Description

Joining us means practicing law in a way that blends high-stake business issues with a mission that matters. Are you driven by the desire to make a real difference in the world? The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is on the lookout for dynamic, licensed attorneys who are ready to start a rewarding career in public service. At TDI, we don’t just regulate the insurance industry, we empower and protect Texas consumers every day.

Why You’ll Love Being Part of Our Team:
Flexible Work Arrangements: Avoid the daunting demands associated with a typical attorney’s 80- hour work week. At TDI, you will typically enjoy a 40-hour work week designed for work-life balance. Our attorneys are encouraged to cultivate a healthy work life balance with flexible office hours and generous leave packages.

Continuous Learning: Jump-start your career with agency-sponsored free continuing legal education and mentoring-focused management.

Innovative Workspace: Work comfortably in our new capital complex office equipped with mechanical sit-stand desks, on-site café, and a robust online collaborative work environment.

Vibrant Team Culture: Experience work-life balance with a supportive, team-centric staff that values your well-being. Community and collaboration are valued on our team.

Generous Benefits: Get 96 hours of vacation, 96 hours of sick leave annually, over 20 holidays each year, free parking near the Capitol and UT campus, and comprehensive medical insurance with significant premium subsidies –free comprehensive medical insurance for full-time employees and 50% off premium costs for dependents (state pays other 50%). Optional benefits include 401(k) and 457 retirement investment plans through Tex$aver.

Career Growth: Advance in your career with multiple development opportunities in a variety of legal disciplines, including transactional law, administrative litigation, policy development, government regulation, health and insurance law.

Student Loan Relief: TDI is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Ready to Apply?
Learn about our selection process, our military employment preference, and licensing and credential requirements.

Things you’ll do in your first year on the job as an Enforcement attorney:

• Get litigation experience with a manageable docket. Solid training and plenty of experienced support help you ease into litigating cases. Once you’ve gathered the skills needed, you’ll have relevant skills others take a career to develop.
• Develop administrative law skills—a varied practice area with public and private practitioners throughout the state.
• Learn the insurance industry. Every lawyer deals with insurance in their practice and in their daily life.
• Work with a collaborative, team-oriented group of professionals.

Whether you stay at TDI for a year or a career, you’ll cultivate long-lasting, valuable skills and relationships. The Texas insurance market is the fifth largest in the world and has vast career prospects. Learn the ropes, protect nearly 30 million Texas consumers, and even work towards public service loan forgiveness as TDI is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. TDI also offers a lifetime monthly retirement annuity as well as 401(k) and 457
Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. 

Litigation Attorney I-II (Attorney)

Performs entry level to routine (journey-level) to moderate complex attorney work for Enforcement. Investigates and litigates administrative actions against licensed insurance agents, adjusters, companies, and other authorized persons, as well as against unlicensed individuals and entities for violations of the Texas Insurance Code, Texas Administrative Code, and Texas Occupations Code. Work involves planning legal activities, preparing legal documents, participating in hearings, interpreting laws and regulations, and rendering legal advice and counsel. Works under moderate supervision, with latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

This position:

Represents the Texas Department of Insurance in disciplinary actions concerning licensed insurance agents, adjusters, companies, and other authorized persons, as well as against unlicensed individuals and entities.

• Drafts briefs and pleadings.
• Prepares commissioner orders related to contested cases and hearings.
• Assists in the investigation and resolution of complaints concerning alleged violations of the Texas Insurance Code, Texas Administrative Code, and Texas Occupations Code.
• Assists the Office of the Attorney General in preparation of administrative appeals.
• Provides legal advice and opinions for the commissioner of insurance and other agency employees.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

This position requires:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a J.D. or LL.B degree.

Preferred Experience.

o Attorney I – six months to one year of legal experience. Law clerk, legal assistant, or similar experience may count toward legal experience requirement.
o Attorney II – at least two years of legal experience. Law clerk, legal assistant, or similar experience may count toward legal experience requirement.

• Regular work attendance.

Registration, License, or Certification Required:
Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. Licensure candidates who took a recent bar exam may apply for this position but must meet this licensing requirement before the date of hire.

Additional job details:
This position requires regular work attendance. The ideal candidate must be available for daily meetings and group collaboration via Microsoft Teams and other applications during regular business hours.

The following items MUST be submitted with the application:

• A resume
• A complete law school transcript showing graduation date (Personal Identifiable Information should be redacted).

If you are chosen for an interview, you must provide the following before the interview:

• A writing sample of no more than 10 pages, which must not be authored by anyone other than the applicant.

Requirements

Preferences for this position include:

• At least one year of litigation experience.
• Working knowledge of and experience in administrative, insurance, or criminal law.
• Successful completion of litigation-related law school courses, such as evidence, advocacy, trial skills, clinics, internship, and participation in mock trial or moot court may be counted toward the litigation experience requirement.

This position requires demonstrated knowledge of:

• State laws, rules, procedures, and regulations relevant to job requirements.
• Civil evidentiary techniques and procedural requirements.
• Word processing and experience in the preparation of pleadings, legal documents, and briefs.

This position requires demonstrated skill in:

• Problem solving and critical thinking.
• Using Microsoft Office software applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Using personal computers sufficient to enter and extract data from related systems and programs such as Centralized Accounting Payroll and Personnel (CAPPS) and other systems required to perform the job.
• Legal research, analysis, and writing in plain English.
• Prioritizing workloads and meeting deadlines.

This position requires the demonstrated ability to:

• Communicate and work effectively with a wide range of people with varied skills, knowledge, and backgrounds.
• Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Analyze and solve work-related problems and work independently on a variety of administrative work and technical assignments.
• Manage and coordinate multiple tasks and priorities to meet necessary deadlines.
• Work both independently and as a team player.
• Comprehend and apply the Texas Insurance Code, the Texas Administrative Code, and the Texas Occupations Code.
• Coordinate investigations and prepare witnesses and evidence for contested case hearings.
• Express comments and legal opinions logically and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
• Collaborate, communicate, and work effectively with agency staff, the insurance industry, governmental officials, and the public.
• Apply critical thinking to analyze and solve legal problems and interpret laws and regulations affecting the agency.
• Exercise mature judgment and discretion in making decisions relative to assigned cases and the preparation of legal opinions.
• Provide commitment to public service.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external customers.