General Counsel

The Texas Civil Commitment Office (TCCO) is a small state agency with a critical public safety mission — to provide intensive supervision and treatment to civilly committed sexually violent predators. TCCO is a separate state agency that is administratively attached to the Health and Human Services Commission. TCCO is seeking dedicated professionals who are ready to contribute to this small but important agency. If you are passionate about public safety, supervision, and treatment; TCCO offers a unique and impactful career path. TCCO offers a comprehensive benefits package to include paid time off, a defined benefit pension plan and 100% paid employee health insurance for eligible full-time employees.

Functional Title: General Counsel
Job Title: General Counsel II
Agency: Health & Human Services Comm
Department: TCCO ADMIN
Posting Number: 16349
Closing Date: 10/28/2026
Posting Audience: Internal and External
Occupational Category: Legal
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-28
Salary Range: $7,716.66 - $13,051.00
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day
Additional Shift:
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework
Travel: Up to 25%
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full Time/Part Time: Full time
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Facility Location:
Job Location City: AUSTIN
Job Location Address: 4616 W HOWARD LN
Other Locations:
MOS Codes: 4402,4405,4406,4407,4408,4409,4410,4411,4417,250X,27A,51JX,LGL10,LGL11

Brief Job Description

Essential Job Functions

• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Organizes and coordinates legal activities for the Texas Civil Commitment Office.
• Provides legal counsel and advice to the TCCO Executive Director and the agency’s governing board on matters affecting the agency to include the identification and management of risk, strategic planning and policy decision-making.
• Manages litigation including interacting with the Office of Attorney General in monitoring cases and recommending strategies for litigation cases and all legal issues and functions.
• Coordinates and advises on the preparation of legal opinions, briefs, contracts, proposals and reports.
• Attends court proceedings as the agency's representative.
• Maintains a thorough knowledge of agency policies, procedures and programming. Maintains a thorough knowledge of rules, regulations, and statutes impacting agency operations, including but not limited to, Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 420A of the Texas Government Code, and Chapters 42 and 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Provides legal advice and legal opinions on policy decision-making and identifies appropriate legal solutions.
• Drafts and reviews legal documents, administrative rules, and bills for legislative consideration. Reviews all filed legislation for potential impact to the agency. Prepares bill summaries for relevant bills, tracks bills through the legislative process.
• Coordinates and communicates with multiple agencies and individuals including, but not limited to, TCCO Board members, TCCO Staff, Special Prosecution Unit, Office of the Attorney General, Independent Office of Inmate Counsel, District Attorneys, District Courts, Defense Attorneys, Texas Department of Criminal Justice staff, Health and Human Services Commission staff and law enforcement agencies.
• Responds to subpoenas requiring the appearance of witnesses, records, or documents for hearing, criminal cases and civil litigation. Prepares employees for testimony. Coordinates with the Office of the Attorney General regarding motions to quash.
• Tracks the status of each SVP Client's appeals, monitors and reviews appellate decisions regarding SVP appeals. Researches, monitors and reviews court decisions regarding civil commitment nationwide.
• Ensures compliance with biennial review deadlines and files biennial reviews with the court of commitment.
• Plans, develops, interprets and evaluates agency policies, procedures, rules and statutory mandates. Assists in the implementation of agency policies and procedure. Participates in the agency’s strategic planning process. Provides legal consultation and expertise to the Executive Director and governing board to identify and manage strategic risks. Consults with agency management to develop appropriate solutions to the legal needs of agency operations. Serves on various agency committees and task forces; testifies at hearings and legislative meetings.
• Serves as the agency's legal counsel for contracting. Maintains knowledge of state contracting and procurement processes and regulations. Approves draft solicitations for procurement. Drafts agency contracts and maintains a thorough knowledge of all agency contracts. Provides legal advice regarding contract issues and identifies appropriate legal solutions.
• Prepares, reviews, edits, and approves agency reports and studies. Drafts and reviews legal documents, administrative rules, and bills for legislative consideration. Reviews laws, rules, and regulations affecting agency operations and administration. Conducts interviews and testifies at hearings. Prepare cases for trial. Confers with legislators, legislative staff, other state agencies and federal entities and responds to inquiries in accordance with direction from executive leadership.
• Acts as agency Public Information Officer, responsible for the coordination and response to all Public Information Act requests and release of agency information. Prepares information in response to Public Information Act requests and submits requests for an opinion to the Office of the Attorney General as appropriate. Tracks all incoming Public Information Act requests. May act as agency spokesperson or representative in interviews with members of the media.
• Develops agenda items and publishes agendas of meetings in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Advises the TCCO Board and Executive Director concerning the Open Meetings Act and ensures compliance with the Open Meetings Act.
• Manages the rulemaking process including the development of new rules and review of existing rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act. Ensures compliance with the Administrative Procedures Act.
• Hires, manages, and develops staff, and recommends appropriate personnel actions. Provides direct reports with work assignments, clear direction and information on responsibilities and work performance expectations, and carries out other expected human resources and supervisory activities relating to direct reports.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications

Member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas. Must possess a license to practice law in the state of Texas. Valid Texas Driver's License.

Initial Screening Criteria

Graduation from an accredited law school with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Experience practicing government or administrative law. Public information act request experience preferred, state experience preferred.

Additional Information

Candidates selected for interview will be required to submit a writing sample. Please note, this position is required to work in office at TCCO's Austin headquarters and is not a hybrid or remote position.

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:
Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the agency provides reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:
Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:
This position is not eligible for telework.