TORT & CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY

Job Classification: Assistant City Attorney I and Senior Assistant City Attorney II
Section: TORT & CIVIL RIGHTS
Reporting Location: 900 BAGBY                                
Workdays & Hours: MONDAY – FRIDAY 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM*   *Subject to Change
           
LEGAL DEPARTMENT  
The Office of the City Attorney for the City of Houston (the “OCA”) provides legal services to the City, its elected and appointed officials, and its employees while adhering 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 – Placing honesty and ethical behavior first.  
• Dignity & Diversity – Promoting each person’s value. 
• 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 an attorney with at least one first-chair jury trial in state or federal court to join the Torts/Civil Rights section of the OCA.  The successful applicant is a high-energy self-starter who will litigate primarily personal injury matters with room for growth in other areas.  
 
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Handling written discovery and motion practice in state court. 
• 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.   
• Representing the City of Houston and its employees in jury and bench trials.  
• Evaluating case value and making settlement recommendations. 
• Preparing case memoranda and representing the City in mediations. 
• 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. 
• Special projects assigned by management.

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.