Job Summary 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. Minimum Requirements
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.
Work Environment & Other 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.
For updates or questions on this position, contact: tcpdohiring@traviscountytx.gov
Benefits
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.FY2027 Travis County Benefit Guide In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees. Credit Union Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits. Deferred Compensation Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction. Direct Deposit Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit. Employee Assistance Program Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family. Employee Organizations Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction. Employee Health & Wellness Clinic Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs. Holidays An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County’s current policy is to pay 100% of the employee’s health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.
The following benefits are employee paid:
- Dental
- Vision
- Supplemental Life, AD&D
- Dependent Life
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability
- Long Term Care
New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment. Longevity Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year. Parking A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex. Personal Holidays Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins: January – March 3 personal holidays April - June 2 personal holidays
July - September 1 personal holiday
October - December None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.Retirement Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees. Sick Leave Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work. Tuition Refund Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily. Vacation Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates: 0 to 5 years 4.0 hours per pay period 6 to 10 years 4.5 hours per pay period 11 to 15 years 5.0 hours per pay period 16 to 20 years 5.5 hours per pay period 21 plus years 6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.Workers' Compensation The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.