LITIGATION ATTORNEY – GENERAL LITIGATION SECTION

Applications accepted from:  ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

Job Classification: SR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY I to SR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY III

Section: GENERAL LITIGATION
Reporting Location: 900 BAGBY
Workdays & Hours: MONDAY – FRIDAY 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM* *Subject to Change

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.

Composed of approximately 100 of Houston's finest attorneys working in 10 legal practice sections, the OCA handles personal injury, commercial and civil rights litigation, major commercial and real estate transactions, and a diverse array of human resources, labor and employment matters, while also counseling the municipal corporation on economic development, constitutional, election matters, ethics and quality of life matters, and preparing City ordinances governing Houston and its citizens.

Every member of the OCA is committed to "Service Through Law."

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The City of Houston seeks a commercial litigation attorney with at least 8 years of experience to handle civil commercial matters, as well as litigation involving City ordinances, election contests, civil rights and state and federal constitutional issues.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Representing the City and City employees and public officials in complex commercial and constitutional matters.
• Handling written discovery and motion practice in federal and state courts.
• Researching and preparing trial court briefs and motions.
• Taking and defending depositions of fact and expert witnesses.
• Identifying experts and assisting in the development of expert testimony.
• Evaluating case value and making settlement recommendations.
• Preparing case memoranda and representing the City in mediations.
• Preparing for and handling bench trials, evidentiary hearings, and jury trials in state and federal courts.
• Supervising outside counsel.
• Counseling the client departments.
• Assisting the City Attorney and others with special projects such as drafting City Attorney Legal Opinions.

WORKING CONDITIONS
This position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc. There are no major sources of discomfort in a normal office environment.