General Counsel

A. PURPOSE OF JOB

Provide legal advice and business guidance to the TMPA corporate entities and their Boards of Directors. Manage the POLDF Legal. Provide legal services to members of the legal plans and their local associations.

Provide legal advice and business guidance to the TMPA corporate entities and their Boards of Directors:

• Draft, review, revise contracts
• Represent TMPA in contested cases whether administrative or in court
• Monitor and manage litigation where TMPA is a party
• Advise on employment issues
• For Legislative Affairs, draft legislation, and provide legal advice on various bills and laws
• Advise on PAC legal issues
• Advise on TMPA entities’ governance procedures and documents
• Provide an internal audit function for the information provided to the Board of Directors
• Participate in organization management decisions as a member of the executive staff
• Provide advice and guidance with regard to the Texas State Lodge of FOP

Manage the POLDF Legal Plan.

• Determine coverage issues under the plans
• Manage process for payment of legal bills from attorneys
• Analysis of funding requests for additional legal coverage under the plans
• Manage compliance with ERISA
• Manage the member claims process under the plan
• Manage the 40+ plan attorneys who have contractually agreed to provide legal services under the plan
• Serve as a resource to the plan attorneys
• Manage one legal assistant
• Manage the budget, financial issues, and financial reports for the plans

Provide legal services to members of POLDF and their local associations.

• Draft petitions for civil service, collective bargaining, pay referendums
• Provide advice on contract bargaining
• Represent members in appeals from disciplinary actions
• Provide consultations on employment issues including FLSA, FMLA, whistle blower, and discrimination issues
• Monitor civil suits filed against members
• Provide corporate counsel advice to local associations
• Respond to critical incidents when needed
• Draft, review, and revise wills for members
• Perform other duties as assigned

• Licensed by the State Bar of Texas
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related business experience
• J.D. degree
• Ten years experience in the practice of law
• Five years of management experience
• Ability and experience with analyzing and understanding financial statements
• Three years experience with employment law
• Contract drafting experience
• Knowledge and experience in corporate governance issues
• Five years experience in litigation and administrative cases

• Three years experience with employment law
• Contract drafting experience
• Knowledge and experience in corporate governance issues
• Experience in litigation and administrative cases
• Experience in working with ERISA
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs
• Knowledge of the law concerning officer’s rights
• Knowledge of criminal law and procedure including search and seizure and use of force

• Be able to sit for an extended period of time (7+ hours)
• Be able to look at computer screen for extended period of time
• Must be able to lift boxes weighing up to 25 pounds
• Ability to receive and give detailed information through oral communication
• Have close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; expansive reading
• Some travel is required. To meet travel requirements, the employee must have the physical and mental ability to drive a vehicle for long enough to reach any area in Texas with reasonably short breaks and must have the ability to fly as a passenger to reach any area in Texas

Supervise one legal assistant. Also, provide oversight for 40+ plan attorneys.

• Executive Director: advice and decision making
• Deputy Executive Director: advice and decision making
• Director of Administration: advice and decision making
• Director of Field Services and Public Affairs: advice and decision making
• President of the Board: advice and decision making
• Members of the Board of Directors: advice and decision making
• Plan Attorneys:
  Advice and oversight
• Members: legal advice
• Local Association Presidents: legal advice