Consumer Protection Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

****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 on its Special Enforcement Team and will be based in Austin or San Antonio. Work involves planning and coordinating investigations into high-profile matters, including issuing Civil Investigative Demands, taking pre-suit depositions of well-represented opponents, and navigating privilege and other defenses asserted as part of these investigations. This candidate will also be comfortable driving fast-paced investigations and litigations with news-worthy implications and is comfortable handling court appearances, engaging in motion practice, and zealous litigating issues on behalf of the State.

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. Employees enjoy excellent benefits (https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance) 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 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

• Oversees day-to-day activities of staff for the Consumer Protection Division.
• Oversees and/or establishes goals and objectives; develops and approves priorities, and standards for achieving goals
• and collects, compiles, and analyzes documents and highly advance information.
• Oversees and assists with the planning, development, coordination, and administration of research projects.
• Oversees and coordinates, assembles, and prepares, evidence, exhibits, and documents for use in legal proceedings.
• Analyzes complex factual and legal issues and develops evidence for filing of Consumer Protection cases
• Oversees and researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions
• Prepares and oversees the preparation of legal documents, cases for trial, administrative and evidentiary hearings
• Oversees preparation, review, and edits pleadings, motions, briefs, abstracts, petitions, summary judgments, legal
• Participates in evidentiary hearings and in the discovery process; testifies at legislative meetings
• Oversees and interacts with potential witnesses and representatives of other state agencies.
• Oversees and reviews cases for jurisdictional deficiencies and procedural compliance
• Oversees the conduction of pre-suit investigations
• Maintains knowledge of legal principles and practices relevant to Consumer Protection
• Oversees the monitoring and analyses of relevant state and federal legislation, and oversees the implementation of
• changes resulting from new legislation.
• Testifies at hearings, trials, and legislative meetings
• Performs all phases of civil litigation of antitrust cases including the drafting of legal documents including but not limited to petitions, motions, pleadings, orders, briefs, discovery and memoranda
• Oversees a high volume of litigation cases and investigations.
• Provides legal advice, counsel and assistance and advises clients and management on factual and legal issues
• Represents the Office of the Attorney General before state, or federal bankruptcy, federal district and appellate courts
• Performs legal research and investigations, and reports findings and conclusions
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity
• 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
• Performs related work as assigned

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a J.D.
• Experience: Six years of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: Consumer Protection, Commercial Litigation, Constitutional Litigation
• Case management experience or experience managing briefs with federal and/or state courts
• Licensed as an attorney by the State 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 and practices relevant to the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, other relevant Consumer Protection statutes
• Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
• Skill in effective oral and written communication
• Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
• 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 the use of a computer and applicable software.
• 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 25%

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience: working in the following (or closely related) fields: data privacy; consumer protection; privacy compliance; commercial litigation; experience overseeing investigations or litigation; experience implementing or developing privacy and data security programs; experience mentoring less experienced attorneys