Job Posting: State Bar of Texas

The administrative agency of the Texas Supreme Court is hiring an Ombudsman for the Attorney Discipline System. The first-of-its-kind position serves the public with concerns about the attorney discipline system, especially the filing of attorney grievances, but does not draft complaints or act as an advocate for members of the public. The position was created by amendments to the Texas State Bar Act in 2017

The position also makes recommendations to the Supreme Court of Texas and State Bar for improvements to the attorney discipline system. This position is selected by Supreme Court of Texas, reports directly to the Supreme Court of Texas, and is independent of the State Bar Board of Directors, Commission for Lawyer Discipline, and Chief Disciplinary Counsel. Applicants must be a member of the Texas State Bar with five years of legal experience preferred. The job pays $54,295-$61,082 and applications are due May 4, 2018. (Texas State Bar Jobs.)

Texas was the focus of a legislative effort for an Ombuds shield law in 2007 that failed in committee. That same year, the Texas Bar took up consideration of an Ombuds for its disciplinary system. It is therefore especially notable that the Texas State Bar has bestowed some confidentiality on its new Ombuds:

Sec. 81.0885. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS.

(a) All types of information, proceedings, hearing transcripts, and statements presented to the ombudsman are confidential and may not be disclosed to any person other than the chief disciplinary counsel unless disclosure is ordered by a court.

(b) The ombudsman may not access privileged communications and information shared between the chief disciplinary counsel and the commission.

(Texas State Bar Act.)

Related posts: Texas State Bar Considers Ombuds Office Texas Introduces Ombuds Shield Law.