General Law Attorney

WHO WE ARE:

Service, Respect, and Connection are core to the individual and collective TRS experience. We know that great service rests on a foundation of relationships that connect us all to an empowering and rewarding career. At TRS, we’re inspired by our diverse community who bring authenticity and commitment to our mission to improve the retirement security of public education employees and retirees throughout Texas.

As a group of achievers, we tap collaboration and innovation to raise the bar in performance, administering and counseling pensions and healthcare benefits to ensure certainty for the future of our members. We invite you to join us, where both personal and career growth are respected and where you can make a difference in our members’ lives every day.

Fellowship Program Position: This Fellowship Program position is a full-time, temporary, limited term assignment not to exceed three years from the date of hire. It is intended for individuals that have graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited college or university within the last 12 months.

The General Law Attorney is responsible for providing legal and related services regarding general law and related matters. The incumbent will render legal advice and counsel, participate and plan legal activities, draft and prepare legal documents, participate in hearings and trainings, and interpret laws and regulations. This position will proactively work with the TRS legal team, Executive staff, members of TRS executive and leadership teams, and agency employees.


WHAT YOU WILL DO:

General Law
•Assists with reviewing, researching, and providing legal advice on issues in the contracting, insurance, governance, health care, and pension benefits fields.
•Supports the GPS, Pension Benefits, and Healthcare teams within Legal and Compliance with legal issues and team-related projects and objectives.
•Drafts legal documents including contracts, memoranda, correspondence, policies and procedures, and other related documents.
•Advises staff on legal matters and on the interpretation and applications of agency regulation and state and federal laws.
•Assists with implementation of legislation passed by the Texas Legislature, implementation of rules adopted by the TRS board of trustees, and compliance with federal laws affecting benefit programs and investments.

Fellowship Curriculum
•Participates in trainings and projects related to the TRS Fellowship Program including webinars, quarterly check-ins, classes or other learning activities, book group, projects, and the mentoring program.
•Meets TRS Fellowship Program deadlines and goals for completion of trainings in deliverables in a timely manner.

Legal and Compliance Support
•Researches, compiles, and analyzes data; enters data into spreadsheets, databases, and other automated applications; organizes and writes litigation and administrative appeal files; and prepares complex queries and reports.
•Reviews forms, correspondence, reports, and other documents for completeness and acceptability.
•Reviews and analyzes agency policies, procedures, and forms and recommends changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
•Completes special projects.
•Performs related work as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education
•Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school within the last 12 months.

Required Experience
•None.

Required Registration, Certification, or Licensure
•Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and a member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas, or must obtain a license to practice law in the State of Texas within 6 months of hire date; or hold a valid, active law license issued by another state and be eligible for Texas licensure under Board of Law Examiners Rule XIII: Attorneys from Other Jurisdictions (candidate must obtain Texas license within eight months of hire date).

Preferred Qualifications
•None.

Knowledge Of
•Legal issues and concepts in the areas of law relevant to contracting, insurance, governance, health care, and pension benefits.
•Existing and emerging US and state legal and regulatory developments impacting contracting, insurance, governance, health care, and pension benefits law.

Skills In
•Performing legal research and analysis of relevant information and render advice based on sound legal judgment.
•Effective written and verbal communications in developing and advocating legal positions, giving advice, and preparing and presenting complex legal documents or reports.
•Analyzing problems and devising effective solutions.
•Negotiating, mediating, and resolving conflicts.
•Using a computer in a Windows environment with Microsoft Office word processing, spreadsheet, and other business software, including using software for electronic research and producing briefs, correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.
•Task management and organization, including prioritizing work assignments to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced and changing environment, meeting deadlines, and completing detailed work with a high degree of accuracy.
•Handling litigation and/or administrative hearings, motion practice, conducting discovery and e-discovery, and drafting pleadings, briefs, motions, and affidavits.

Ability To
•Manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
•Work extended and/or irregular hours and travel as needed due to internal and external obligations.
•Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, TRS staff, and external contacts.
•Work effectively in a professional team environment.

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes:
Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( https://www.trs.texas.gov/files/trs-military-crosswalk.xlsx ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at  careers@trs.texas.gov  with questions or for additional information.

To view all job vacancies, visit www.trs.texas.gov/careers  or www.trs.csod.com/careersite.

For more information, visit www.trs.texas.gov.