DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - TRIAL TEAM CHIEF

Supervises department employees, including assigning and reviewing work, training completing performance evaluations, and making recommendations on hiring, terminating, and disciplining personnel;

Selects, motivates, and evaluates department staff; provides or coordinates training and works with employees to correct deficiencies;

Plans, directs, and coordinates, through staff, the program work plan; meets with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; and reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures;

Assists attorneys with brainstorming and research on legal issues;

Monitors legal service delivery and maintains quality control;

Assists attorneys with handling cases and matters;

Maintains working relationships with Commissioners Court, Judges, agency representatives, elected officials and department heads of the County and County Hospital District and appointed members of County Boards;

Performs all aspects of client representation as necessary, including: legal research, drafting and negotiation of documents, interviewing clients, preparation for court or meetings and handling appellate matters;

Maintains working relationships with Commissioners Court, Judges, agency representatives, elected officials and department heads of the County and County Hospital District and appointed members of County Boards;

Maintains case files and updates database to maintain accuracy and timeliness of information;

Is responsible for day to day administration of the assigned units including case and matter assignments, timely handling of case and matters, proper archiving and maintenance of case files and matter files, and responsiveness to clients and public;

Develops and implements long range goals and plans of the office;

Monitors legislative activity relating to supervised units and suggest legislative proposals to the Department Head Attorney;

Maintains community contact with organizations affected by unit activities;

May represent their department before the public and with the media in their absence or as requested;

Contributes to a positive work environment;

Attends and participates in meetings, training and information sessions;

Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field;

Commits self to providing excellent customer service and demonstrate commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts; and

Creates a high quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.

Represents the State of Texas in the prosecution of adult felony, misdemeanor, and asset forfeiture cases, including ancillary criminal and civil proceedings, filed in the justice, county, district, and appellate courts;

Reviews investigative reports from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and officers, and exercises discretion in determining which cases are accepted for prosecution or declined and appropriate criminal charges and forfeitures;

Represents the State of Texas in presenting cases to Grand Jury;

Appears in court and represents the State of Texas at arraignment, pre-trial hearings, trial, sentencing, post-conviction and appellate proceedings, and other related or ancillary criminal and civil proceedings;

Exercises discretion in determining appropriate trial or other strategies to dispose of felony and misdemeanor cases and engages in pre-trial negotiations and plea bargaining with defense attorneys;

Drafts and/or reviews the creation of notices, motions, briefs, orders, subpoenas, and other legal documents, correspondence, and reports;

Coordinates with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officers; prepares them for court appearances; marshals evidence; prepares for pre-trial and post-trial motions and hearings; and issues subpoenas and other legal documents;

Appears, answers, briefs, and argues on behalf of the State of Texas on appeals to the Eighth Court of Appeals, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of the United States;

Performs legal research and keeps abreast of changes in the law;

Meets regularly with and works extensively with a variety of government, social service, and law enforcement agencies, organizations, and committees;

May advise law enforcement agencies and personnel regarding legal requirements for arrest or search warrants;

Employs sound and independent judgment when exercising prosecutorial discretion in accordance with the law and the policies of the District Attorney; and

Exercises all prosecutorial discretion and performs all prosecutorial functions in the overriding pursuit of justice—not only for victims of crime and for the accused, but also for the people of the State of Texas.

Minimum Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: County, state, and federal legal principles, practices, procedures regarding the court system; state statutes and codes; case law; rules of evidence; contract terminology and requirements; legal practices and procedures; legal terminology; effective management and supervisory principles, practices, and techniques department policies, procedures and regulations covering specific areas of assignment; County organization, operations, policies and procedures; English usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling; techniques for effective interpersonal communications; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment to include Windows and Microsoft based products.

Skill/Ability to: may require advanced written advocacy skills and/or experience depending on placement needed within the office; possesses advanced litigation and prosecutorial skills, or equivalent specialized prosecutorial skills; operate a personal computer and various software applications; conduct research, develop appropriate documentation, assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands to meet scheduled requirements; establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers and customers to promote and support a productive work environment; defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts and drawing valid conclusions work efficiently independently and in a team environment to meet established goals and objectives; supervise, train, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff; lead and motivate subordinates; communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to respond effectively to customers and staff; exercise initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines in performance of daily duties; use initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines; prepare clear, concise and comprehensive written reports; and establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted during the course of work. Pass a background investigation.

