Legal Liaison

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.  

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

Here’s what you get as a full-time employee:

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

You also might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.

You can see all the details here: ERS recruitment brochure

Functional Title: Legal Liaison 
Job Title: Program Specialist III 
Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc 
Department: Region 3E CPS Dir Del -Other 
Posting Number: 11462 
Closing Date: 12/05/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Legal 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-19 
Salary Range: $4,020.33 - $6,335.66 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 10% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: DALLAS 
Job Location Address: 2600 LONE STAR 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

Facilitates and expedites Child Protective Services (CPS) conservatorship cases to permanency through the legal system within the parameters of the Texas Family Code and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) policy guidelines. The Legal Liaison develops and maintains positive and constructive working relationships between DFPS and the District Courts, District Attorney's Office, law enforcement agencies, and Court Appointed Special Advocates organization. Liaisons educate, enable, and empower Child Protective Investigations (CPI) and CPS staff to represent TDFPS as an agency while engaging with families and protecting children within the legal system. Liaisons interact routinely with CPI/CPS Staff, Advocacy Center staff, District Judges, County Attorney Staff, Court Administrators, attorneys, Court Appointed Special Advocates staff, law enforcement, constables, witnesses, other social, medical, and psychological agencies, facilities and practitioners throughout Texas, and across the country. 

Essential Job Functions:

•    Consults with caseworkers and supervisors regarding removal decisions.
•    Develops, prepares, reviews, and edits affidavits, court reports, service subpoenas, inquires, discovery (interrogatories, production, admissions, and disclosures), and files, handles and prepares correspondence, and memoranda.
•    Prepares Cases for Hearings or Trials -Coordinates, develops and updates responses to discovery requests; locating, subpoenaing, interviewing, scheduling witnesses; researches prior legal cases, sources, statutes and judicial decisions upon request by the District or Regional Attorney. Develops, prepares, maintains and updates trial notebooks for Regional Attorney, compiles affidavits, exhibits and business records for trial, prepares attorneys by scheduling and meeting with fact and expert witnesses; monitors and assists with appeal of final hearing.
•    Attends court hearings, trials, and emergency hearings.
•    Verifies each parent has been served; verifies out of county and state service and notification to Indian tribes.•    Attends Permanency Conferences/Family Group Conferences, legal staffings, pre-removal staffings, post-removal staffings, pre-trial meetings, and mediation when requested.
•    Informs CPI/CPS staff and District Attorney staff of case status, legal issues, decisions, provides and interprets legal information that enables CPI/CPS staff in making responsible casework decisions.
•    Trains CPI/CPS staff by developing curriculum and training materials, conducts the training seminars, keeps staff informed of changes in the Texas Family Code and TDFPS policy. May also assist with coordinating training seminars for attorney ad litems in conjunction with other community agencies.
•    Assists caseworkers with interviewing clients regarding legal issues, executing affidavits of relinquishment, affidavits of status, and affidavits of waivers of interest with CPI/CPS parents;
•    Monitors CPI/CPS case recommendations to the court for consistency with the Texas Family Code and TDFPS policy and procedures in order to ensure that the agency maintains credibility with the court system.
•    Performs other duties assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
•    Attends work regularly in accordance with agency policy.
•    Promotes and demonstrates the Agencies Mission and Values through their performance and conduct.
•    Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and all work-related contact.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

•    Texas Rules of Civil Procedures and the Texas Family Code.
•    Child Protective Investigations and Child Protective Services policies, guidelines, and philosophy.
•    The rules of discovery.
•    Basic legal documents regarding CPI/CPS cases.

Skills using/in:

•    Microsoft Office Software including Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
•    Information Management Protecting Adults and Children of Texas
(IMPACT).
•    Basic office equipment (fax machine, postage meter, copier, telephone system).
•    Handling large workload and meeting deadlines.
•    Establishing priorities and multitasking.
•    Creating and maintaining effective tracking systems for critical task completion and case information.
•    Utilizing leadership skills and administrative skills to provide support to agency staff, attorneys, and partners in the legal system.
•    Establishing a physical and digital organized work environment.
•    Working effectively with CPI/CPS staff, the legal community, and the general public.

Ability to:

•    Create and maintain effective and professional relationships with a number of partner agencies.
•    Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
•    Manage time and large workload effectively with minimum direct supervision.
•    Work effectively in highly energetic situations and environments.
•    Be flexible in responding to emergency situations on a daily basis.
•    Type and give attention to details.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

N/A 

Initial Screening Criteria: 

Minimum Qualifications: Currently, or previously, certified as a Child Protective Investigations or Child Protective Services Specialist III (equals a minimum of 18 months of experience) or above. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services - Child Protective Services Substitute 
Care/Conservatorship experience is preferred, but not required. 

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions. You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at dfpsmilvets@dfps.texas.gov with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files. 

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.