Assistant City Attorney

Job Description

Assistant City Attorney (015)

(Unclassified)

Experience

J.D. or L.L.B. from an accredited law school;
Six (6) years recent experience in the general practice of law. Four (4) years of the qualifying experience must include dealing with municipal, county or state governmental agencies in the State of California
One year of supervisory experience is desirable; and
Trial experience is highly desirable.

Certification

Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California is required;
Admission to the Federal District Court and Federal Appeals Court Bar is desirable.

License

Possession of an appropriate California driver's license is required.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a professional managerial position in the Unclassified Service responsible for supervising one of the legal divisions of the City Attorney's Office. An incumbent in this classification must exercise independent judgment and discretion; manage, control, and direct employees; and formulate administrative policies for the effective use of assigned personnel. The position requires a demonstrated ability to work well with management, professional and administrative support employees in the Office; with clients, professionals, managers, City’s executive management team and all City Departments and elected and appointed officials from the City and various boards. commissions, and committees.

The Assistant City Attorney is a member of the City’s Unclassified Service. This classification is an “at-will” position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager. An incumbent in this classification must demonstrate strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills, set a good example; and correctly apply and abides by the tenets of the City’s Code of Ethics and Values.

Typical Duties

This description may not include all the duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties that may be performed.

Under general direction of the City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney shall:

Manage the training and supervision of subordinate attorneys and support staff;
Give legal counsel to elected and appointed officials, boards, commissions, committees and City departments. This includes, but is not limited to, interpretation of Federal, State, County, and City Constitutions, charters, statutes, ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, court decisions, administrative law decisions, and other legal authority.
Make appearances and conduct litigation on legal matters before State and Federal courts, boards, administrative agencies, and commissions. This includes preparation of pleadings, discovery, briefs, motions and other documents in preparation and trial of cases and the handling of appeals in both criminal and civil cases;
Oversee services provided by outside legal specialists engaged by the City for specialized legal matters;
Prepare drafts and/or review the legality of legislation, ordinances, resolutions, administrative policies, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments;
Confer with the City Attorney to ascertain legal policy and then make decisions with respect to prosecution, compromise and/or dismissal of civil and criminal litigation;
Prepare eminent domain proceedings;
Assist in land, right-of-way and property acquisition and disposal on behalf of the City;
Negotiate contracts, real estate purchases, and leasing transactions, including below market rate housing transactions;
May act for the City Attorney in his/her absence or at his/her direction;
Monitor and assist in the collection of debts and damages due to the City;
Monitor and assist in the investigation of claims and complaints by and against the City;
Be available to attend meetings of the City Council, boards and commissions as assigned by the City Attorney to render legal advice and counsel;
Assist in processing and settling claims and in preparing insurance specifications for service and public works projects; and
Perform other work as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law; trial procedures and rules of evidence; and, research resources and state of the art methods of legal research techniques.
General statutory and case law, with specific knowledge of law related to municipal government functions;
Principles and practices of government organizations, powers and limitations of governmental functions, organizational management and supervision;
Office safety practices, procedures and standards; and
Organization and operating procedures of a municipal attorney’s office.

Ability to:

Communicate both orally and in writing in a highly effective manner;
Prepare analysis of law, fact, and argument, clearly and logically;
Analyze, appraise and apply legal principles and precedents to difficult legal problems and use independent judgment;
Present statements of law, fact, and argument clearly and logically, including presenting complex cases in court, including jury trials;
Prepare complex legal opinions and a wide variety of sophisticated legal documents;
Have a common-sense approach to decision making and balancing the needs of the requesting City client;
Work both collaboratively and independently using sound judgment, initiative, creativity and discretion in responding to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs;
Effectively manage, organize, train and supervise assigned staff;
Build credibility, trust and strong working relationships with internal and external clients by working cooperatively and collaboratively, by working in a team environment, by seeking input from others, by listening and communicating, by using tact and discretion and by communicating, when appropriate, technical information in non-technical terms;
Handle stressful or sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy;
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;
Work effectively in time-sensitive situations and meet deadlines; coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously;
Handle a range of assignments from routine to complex; and
Bend, stoop, reach, carry, crawl, climb, and lift as necessary to perform assigned duties.

Skill in:

Performing detailed and extensive legal research on complex issues using the latest in specialized legal computer software and technology, i.e. Westlaw, internet;
Preparing and presenting complex cases in court, including jury trials; and
Computer technology, i.e. Microsoft Office Suite programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Supervision Received

Will work under the general direction of the City Attorney or designee.

Supervision Exercised

May supervise personnel as assigned.

Special Conditions

May be required to work odd and unusual hours.

Conflict of Interest

Incumbents in this position are required to file a Conflict of Interest statement upon assuming office, annually and upon leaving office, in accordance with City Manager Directive 100.

Approved, May 2007