Office of the Attorney General

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Office of the Attorney General is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the Office of the Attorney General provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. 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. This Assistant Attorney General position is assigned to the Bankruptcy & Collections Division. The Bankruptcy and Collections Division is the centralized collection authority for the State, charged with the responsibility to recover all debts, judgments, taxes, fees, fines, penalties, loans, and other obligations referred to the agency for collection. The Collection Section employs investigators to locate and identify parties responsible for the debt and its attorneys pursue collection in state court. The Bankruptcy Section represents state agencies in federal court around the country, as well as in Texas, to protect the State's monetary, regulatory and policy interests in bankruptcy cases. The Office of Attorney General seeks a highly qualified and experienced litigator for its State Court Collections Team. The attorney would manage a high-volume delinquent student loan collection practice for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In addition, the attorney would litigate other state-court collection actions on behalf of various agencies, including tax collection suits on behalf of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Assistant Attorney General I: Drafts pleadings, motions, discovery, and other legal documents in connection with collecting delinquent student loans and representing state tax authorities in State, County and JP Court Directs or provides legal advice, counsel, and assistance to client state agencies, including the Texas Comptroller, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and other state agencies, boards, and commissions; communicates and coordinates with client agencies Performs legal research and investigations, reports findings and conclusions Participates in evidentiary hearings and may second chair trials with senior attorneys Prepares cases for trial or hearings in State Court, County and JP Court including discovery, depositions, pleadings, and other legal documents; represents state agencies in State Court Analyzes routine factual and legal issues; develops evidence through witness interviews, depositions, and other discovery Performs related work as assigned 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 Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity Assistant Attorney General II: All of the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General I, Plus: Analyzes moderately complex factual and legal issues Assistant Attorney General III: All of the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General II, Plus: Assists with training and mentoring less tenured staff May first chair bench trials MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Assistant Attorney General I: Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) Licensed as an attorney by the State Bar of Texas Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas Knowledge of laws, legal principles, and practices relevant to debt collection 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 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 5% Assistant Attorney General II: All of the above qualifications for an Assistant Attorney General I, Plus: Experience: One year full-time legal experience as a licensed attorney Assistant Attorney General III: All of the above qualifications for an Assistant Attorney General II, Plus: Experience: One additional year full-time legal experience as a licensed attorney PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience: Three plus years full-time experience as a licensed attorney representing creditors with respect to collections Knowledge of laws, legal principles, and practices relevant to delinquent student loan collection and state taxation TO APPLY To apply for a job with the OAG, submit a completed State of Texas job application through the OAG’s Job Postings Page. A State of Texas application must be completed to be considered, and paper applications are not accepted. For further instructions on how to apply through the OAG’s Job Postings Page, see our How to Apply page. Your application for this position may subject you to a criminal background check pursuant to the Texas Government Code. THE OAG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER