ATTORNEY - CIVIL APPELLATE

PN#19508 CIVIL APPELLATE ATTORNEY

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
The City of Houston Legal Department strives to provide the highest quality municipal legal services to the City, its elected and appointed officials, and its employees in the most efficient manner feasible through adherence to the following guiding principles:

• Quality & Service – Achieving high customer satisfaction as judged by our clients,
• Partnership & Teamwork – Working cooperatively internally and with our clients to achieve the City's goals,
• Integrity & Candor – Acting with a commitment to honesty and ethical behavior,
• Dignity & Diversity – Demonstrating esteem for the worth of each individual,
• Innovation & Imagination – Seeking novel and creative approaches to achieving the City's objectives.
 
Comprised of over 100 of Houston's finest attorneys across ten sections, the Legal Department has the pivotal role of providing litigation support, negotiating and drafting contracts, handling taxation matters, advising on personnel actions, dealing with the acquisition of sale of City property, overseeing City elections, drafting ordinances, advising on ethics and conflicts of interest, and dealing with neighborhood protection and quality of life issues. Every employee is committed to the Department's motto – "Service Through Law."

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
The City of Houston seeks an appellate attorney with at least 10 years of experience to handle civil  commercial and personal injury appellate matters,  as well as appeals involving City ordinances, election contests,  civil rights and  state and federal constitutional issues.
 
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Handling appeals and motion practice in federal and state courts.
• Preparation of briefs and motions in appellate and trial courts.
• Oral argument in appellate and trial courts.
• Assisting with jury trials. 
• Supervising outside counsel.
• Coordinating the prosecution of appeals with co-counsel.
• Evaluating amici briefing opportunities on issues of national significance.
• Counseling the client departments, and training city employees on the enforcement or meaning of city ordinances and policies.
• Assisting the City Attorney and others with special projects such as drafting City Attorney Legal Opinions.
• Drafting, reviewing or revising city policies.
 

EDUCATIONAL: Requires a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from an American Bar Association accredited college of law.

EXPERIENCE: 10 years of experience handling civil commercial and personal injury appellate matters, as well as appeals involving City ordinances, election contests, civil rights and state and federal constitutional issues.

LICENSE: Must be a member of the Texas State Bar and have a valid Driver's License.
 

Preference will be given to applicants with:
• Some jury trial experience.
• Board certification in Appellate Law.
• Judicial clerkship experience.
• Excellent oral advocacy skills.
• Lead appellate oral argument experience.
• Lead appellate counsel experience in state and federal courts.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Familiarity with federal and state court appellate judges and court practices and procedures.
• Expertise with Texas and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Texas and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Expertise in constitutional law.
•  Must be willing to work extended hours as needed to accommodate case load demands.
• Some jury trial experience.
• Board certification in Appellate Law.
• Judicial clerkship experience.
• Excellent oral advocacy skills.
• Lead appellate oral argument experience.
• Lead appellate counsel experience in state and federal courts.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Familiarity with federal and state court appellate judges and court practices and procedures.
• Expertise with Texas and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Texas and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Expertise in constitutional law.
• Some jury trial experience.
• Board certification in Appellate Law.
• Judicial clerkship experience.
• Excellent oral advocacy skills.
• Lead appellate oral argument experience.
• Lead appellate counsel experience in state and federal courts.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Familiarity with federal and state court appellate judges and court practices and procedures.
• Expertise with Texas and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Texas and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Expertise in constitutional law.
• Must be willing to work extended hours as needed to accommodate case load demands.
• Proficiency with Word, Outlook, Excel and the use of technology in the practice.