Civil Rights Attorney Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $113,829.51 - $121,023.76 Annually
Location : Georgetown: 405 MLK, TX
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 14.03377
Department: County Attorney
Opening Date: 07/30/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting directly to the Civil Division Chief, responsible for representing the State in a broad range of civil matters, including civil litigation for the County (both plaintiff and defense), providing counsel to Elected Officials and department heads, and providing legal representation for the Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies as needed. Represents the County in mental health civil commitment cases, juvenile law prosecution, bond forfeiture proceedings, and all civil litigation proceedings. Occasionally represents the Department of Family Protective Services in Child Protective Services (CPS) proceedings. Reviews responsive information in Public Information Act requests from responsive departments and provides legal redactions as necessary. Prepares information for submission in exhibits submitted to the Attorney General's Office for a ruling.
EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED

• Provides support and assistance to the Civil Division Chief in performing all duties related to defense representation of the County or County officials in civil litigation, tort claims, civil rights claims/Section 1983 litigation, employment claims, and other civil issues, including discovery, mediations, trials, and appeals
• Provides in-depth research briefs on a wide variety of topics pertaining to civil law
• Provides legal advice and counsel to county officials on legal inquiries and requests for opinions related to varied areas of law and the official's duties pursuant to law while counseling on any exposure to liability and litigation
• Executes responsibilities for communication with claimants or attorneys representing claimants regarding conclusions
• Drafts pleadings and response motions to include but not limited to Motions to Quash, Plea to the Jurisdiction, Motions to Transfer, General Answers, and Application for Appointment of Guardian
• Provides representation and assistance to the Bail Bond Board
• Represents the State in bail bond forfeiture proceedings
• Conducts legal research and analysis in preparation for legal briefs, pleadings, and motions to be filed and argued in court regarding litigation pending against the County and/or County officials and employees
• Performs contract or document review, or preparation of contracts and other legal documents
• Prepares training materials and provides training and counsel to local law enforcement agencies on legal matters pertaining to the investigation and processing of criminal and civil matters
• Communicates with outside agencies and county personnel, including department heads, law enforcement, elected officials, county employees, attorneys, and opposing attorneys
• Interfaces with other law enforcement agencies and governmental departments for interagency transfers
• Provides back-up duties and responsibilities as needed for all other attorneys within the Civil Division (i.e., Juvenile, Public Information Requests, Mental Health, Civil Litigation, Family Justice Division) and represents county departments, cross trains to basic proficiency in each of these areas
• Periodically attends Commissioner's Court open and executive sessions to offer legal advice and counsel
• Attends all meetings and trainings, as required
• Performs special duties as assigned

Mental Health Assignment

• Performs work on mental health matters and litigation related to representing the State in mental health civil commitment cases
• Represents the State in Probable Cause and Civil Commitment hearings which includes evaluating updated medical records, communicating with mental health facilities, and interviewing, preparing, and eliciting testimony from social workers, doctors, family members, and other witnesses as necessary
• Represents the State on Applications for Court Order to Administer Psychoactive Medication hearings, including reviewing and providing legal analysis on filing determinations on Applications for Court Order to Administer Psychoactive Medication and orders to receive restoration treatment
• Conducts legal research on nuanced and complex mental health issues and presents findings to assist other prosecutors in the office
• Conducts legal analysis in reviewing of applications for emergency detention and commitment hearings
• Represents the State in Adult Protective Services matters and state guardianship matters, which requires compiling and reviewing documents, drafting pleadings, preparing witnesses, and appearing on behalf of the State for all cases involving Williamson County residents where the Health and Human Services Commission is seeking appointment as permanent guardian
• Communicates with officials from the Local Intellectual Developmental Disability Authority and the Williamson County Jail, preparing and eliciting testimony from jail staff, social workers, doctors, mental health professionals, and others, utilizing Application for Admission to Residential Care Facility, Determination on Intellectual Disability, Interdisciplinary Team Report, Application to State Supported Living Center, medical records, letter from accepting facility, ICAP booklet and report, incident reports, pharmacological records, 16.22 reports, competency reports, criminal history, and other documents to create exhibits for use at trial

