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Summary: Under the direction of the elected District Attorney, this position represents the State in all matters handled in District Courts in Nueces County. Manages a highly complex and sensitive felony caseload from indictment through trial. Handles a variety of violent crimes, crimes against children, and other high-profile crimes. Conducts jury and bench trials of felony cases. Conducts advanced legal research on complex issues, drafts legal documents, and advises victims, witnesses and law enforcement officials. Handles pre-trial motions, hearings, and negotiations. Screens and intakes various cases presented to the District Attorney's Office. 

The employee is required to be on duty before, during, and after natural disasters and emergencies, as directed by the Department Head. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Prepares cases for trial by reviewing police incident and investigative reports, examining physical evidence and crime scenes, interviewing witnesses, reviewing criminal histories, directing additional investigation when necessary, issuing subpoenas, preparing witnesses, creating trial exhibits, filing all necessary motions and notices, and formulating and executing trial strategy.
• Handles all necessary pre-trial matters including but not limited to plea­ bargain/sentencing negotiations, evidentiary suppression hearings, bond hearings, and examining trials.
• Performs legal research as necessary for felony criminal prosecutions.
• Screens and reviews cases to determine the legal and factual sufficiency of the cases or analyzes charging instruments.
• Confers with supervisors, defense attorneys, investigators, law enforcement officials, victims, witnesses and other parties concerning assigned cases.
• Responds to correspondence from individuals or officials requesting information from the department.
• Meets frequently with Probation Officers and reviews Motions to Revoke Probation (MTRs) presented by the Probation Department.
• Handles MTRs and Bond Non-Compliance hearings filed in the District Courts.
• Frequently meets with victims to keep them informed about the status of their case.
• Advises law enforcement officials on legal issues and policy concerning the prosecution of case(s).
• May occasionally give presentations to law enforcement and/or the public.
• Assists with the intaking of cases, prepares indictments and frequently presents complex cases to the Grand Jury.
• May compile statistical or other reports and/or utilize the computer to process, retrieve and disseminate information.
• Always maintains strict ethical standards and meets all ethical obligations as set forth by Federal and State law, and by the District Attorney's Office.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates a spirit of teamwork, fosters camaraderie, offers positive and constructive ideas, encourages and supports all other members of the team, while upholding the agency's core values.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Does not supervise other employees but may assign work to and review work-product of attorney assistants, legal secretaries, witness coordinators, and administrative secretaries. Frequently mentors' attorneys and staff. 

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Any employee who drives a vehicle on official business must have a driving record which meets standards set by the County and the County's insurance carrier. 

Education and Experience: J.D. or L.L.B. degree from an accredited law school and a minimum of 6 years of experience as an attorney with extensive criminal jury trial experience. 10 years experience preferred. 

Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. May be considered for current Nueces County employees only. 

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: License from the Texas State Bar to practice law in the State of Texas. 
 

Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret case law, statutory law, legal documents, and evidence. 

Mathematical Skills:  Ability to work with basic mathematical concepts. 

Reasoning Ability:  Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 

Other Skills and Abilities: 

• Expert knowledge of the methods, practices, and courtroom procedures involved in civil and criminal matters including case law, constitutional law, and statutory law.
• High-level ability to analyze and appraise facts, procedures and legal precedents affecting court cases. Ability to present facts and precedents effectively in court and in writing and to direct others in law-related matters.
• Advanced courtroom experience in Criminal Law.
• Must have excellent research, oral communication, negotiation, and writing skills.
• Ability to operate a computer to process and retrieve data and information.
• Superior organizational skills which enables employee to handle a high-volume caseload in an efficient manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees and officials, court personnel, other attorneys and the general public.
• Demonstrates a spirit of teamwork, fosters camaraderie, offers positive and constructive ideas, encourages and supports all other members of the team, while upholding the agency's core values.
• Expert knowledge of Texas Rules of Evidence, Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Texas and Federal Constitutions, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Penal Code, Texas Family Code and public law.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, sit, and use hands to finger. The employee may handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 
 

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Employee could possibly be exposed to a dangerous defendant or mentally unstable person capable of violence. The noise level in the work environment ranges from quiet to moderate. 

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