purging management

  • extensive experience with legal writing and research

  This position requires demonstrated knowledge of:

  • Texas Government Code; Texas Administrative Procedures Act; Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), FMLA, ADAAA, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and employment laws legal principles, practices, and proceedings and of laws, regulations, and rules related to the Office of Injured Employee Counsel

  This position requires demonstrated skill in:

  • legal analysis, problem solving, and implementing effective solutions
  • legislative drafting techniques and legislative process
  • working effectively across multiple groups and functional areas and subject-matter-experts
  • strategic and critical thinking
  • tactful communications, both verbal and written
  • legal writing in plain English

  This position requires the demonstrated ability to:

  • exercise good judgement in the analysis of legal problems and to prepare sound, clear opinions

  • efficiently and accurately research complex legal issues

  • analyze and solve legal problems and interpret laws and regulations affecting the agency

  • express comments and legal opinions clearly and persuasively

  • deal tactfully and professionally with the public, co-workers, agency staff and system participants

  • explain legal concepts to lay persons

  Candidate must reside in Texas or be able to relocate to Texas by the start date.

  OIEC does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa.

  How to apply:

  You may apply through CAPPS Career Center or Work in Texas (WIT) .

  Your submission should include complete:

  • Employment history (month and year), including job title, name of employer, manager’s name and phone number

  • Duties and responsibilities

  • Education

  • Certifications

  • Licenses

  • Supplemental questions*

  If you are submitting your resume, please ensure the resume has the required information mentioned above.

  We may reject submissions that do not include all the required information mentioned above.

  *If applying through Work in Texas

  Work in Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the supplemental questions to be considered for the posting. To complete the supplemental questions, please go to CAPPS Career Center to register or log in and access your profile.

  Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. An applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense relevant to the position may be disqualified from employment.

  Equal employment opportunity: OIEC does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or in the provision of services. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be directed to OIECHR@oiec.texas.gov .

  Please note: Unless specifically and expressly stated otherwise, regular attendance is an essential function of every OIEC job.

  Employment Preferences

  Military employment preference

  Senate Bill 1376, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, Section 657.002 requires State agencies to give military employment preference in employment and retention. Please see more details on our job page.

  Documentation must be attached before military preference can be granted, and all personal and/or sensitive information (i.e. Social Security Number, DOB) must be redacted from any attached documents.

  To receive a military employment preference for any position, the following documents are required to be submitted with your application, as applicable:

  • Veteran: DD Form 214

  • Surviving spouse of a veteran who has not remarried: Marriage Certificate and DD Form 1300 or appropriate documentation

  • Orphan of a veteran killed while on active duty: Birth Certificate and DD Form 1300 or appropriate documentation

  • Spouse of a member of the US Armed Forces/Texas National Guard serving on Active Duty: Marriage Certificate and copy of spouse's active-duty military orders

  • Spouse of a veteran with disability and is the primary income for household: Marriage Certificate, Veterans DD Form 214, and VA Benefits Summary Letter showing disability rating

  For help translating your military work experience, including training courses on civilian job terminology, skill sets, and qualifications or requirements, click or copy this URL into your browser: www.texasskillstowork.com

  Applicable Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes are included, but not limited to one of the following: 27A, 250X, LGL10, LGL11, 4402, 4410, 51JX

  Additional Military Crosswalk information can be accessed by clicking or copying and pasting the following link into your browser:

  https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf

  Former Foster Youth Preference

  An individual who was under the permanent managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services on the day preceding the individual’s 18th birthday is entitled to a preference in employment with a state agency over other applicants for the same position who do not have a greater qualification. The preference is valid for individuals aged 25 or younger. Tex. Gov’t Code, Section 672.002.

  Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order GA-48, candidates having any connection or continuous connections to any governmental entity or political apparatus of a country listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4 may be subject to a heightened security background check depending on other factors.

• About the company

  Texas is a state in the South Central region of the United States.

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