• Drafts pleadings and response motions, including but not limited to Application for Appointment of Permanent Guardian, Proposed Order Setting Hearing, Proposed Order Appointing Attorney Ad Litem, and other legal documents necessary for all mental health hearings
• Participates as representative from the County Attorney's Office at the Crisis Response Team Meetings, Mental Health Round Table Meetings, Strategic Intercept Mapping (SIM), and Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings
• Creates and presents trainings to medical and mental health facility staff on relevant issues that are targeted to facilitate efficient processing of cases and collaboration between the facility and County Attorney's Office

Public Information Act Assignment

• Responds to or provides advice on Rule 12 and Public Information Act (PIA) requests and, when necessary, prepares requests for rulings with legal briefs for submission to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
• Consults regularly with the OAG regarding specialized questions on complex PIA requests

• Conducts legal research and analysis in preparation for legal opinions to County officials, briefs in litigation, or OAG Opinion requests
• Reviews OAG rulings on brief submissions for PIA requests and provides redactions necessary on responsive information per OAG rulings
• Reviews all responsive information in PIA requests from responsive departments and provides legal redactions as necessary; prepares information for submission in exhibits for OAG ruling requests
• Regularly organizes and filters various documents of responsive information and provides necessary redactions for public information requested
• Prepares and presents trainings on cost-estimates and how to properly calculate the labor hours, overhead costs, copies, scanned documents, and inspection costs under the PIA

ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports directly to - Civil Division Chief
• Direct Reports - No

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Position involves prolonged sitting at a workstation, visual examination of documents, reaching, walking, twisting, bending, standing and occasional lifting/carrying

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

• Work is primarily indoors in an air-conditioned environment
• Regular travel between work sites as required
• High stress, pressure of deadlines, and case management under limited time constraints

IRREGULAR HOURS

• Work outside of the normal office hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) may be required
• May be deemed essential personnel in the event of an emergency
• Regular attendance is required

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctor of Jurisprudence from an accredited law school and five (5) years of experience in a county or district attorney office, city attorney, or other governmental attorney with experience in areas related to the job duties; or six (6) years of civil law experience as an attorney in relevant areas
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, LexisNexis, and Westlaw

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• State Bar of Texas

Required within thirty (30) days of employment

• Valid driver's license

Required within six (6) months of employment

• Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) certification
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) certification

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Working knowledge of Odyssey and Digital Evidence management System (DEMS)

EMPLOYMENT TESTING
Employment is contingent on passing any post-offer pre-employment screening as listed below:

• Criminal background check: Yes
• Motor Vehicle Record check: Yes
• Drug screening: No
• Physical exam: No
• Psychological exam: No
• Additional: N/A

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
A Williamson County online application (resumes alone are not sufficient) must be received before the position is closed. Positions are open until filled, subject to close at any time after five (5) calendar days. The Human Resources Department is located at 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, TX 78626. Phone (512) 943-1533 or visit our website at .
Williamson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please request assistance from the Human Resources Department.
TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE POLICY
Williamson County is a tobacco free workplace. The use of tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, chew, etc.) and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) (e.g., vapor, e-cigarettes, etc.) is prohibited on all Williamson County premises. Employees who violate this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
Williamson County offers a full range of employee benefit programs for eligible full-time employees, retirees, and their families. These programs include group health plans for medical and dental coverage; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); life; short- term disability and long-term disability insurance; and flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care reimbursements.
To review our benefit options and associated costs, click here to visit our interactive benefits cost estimator.
The County also provides retirement benefits. Full-time & part-time employees participate in the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), and employees may also participate in a retirement savings program (Deferred Compensation). In addition to these basic employee benefits and retirement services, employees benefit from a variety of other programs including 12 paid holidays. For more details please contact Williamson County Human Resources at 512-943-1533.
01
Do you possess a Doctor of Jurisprudence from an accredited law school and five (5) years of experience in a county or district attorney office, city attorney, or other governmental attorney with experience in areas related to the job duties; or six (6) years of civil law experience as an attorney in relevant areas?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you possess a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, LexisNexis, and Westlaw?

• Yes
• No

03
Are you a member of the State Bar of Texas and in good standing?

• Yes
• No

Required Question