What are the responsibilities and job description for the OAG - Consumer Protection | Assistant Attorney General III-V | 25-0363 position at OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL?
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas works to protect Texas consumers and the legitimate business community by investigating fraud and deceptive advertising, filing civil lawsuits to enforce state and federal consumer protection laws, and educating Texans on how to spot and avoid possible scams. The division has regional offices in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio.
The Consumer Protection Division seeks a licensed attorney for a highly competitive position on it’s Data Privacy and Technology Team and will be based in Austin, Dallas or Houston. The position will focus on the enforcement of Texas’s privacy laws including the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA). This position involves working collaboratively with division attorneys and staff, as well as regularly interfacing with division management and regulators. The OAG seeks qualified, self-motivated candidates capable of working in a highly collaborative work environment where lawyers help one another while managing their own dockets as first and second chair from the initial stages of a case through resolution, including by issuing Civil Investigative Demands, reviewing documents and evidence.
The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits (https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance) along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) experience the challenge and honor of public service while enjoying a healthy work-life balance and hands on legal experience.
ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS
- Provides legal advice, counsel and assistance to clients and management on factual and legal issues
- Participates in administrative and evidentiary hearings and in the discovery process
- Performs legal research and investigations; reports findings and conclusions
- Performs all phases of civil litigation of consumer protection cases including the drafting of legal documents including but not limited to petitions, motions, pleadings, orders, briefs, discovery and memoranda; prepares cases for trial
- Represents the Office of the Attorney General in civil matters before state or federal district and appellate courts
- Prepares legal documents, including but not limited to briefs, pleadings, and memoranda; prepares cases for trial
- Analyzes complex factual and legal issues and develops evidence through witness interviews, depositions and other discovery for filing of consumer protection cases
- Advises management on factual and legal issues
- Assists in drafting bills and amendments for legislative consideration
- Provides technical guidance to less tenured staff and may help train others
- Maintains knowledge of legal principles and practices relevant to Consumer Protection
- Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
- Testifies at hearings, trials, and legislative meetings
- 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
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Assistant Attorney General (AAG) III:
- Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a J.D.
- Experience: Two years of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: data privacy; privacy compliance; consumer protection; commercial litigation.
- Licensed as an attorney by the State of Texas
- Must be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas and eligible to practice law in Texas by start date
- 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
- Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis; in conducting investigations; in mediation and negotiations; in using reasoning and logic; in identifying and solving complex problems; in prioritizing workloads; in using judgment to identify courses of action; and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
- Skill in using a computer for word-processing and data entry/retrieval
- Ability to prepare legal documents, to conduct research, to interpret and apply laws, to summarize findings, to prepare cases and present at trial, to conduct hearings, to communicate effectively, and to train others.
- Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
- Ability to work under pressure and respond to deadlines
- Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
- Ability to provide excellent customer service
- 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 (AAG) IV - All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General III, PLUS:
- Experience: One additional year of full-time experience as a licensed attorney working in the following (or closely related) fields: data privacy; privacy compliance; consumer protection; commercial litigation.
Assistant Attorney General (AAG) V - All the above functions for an Assistant Attorney General IV, PLUS:
- Experience: One additional year of full-time experience as a licensed attorney working in the following (or closely related) fields: data privacy; privacy compliance; consumer protection; commercial litigation.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge: of law and legal principles and practices relevant to data privacy, including the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, Texas Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act (or similar state laws); the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the HITECH Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (Safeguards Rule), the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), Federal Trade Commission Section 5 Privacy Enforcement; and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and relevant consumer protection statutes.
- Skills: complex litigation experience; jury trial experience; significant motion practice and deposition experience.
- Abilities: work to collaboratively and work within a larger organization.
- Certifications: Privacy focused certifications such as Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP- US); Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM); Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT); Certified Data Privacy Professional (CDPP).
TO APPLY
To apply for a job with the OAG, electronic applications can be submitted through CAPPS Recruit. A State of Texas application must be completed to be considered, and paper applications are not accepted. Your application for this position may subject you to a criminal background check pursuant to the Texas Government Code. Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at
https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf
THE OAG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
