Staff Attorney

Reports To: Chief Strategy Officer Job Status: Full-Time; Exempt 

Time Commitment: 40 hours/week; occasional nights and weekends 

Location: Austin or Dallas, Texas (hybrid); statewide travel 

Compensation: $75,000-$100,000 annually, depending on experience. 

Anticipated Start: January 15, 2027 

ABOUT LSJA 

Lone Star Justice Alliance is a nonprofit legal organization that improves the lives of youth and emerging adults in the justice system. We envision a justice system that is fair, humane, and tailored to young people, one that supports their growth, respects their dignity, and keeps communities safe, all while using resources wisely. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Staff Attorney plays an important role in LSJA's work to improve the justice system for youth and emerging adults across Texas. The attorney provides direct legal representation, supports strategic and impact litigation, provides technical assistance to attorneys and partners, and contributes to advocacy aimed at changing policies and practices that unnecessarily expose young people to incarceration or its lasting consequences. 

This is a hands-on legal position. The Staff Attorney will work directly with clients and families, conduct factual and legal investigations, draft pleadings and other legal materials, appear in court as appropriate, and work collaboratively with LSJA attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists, policy staff, and outside partners. The attorney must be comfortable taking ownership of matters while also working as part of an interdisciplinary team. 

We are looking for an attorney who combines excellent legal judgment and writing with creativity, initiative, and a genuine commitment to client-centered representation. The right person will be comfortable working in an organization where litigation, policy, advocacy, research, and direct services reinforce one another. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: 

Client Representation and Legal Advocacy 

• Conduct client intakes and evaluate matters for advice, referral, technical assistance, or representation.
• Advise, counsel, and represent youth and emerging adults in legal matters within LSJA’s areas of practice.
• Provide zealous, client-centered representation that respects clients’ goals, dignity, lived experience, and decision-making.
• Develop case strategy in collaboration with clients and the LSJA legal team.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery, correspondence, and other litigation materials.
• Conduct discovery, including depositions, interrogatories, requests for production, factual investigation, and related contested matters.
• Appear in court and other proceedings as appropriate to assigned matters.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and organized client files, case notes, deadlines, and case-management records.

Strategic and Impact Litigation 

• Identify legal issues and cases that present opportunities to challenge unlawful or harmful practices affecting youth and emerging adults.
• Conduct legal research and develop creative litigation strategies under state and federal law.
• Support LSJA’s strategic litigation matters, including factual development, legal research, briefing, discovery, and case preparation.
• Collaborate with outside counsel, defense attorneys, advocates, experts, and partner organizations.
• Monitor developments in Texas and federal law affecting juvenile justice, criminal justice, youth defense, collateral consequences, and LSJA’s litigation priorities.

Technical Assistance and Systems Change 

• Provide technical assistance and legal support to defense attorneys, advocates, and community partners.
• Help translate what LSJA learns through individual representation into broader improvements in policy and practice.
• Contribute legal expertise to legislative advocacy, policy analysis, proposed legislation, administrative advocacy, and statewide reform efforts.
• Prepare legal memoranda, reports, training materials, public comments, and other written resources addressing issues of statewide or national importance.
• Participate in trainings and presentations for attorneys, partners, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Collaboration and Organizational Responsibilities 

• Work closely with LSJA’s legal, policy, research, program, and communications staff so that litigation and direct representation inform the organization’s broader systems-change work.
• Support responsible storytelling, communications, and development efforts involving LSJA’s legal work while protecting attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, and the dignity and wishes of clients.
• Supervise or support legal interns, law students, fellows, or other staff as assigned.
• Participate actively in organizational planning, team meetings, and cross-functional projects.
• Complete administrative and reporting responsibilities associated with the attorney’s caseload and projects.
• Travel within Texas as necessary to meet clients, visit facilities, conduct investigations, attend court proceedings, and support litigation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active Texas law license in good standing.
• At least three years of experience representing clients in criminal, juvenile, civil rights, or other relevant legal matters.
• Excellent legal research, analysis, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong professional judgment and commitment to ethical, client-centered representation.
• Ability to manage multiple matters, deadlines, and priorities while producing high-quality work.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work independently while seeking guidance and collaborating effectively when appropriate.
• Strong problem-solving skills and willingness to develop creative legal strategies.
• Ability to communicate candidly and constructively with colleagues, clients, and partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to LSJA’s mission and to working respectfully with youth, families, and communities impacted by the justice system.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout Texas.

NON-ESSENTIAL BUT HIGHLY DESIRABLE: 

• Experience representing youth or emerging adults.
• Criminal defense, juvenile defense, appellate, post-conviction, civil rights, or impact-litigation experience.
• Experience conducting contested discovery, depositions, hearings, trials, or appellate briefing.
• Knowledge of Texas juvenile or criminal justice systems.
• Experience working on interdisciplinary legal teams or alongside investigators, social workers, mitigation specialists, policy professionals, or community organizations.
• Experience supervising law students, interns, fellows, or junior staff.
• Trauma-informed legal practice or related training.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Experience with legal case-management systems and other databases or technology used to manage litigation.

THE BENEFITS 

100% employer-paid premiums for employee coverage, including major medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability. Dependent and family coverage is available for purchase by the employee. LSJA also provides a 401(k) with no employer match and reimbursement of business expenses. Eligible full-time employees receive 11 paid holidays each year, plus Inauguration Day every four years; 10 days of paid vacation during the first year of employment and 15 days annually beginning in the second year; and 10 personal leave days per calendar year. After five years of employment, employees may be eligible for a sabbatical of up to 30 business days, subject to the Employee Handbook, advance approval, and organizational needs. 

POSITION PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The position involves primarily office-based work with regular travel. The attorney may be mobile throughout portions of the workday and regularly uses a computer for research, writing, communication, and case management. The position may require carrying a laptop, files, and other work materials. 

Travel may include day trips to courts, juvenile or correctional facilities, partner organizations, and client locations, as well as occasional overnight travel for investigations, client visits, hearings, or other case-related work. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Please send a letter of interest and a resume to Elizabeth Henneke, Chief Executive Officer, at ehenneke@lsja.org. In the subject line, type 'Development Operations Manager–Last Name.' 

In your letter of interest, please answer the following: 

• What does justice reform mean to you? Please be detailed, but do not exceed two paragraphs. 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. LSJA has a strong commitment to diversity and especially encourages people with lived experience of justice involvement to apply. We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.