Staff Attorney-Community College Services

Why Texas Association of School Boards (TASB)

We come from humble beginnings — picture a one-person organization created in 1949 to advocate for excellence in public education on behalf of Texas school board members. Flash forward to today, and we have over 500 employees working together to provide 1,024 school districts and 50 community college districts with purposeful resources so they can focus on what matters most — excellent and equitable education for all Texas students. 

As TASBeans (our internal name for employees), we feel privileged to work alongside talented team-members who are passionate about education and enjoy learning from new and different perspectives.  We believe what makes our organization highly successful is the rich diversity our employees collectively bring to TASB with different backgrounds, skillsets, cultures and ethnicities, gender identities, interests, abilities, and work styles. And our passion for education and learning doesn’t end there. Our culture has always encouraged employees to grow and become their best selves both professionally and personally through a variety of innovative and collaborative development opportunities. You’re likely beginning to see why we’ve been regularly named by Austin Business Journal as a Top Ten Best Places to Work! 

TASB offers competitive pay, rich benefits (including retirement matching of 2:1 up to 5% after one year. This means that if you contribute 5% to the plan, TASB will contribute 10%), onsite daycare, onsite gym, wellness program, tuition reimbursement, hybrid work options, flexible schedules, and more. 

Every role at TASB thoughtfully complements our mission and the educational impact being made in communities across Texas. If you consider your work exceptional and want to help drive our mission forward, keep reading!

About You

As a Staff Attorney with TASB Community College Services you will be responsible for providing legal and policy consulting services to TASB’s community college membership, which includes all 50 Texas public community colleges. The attorney advises community college board members and administrators on legal and policy matters; reviews, drafts, and edits policies; writes and edits publications addressing community college legal and policy issues; conducts legal and policy training; and provides other legal and policy services to TASB community college members.

Strong legal and policy writing, editing, and speaking skills are essential for this position as is the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with minimal supervision. This position operates in a hybrid work environment, with some travel required. 

A Typical Day 

• Develop and maintain a generalized knowledge of community college law, policy, and best practices. Regularly monitor state and federal case law and statutory and regulatory changes in community college law, including constitutional issues, personnel, student issues, governance, elections, financial matters, business, and other critical areas. 
• Exercise good judgment and a high-level of discretion in providing sound guidance to community colleges and colleagues in the analysis of legal and policy issues, in the formulation and implementation of policy and administrative procedure through local district updates or localized policy updates, and when engaging in the development of educational materials and training. The tasks may require work outside of normal work hours to meet deadlines, particularly following a state legislative session or during a biannual policy update.
• Collaborate with the team and other TASB divisions on ways to expand services to the community colleges.
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How You’ll Make an Impact

• Consult with and advise TASB community college members on legal issues, including answering legal inquiries by telephone, pursuant to procedure. Offer independent legal advice based on general knowledge of community college law.
• Respond in a timely and professional manner to community colleges’ requests for information and guidance pertaining to policy issues and processes, policy samples, and other necessary assistance.
• Develop legal reference policies and model local policies and procedures. Provide legal and practical review of community college members’ unique localized policies when appropriate.
• Serve as a legal and policy resource to other TASB divisions on community college and other higher education matters. Assist, as requested, in the review of publications and other written communications. 
• Develop and provide legal, policy, and governance training, including presentation materials focused on the unique needs of community colleges. 
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