Each and every county position requires the following professional skills and abilities as key and necessary elements of performance:

• Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance;
• Work well with others and participate fully in a team oriented environment;
• Interface with other employees and customers in a courteous and respectful manner;
• Maintain strict confidentiality;
• Project positive support of their department and all organizations receiving El Paso County

service at all times; and,

• Maintain and enhance the County's commitment to customer service excellence

El Paso County offers a very comprehensive benefit package (some benefits may not apply to part time or temporary employees) consisting of the following:

HOLIDAYS
16 holidays per year as recognized.


VACATION
Accruals are credited on a biweekly basis and available for use as it is accrued after 6 months of continuous service. Year to year carry-over accruals are limited to twice the employee's annual rate. Part-time employees accrue vacation at half the rate of full-time employees.
10 days (1 through less than 5 years of service)
15 days (5 through less than 15 years of service)
20 days (15 years of service or over)


SICK LEAVE
Accruals are credited on a biweekly basis and available for use as it is accrued after 3 months of full time service. Employees accrue 15 days of sick leave per year.


MISCELLANEOUS PAID LEAVES
Military Leave – 15 days of paid leave per fiscal year for active military service
Bereavement Leave – 3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family members and 4 hours for other family members and friends.


MEDICAL HEALTH BENEFITS

Plan Costs – Biweekly Rates

Effective January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025

Medical
Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP)
No Discounts
EE Only $5.34
EE & Spouse $145.30
EE & Children $101.93
EE & Family $238.07

2% Tobacco-Free Discount
EE Only - $5.24
EE & Spouse - $142.39
EE & Children - $99.89
EE & Family - $233.31

4% Wellness Screening & HRA Discount
EE Only - $5.14
EE & Spouse - $139.49
EE & Children - $97.85
EE & Family - $228.55

6% Tobacco-Free AND Wellness Screening & HRA Discount
EE Only - $5.04
EE & Spouse - $136.58
EE & Children - $95.81
EE & Family - $223.79

Core Plan
No Discounts
EE Only - $35.70
EE & Spouse - $226.41
EE & Children - $174.96
EE & Family - $358.61

2% Tobacco-Free Discount
EE Only - $34.98
EE & Spouse - $221.88
EE & Children - $171.46
EE & Family - $351.44

4% Wellness Screening & HRA Discount
EE Only - $34.26
EE & Spouse - $217.35
EE & Children -$167.96
EE & Family - $344.27

6% Tobacco-Free AND Wellness Screening & HRA Discount
EE Only - $33.56
EE & Spouse - $212.83
EE & Children - $164.46
EE & Family - $337.09

RETIREMENT
Retirement benefits are provided by the Texas County and District Retirement Fund (TCDRS). Regular employees become a member of TCDRS upon hire. All regular employees are required to contribute 7% to the retirement fund and the County matches 250% upon eligible retirements.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
Employees may defer earnings, on a pre-tax basis, into a 457 deferred compensation program. This is an optional program.

LIFE INSURANCE
Full-time County employees are provided a basic life insurance benefit of $10,000 life insurance at no cost. Supplemental coverage is available for additional fees.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY
The Long-Term disability program provides 60% of the employees' income when the employee becomes disabled because of an illness, injury or accident for a period above 90 days.

SHORT-TERM DISABILITY
The Short-Term disability program provides 60% of the employees' income when the employee becomes disabled because of an illness, injury or accident for a period shorter than 90 days.

RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE
Employees who retire from the County are eligible to continue Health Insurance at the rate set by the El Paso County Risk Pool Board.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Employees are enrolled in an Employee Assistance Program that provides a variety of counseling services.

SECTION 125 MEDICAL & DEPENDENT CARE PROGRAM
The section 125 program is optional for employees and provides a method to pay medical and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE REIMBURSEMENT
Reimbursement of $15 per month for 6 months of continuous gym usage.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EdAP)
Reimbursement up to $2000 per calendar year for eligible education expenses.

EMPLOYEE FITNESS AND WELLNESS CENTER
The Employee Fitness and Wellness Center opened in October 2021 at the County Courthouse. The cost is $5 per employee per month.