Attorney I-III

About the role

The Travis County Public Defender's Office is a comprehensive public defender office envisioned to be client-centered, independent, and innovative to the needs of the Travis County community. Consistent with nationally recognized best practices, the PDO provides high-quality holistic defense representation and other support to its clients. We represent youth in Juvenile Court and adults, including those living with serious mental illness/intellectual or developmental disability, in Criminal Court.

We are currently seeking applicants for Attorney I-III within our General Adult and Mental Health divisions with (1) a demonstrated commitment to client-centered defense, (2) meaningful experience serving our client population, and (3) the desire and ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary client team.

Attorney I-III is a key member of the PDO team responsible for providing zealous representation and advocacy to indigent people in Travis County.

If you would like to be considered for the Mental Health Division Attorney II-III, please expressly indicate that in your application.

Please Note

Mental Health Division Attorney II-III applicants must have a minimum of 18 months of licensed attorney work experience.

Applications must include any experience working with or representing individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or an intellectual/developmental disability.

*Positions may be filled before the closing date. Applications will be reviewed, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Distinguishing Characteristics: Attorney I

This is the first in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences without supervision.

Attorney II

This is the second in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences without supervision.

Attorney III

This is the third in a series of seven attorney-related job classifications within the Attorneys job family. This classification handles cases and matters that are the least complex and may result in the least serious consequences without supervision and handles cases and matters that are moderately complex and may result in moderately severe consequences with supervision.

• Provides client-centered criminal defense representation to indigent clients.
• Works as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide holistic representation.
• Performs legal research. Searches resources and studies legal records and documents to obtain information applicable to the case or issue under consideration.
• Drafts briefs, motions, orders, subpoenas, contracts, and other legal documents, as well as correspondence and reports.
• Oversees the creation and issuance of legal documents, including subpoenas, motions, orders, writs, and warrants.
• Prepares cases for trial. Collects, organizes, and prepares evidence, information, and other legal materials.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Attorney I: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school or eligible to complete J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school no later than Summer 2027.
• Attorney II: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND (18) months of licensed attorney work experience.
• Attorney III: J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND (3) years licensed attorney work experience.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas
• Will consider delayed start dates for highly qualified candidates who will take the Texas Bar by July 2027 (offer contingent on successful admission).

Please Note

May consider a deferred start date for highly qualified candidates immediately eligible to waive into the Texas Bar using the Admission without Examination (AWOX) process or Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) transfer process (offer contingent on successful admission).

Please attach your resume to your application. Cover letters are encouraged.

Preferred

• A cover letter detailing interest in the position, including why you want to work for the Travis County Public Defender’s Office.
• Recent legal writing sample.
• Hearing and trial experience consistent with years of practice.
• Ability to fluently speak and write in Spanish.
• Mission-aligned experience (work or lived) advocating on behalf of people/communities directly impacted by the criminal/immigration/indigent civil legal systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Enmeshed penalties and collateral consequences triggered by criminal-legal system contact.
• Best practices in socially and culturally competent representation of marginalized people.
• Jurisprudence, criminal and civil law and procedures, including constitutional and statutory law.
• Federal, State, Local, and County applicable laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Effective techniques for presentation of cases in court or to effectively present facts and precedents verbally and in writing in law-related matters.
• Policies, practices, procedures, and legal terminology related to the courts and legal system.
• Computer equipment includes word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in

• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents in area of specialty.
• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.

Ability to

• Exercise sound judgment.
• Communicate effectively across lines of difference with others.
• Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically.
• Present facts, precedents and arguments verbally and in writing and apply negotiation skills.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Manage time well and perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Additional information

The PDO is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. The PDO strongly encourages candidates of all identities, experiences, abilities, and communities to apply. All applicants should be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In considering applicants, the PDO values an applicant's experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with people from marginalized communities.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to (25) pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

The position is anticipated to start as soon as October 20th.

• Work hours: 8a-5p, Monday-Friday
• Works some nights, some holidays, and some weekends
• Department: Public Defender’s Office
• Location: 1010 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701

Post-offer criminal background check required.