Probate Attorney

Job Description

Under general direction of the Associate Director of Civil Advocacy the Staff Attorney acts as staff attorney primarily for the probate cases in our Heirship Project providing legal representation to clients needing legal representation in probate, estate planning, and property preservation matters from intake to litigation.

• Provides legal representation in probate and estate planning cases.
• Provides legal services and representation from intake to litigation.
• Supervises, assesses and structures the practice work of students working as investigators or providing other legal support on cases being handled by the attorney.
• Responsible for direct case handling, to include communication with courts, clients, opposing counsel and other professionals as well as filing pleadings and participating in motions hearings and trials.
• Strategizes with team members on how to resolve clients’ cases in a favorable and efficient manner.
• Stays informed about current laws and caselaw.
• Conducts legal investigations and client communications, ensuring a client‑centered representation practice and keeping clients apprised of all aspects of their cases.
• Enter case information into the ECI case management system.
• Serves as lead attorney in their cases and may appear in Court anywhere in Texas.
• Responsible for development of educational and outreach programs in furtherance of ECI’s clinic related work.
• Complies with all grant requirements from funding sources.
• Also handles administrative activities as directed by an Associate Director or Executive Director.
• Performs other job‑related duties as required.

Juris Doctorate from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school. Requires a minimum of two years of practice experience, with strong preference given to candidates with substantial experience in probate and estate planning. Prefer prior experience as lead attorney in all or some combination of these types of cases.

Licensed to practice law in Texas.

• Real Estate and Probate law preferred.
• Ability to work with a diverse multi‑cultural population of clients, students and staff.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Microsoft Office Professional or similar applications.

• Exercises critical thinking.
• Performs duties within scope of general University policies, procedures and objectives.
• Analyzes problems and performs needs assessments.
• Uses judgment in adapting broad guidelines to achieve desired result.
• Regular exercise of independent judgment within accepted practices.
• Planning activities.
• Legal research and writing.
• Analyzing documents.
• Makes recommendations that affect policies, procedures and practices.
• Both verbal and written communication.

• Handle a high caseload.
• Work independently.
• Communicate effectively.
• Use job‑related software.
• Use job‑related systems such as Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, Pro Doc or similar.

• Routine office environment.
• Sitting or standing in one location most of the time.
• Some stooping, lifting or carrying light‑weight objects may be required.
• Use of video display terminal.

The mission of the Institute is to empower underserved and disenfranchised communities by addressing systemic social issues through legal representation, research, education and advocacy.