DOB - General Counsel IV - V

Job Description

Working Title: General Counsel

Classification:
Monthly Salary: $13,750.00 $19,583.34
(Salary and Classification Commensurate with Experience)
Location: Austin Headquarters Office

General Description:
The General Counsel serves as the principal legal advisor to the Texas Department of Banking. Performs highly responsible, professional work and is responsible for all legal services related to the Department, including drafting legislation, interpreting laws and regulations, and maintaining liaison relationship with the Office of the Attorney General. As Division Director, supervises all Legal Division functions and personnel, consisting of seven attorneys and three administrative support staff. Serves as Ethics Advisor for the Department. This position reports to the Banking Commissioner. Works under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

General Job Duties Include:

• Acts as Division Director of the Legal Division and supervises all legal staff.
• Advises Department executives and staff regarding actual proposed state and federal laws and regulations affecting banks, other regulated industries, and agency operations, including laws regarding administrative procedures, employment law, open records, and open meetings.
• Interprets laws, rules, [WR2.1]and regulations affecting agency operations and administration.
• Responsible for all legal services required by the Department including the administration and enforcement of the Texas Finance Code and other state and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to entities regulated by the agency.
• Communicate with Department staff to ensure legal issues are properly evaluated and addressed.
• Answers questions and requests for legal opinions from regulated entities and members of the general public and maintains database for future reference.
• Oversees and responds to administrative law questions posed by the Department or the public, including the Administrative Procedure Act and Texas Public Information Act inquiries.
• Oversees drafting and presentation to the Finance Commission of proposed new amendments to existing rules promulgated by the agency.
• Certifies all rulemaking proceedings as legal exercises of authority and ensures required procedure through timely and effective publication in the Texas Register.
• Oversees analysis, drafting, and presentation to the Legislature of proposed legislation recommended by the Finance Commission.
• Monitors the work of outside counsel retained to represent the Commissioner or the Department in conjunction with limitations established by the Office of the Attorney General.
• Performs highly significant and responsible legal, quasijudicial, and administrative duties concerned with directing the legal activities of a state agency having a complicated federal/state regulatory framework.
• Represents the agency with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General in civil actions brought by or against the agency.
• Conducts and oversees the Department's participation in contested case hearings.
• Performs legal work which may involve or affect the agency with respect to administrative or other court proceedings and state, interstate or federal legislation.
• Provides legal advice regarding procurement and contracts for goods and services, the agency's purchase, sale, or lease of property, employment matters, and policies and procedures.
• Participates as a member of an internal fraud and abuse committee.
• Participates in the strategic planning process.
• Provides legal advice and training regarding professional and ethical standards and acts as ethics advisor to the agency.
• Maintains confidentiality in all legal matters.
• Follows rules and procedures of the Texas Department of Banking.
• Promotes a harassmentfree work environment. Ensures all personnel actions are accomplished without regard to a person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability.
• Performs other duties as required.
• General Counsel IV:
  • Ability to train staff.
  • Ability to formulate, coordinate, and establish policies and procedures, and to supervise the work of others
• General Counsel V:
  • Required to train staff.
  • Must formulate, coordinate, and establish policies and procedures, and supervise the work of others.
  • Oversee the drafting of legal documents, proposals, or similar.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

General Counsel IV:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with an LLB or JD degree. A copy of your official law school transcript in CAPPS is required. (Evaluation of Foreign Credentials must be submitted if all or part of degree was completed outside the U.S.)
• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
• Eight years¿ experience as a practicing attorney with five years progressively responsible experience.
• Three years of supervisory experience.

General Counsel V:

• Same education requirements of General Counsel IV
• Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
• Eight years' experience as a practicing attorney with five years progressively responsible experience.
• Four years of supervisory experience.

Copy of official college transcripts must be submitted with The State of Texas Application for Employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, regulations and practices pertaining to banking, trust companies, or money services businesses.
• Experience working for a State of Texas agency.
• Experience with the State Procurement Process.
• Experience with rulemaking, legislative analysis or Texas legislative process.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English with the ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing.

Special Requirements:

• Position requires at least 5% overnight travel.
• Must possess or obtain within 90 days a valid Texas drivers license. Satisfactory driving records are required for driving any vehicle to conduct agency business. Final applicants must certify that personally owned vehicles used for agency business have Texas minimum liability coverage and a valid state inspection.
• This position requires that the incumbent demonstrate strong personal financial responsibility and integrity.
• Applicants selected for an interview may be asked to complete a work style profile.
• Final applicants may be subject to an employment credit check, driving record check, and criminal background check.
• State law prohibits any employee of the Department from being or becoming 'directly or indirectly indebted to or financially interested in an entity supervised or regulated by the Banking Commissioner. See Texas Finance Code, Section 12.107.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are necessary to clearly, logically, and effectively express comments before an audience.
• Skill in identifying problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions; using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems; and reconciling differences.
• Ability to oversee the drafting of legal documents; to formulate, coordinate, and establish policies and procedures; to conduct research; to interpret and apply laws; to summarize findings; to prepare cases for trial; to conduct hearings; and to supervise the work of others.
• Proficiency with computers.

Physical Requirements and/or Working Conditions:
This position requires the incumbent to frequently perform sedentary office work; however, mobility (standing and walking) is routinely required to carry out some duties. It requires extensive use of a personal computer, copiers, printers, telephone and client/customer contact. The job also requires normal cognitive abilities requiring the ability to learn, recall, and apply certain practices and policies. It requires the stamina to maintain attention to detail despite interruptions.

Marginal or corrected visual, speech and auditory requirements are required for reading printed materials and computer screens and communicating with internal and external customers, and occasional lifting of 2030 pounds. Requires frequent work under stress, as a team member and in direct contact with others. Travel is less than 5% with possible overnight stays.

How to Apply:
To submit your application for employment, create and/or login to your online applicant profile and electronically submit your State of Texas Application for Employment via CAPPS Candidate Gateway.

All applications should contain complete job histories, which include job titles, dates of employment, name of employer, supervisor's name and phone number and description of duties performed. Resumes are required.

Transcripts:
If education is used to meet the minimum requirements of the job posting, a copy of college transcript(s) issued from the registrar must be uploaded in CAPPS for your application to be considered complete. Foreign education credentials must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE member credential evaluation service. Please contact jobs@dob.texas.gov immediately if you are having difficulty uploading transcripts to your application.

Applications Submitted through Work in Texas:
Applicants may submit applications through Work in Texas (WIT), however applicants must complete work history, education and the supplemental questions in CAPPS to be considered for the position. In order to complete the supplemental questions, please register and/or login to CAPPS Candidate Gateway and access your profile.

SAO Military Crosswalk: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf

Remarks: State law prohibits any employee of the Department from being or becoming 'directly or indirectly indebted to, or financially interested in an entity supervised or regulated by the Banking Commissioner.¿ See Texas Finance Code, Section 12.107. Those selected for an interview will be contacted by telephone. Final male applicants between the ages of 18 to 26 will be required to furnish proof of registration or exemption from registration with the selective service system.