Legal - Assistant General Counsel

Closing Date: 1st June, 2024

Description:

Who are we:
A Government Entity's Legal Services Division (https://www.texasagriculture.gov/About/TDADivisions/LegalServices.aspx) provides legal counsel to TDA executive staff, divisions and programs, and a variety of boards and advisory committees.
What You'll Do:
The Assistant General Counsel will provide advanced legal services for the Trade and Business Development Division's Office of Rural Affairs, State Office of Rural Health, and Grants Office of the A Government Entity including supporting the Community Development Block Grant Program, rural health grant programs, Texas Agricultural Finance Authority, agricultural grant programs and other federally and state funded rural economic development grant programs and related boards and committees. You will provide legal advice to A Government Entity staff administering the programs; drafting and/or reviewing correspondence, solicitation requests, contracts, program guides, and rules; and implementing legislation regarding the programs. You will work under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide legal support for the Trade and Business Development Division's Office of Rural Affairs, State Office of Rural Health, Texas Agricultural Finance Authority, and Grants Office, as assigned, to include: providing legal advice to A Government Entity staff administering federally and state funded rural community and economic development and rural health programs; drafting and/or reviewing correspondence, solicitations such as requests for proposals, qualifications, or grant applications, contracts, grant agreements and amendments, program implementation manuals, program application guides, and rules; and implementing legislation regarding the programs.
• Research and provide legal analysis on state and federal laws and regulations.
• Review contract performance issues, findings of noncompliance and breach of contract issues, and provide legal support and advice to programs on such matters.
• Attend various advisory committee and board meetings and provide legal support to program committees and boards.
• Research and draft legal memoranda on issues for programs and A Government Entity executive staff.
• Attend program staff meetings, including briefings on grant awards and issues related to program implementation, and provide legal support to programs on such matters.
• Serve as a staff attorney providing program support in the area of administrative law, including agency rulemaking, public information requests and compliance with open meetings.
• Serve, as needed, as one of the agency's liaisons with the Office of the Attorney General regarding litigation involving the agency, to include preparing subpoenas, records and documents for civil litigation and assist in preparing cases for court trial and assist in representing the agency in matters before court, as appropriate.
• Serve as counsel for programs in administrative hearings, including drafting briefs, preparing witnesses for testimony, and representing A Government Entity at the hearings.
• Follow all A Government Entity safety guidelines/procedures and ethics requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. or LL. B. Degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a license to practice law in the State of Texas.
• 5 years of work experience working as a licensed attorney.
• Recent work experience in contracts and administrative law.
• Work experience performing legal research and preparing legal memoranda and documents.
• Experience making presentations to groups.

Preferred:

• Experience working with federal and/or state grant programs.
• Experience working as an attorney in a governmental entity in Texas.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of legal principles, practices, and proceedings.
• Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in the use of a computer and applicable software; in using reasoning and logic; in identifying and solving complex problems; in prioritizing workloads; and in using judgment to identify courses of action.
• Ability to conduct hearings, to prepare opinions and briefs, to prepare cases for trial, to conduct research, to summarize findings, to interpret and apply laws, to use legal reference materials, to communicate effectively, orally and in writing; exercise sound judgment and discretion; and to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
Normal office work environment and may have exposure to dust and environmental allergens consistent with normal business activities and human contact. Mostly sedentary in nature but may involve walking; standing; pulling and pushing; kneeling, stooping and bending; performing tasks requiring fine motor skills and coordination; and safely lifting and carrying items weighing up to 30 pounds. Must be able work extended periods at a computer, and may require working extended hours and some evenings and weekends, as needed. May involve travel, up to 10%* of the work period, and some occasionally overnight.

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