Deats, Durst & Owen, PLLC (Summer 2027)

Austin, TX

Deats, Durst & Owen, PLLC is a union-side and employee-side labor and employment law firm in Austin, Texas, representing working people and their unions throughout the state. Formed in 2005 through the merger of two long-established labor and employment firms, DDO represents public- and private-sector unions, including fire fighters, teachers, transit workers, and the building trades, before state and federal courts, the National Labor Relations Board, arbitrators, civil service commissions, and other federal, state, and local agencies. We also represent individual employees, and classes of employees, in discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, free speech, and wage-and-hour cases, and counsel executives and other employees on employment contracts, severance agreements, and noncompetes.

DDO also has a strong commitment to civil rights and public interest work, enforcing the due process and free speech protections of the U.S. and Texas Constitutions and the public's right of access under the Texas Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act. And we help unions and other organizations pursue their goals through the legislative process: drafting bills, lobbying at the Capitol, and crafting municipal ordinances and ballot initiatives. Our attorneys have represented clients at every level of the state and federal court systems, including the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

As a small firm, DDO offers the Peggy Browning Fellow the chance to work directly with our attorneys on live matters from the first day of the fellowship. The Fellow will be supervised by Matt Bachop and Manuel Quinto-Pozos. The Fellow will take part in every aspect of the firm's practice, including legal research and writing for state and federal trial and appellate courts; preparing for grievance and discipline arbitrations and civil service hearings; advising unions on contract enforcement, collective bargaining, and member discipline; drafting pleadings, discovery, and motions in discrimination, retaliation, and wage-and-hour cases; and client intake. The Fellow will also attend hearings, depositions, mediations, and client meetings, and may assist with public-sector policy and legislative projects for our union clients.

Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

The total ten-week stipend is $8,500, and the Fellow should expect to work 40 hours per week.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample.

Address cover letter to:

Yahaira Zermeno, Legal Assistant
Deats, Durst & Owen, PLLC
2901 Bee Caves Rd., Suite L
Austin, Texas 78746