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Job Description
Salary
Provides a wide range of legal services to our Water Utility, located in the Infrastructure Department, related to the ongoing development, operation, management and protection of the City's water supply. This includes coordinating with staff on water matters; drafting and reviewing resolutions, ordinances, contracts, and other legal documents; coordinating with and managing outside counsel and representing the city in water litigation. Water matters include water rights and water quality, wastewater, and storm water.
Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from level I or, when filled from the outside, require prior directly related experience.
Assistant City Attorney I:
Under direction, this is the entry-level class in the Assistant City Attorney series. Incumbents assigned to this class are expected to perform the full range of work assigned to this class and to work with some independence and initiative. Employees receive instruction or assistance as appropriate to skill and experience level.
Assistant City Attorney II:
Under general direction, this is the journey-level position in the Assistant City Attorney series, exercising independent judgment and initiative. May provide some guidance to Assistant City Attorney I or other office support staff.Senior Assistant City AttorneyUnder administrative supervision, provides a wide range of legal services to City Council, City boards and commissions and City departments, including monitoring, strategizing and conferring with outside co-counsel representing the City in complex litigation; recommending appropriate legal action; mediating and negotiating settlements; and drafting and reviewing a wide variety of legal documents.
- ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- (Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.)Works directly with Water Utility and other Infrastructure Department staff to provide legal assistance on issues and litigation related to the development, operation, management, and protection of the City's water system and water rights.
Handles water rights litigation in Water Court on behalf of the City, including filing pleadings, negotiating settlements, preparing cases for trial and presenting cases to Water Judge.
Coordinates with Water Utility staff to manage the activities of outside counsel that is hired to handle specialized water matters.
Works directly with Water Utility staff to monitor and respond to state and local water-related legislation, rulemakings, and other activities that have the potential to impact the Water Utility.
Develops and maintains thorough knowledge, understanding and documentation of the City’s water rights portfolio, decrees, stipulations, Intergovernmental Agreements, and contracts.
Develops and maintains thorough knowledge, understanding and documentation of the Water Utility’s history, Intergovernmental Agreements, and contracts.
Maintains a thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances related to water rights, water utilities, and City operations.
Provides legal advice in the purchase, sale or trade of water rights. Assists in the acquisition and development of water storage facilities.
Provides legal advice regarding property owned by City including leasing, easements, mineral rights issues, and evictions. Provides legal advice related to the impact of proposed regulations or legislation.
Drafts legal opinions at the request of the City Attorney; prepares and reviews contracts, deeds, pleadings, leases and other legal documents; reviews documents presented to the City by outside agencies.
Provides staff assistance to the City Attorney.
Participates in the development of the department's work plan; reviews and evaluates work products, methods and procedures.
Interprets charter, code, ordinances, resolutions and City policies.
Interprets legislation, rule makings, and guidelines and assists the Water Utility with compliance.
May assign work activities and projects to paralegal staff.
May provide input on employee performance objectives and prepare or present employee performance reviews.
Performs other duties as assigned. - QUALIFICATIONS
- Education and Experience:
Assistant City Attorney I:
Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school. One year of experience in municipal government law is preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
Assistant City Attorney II:
Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school. Four years' progressively responsible experience in the active practice of law is required. Experience relevant to the needs of the City Attorney office preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
Senior Assistant City AttorneyJuris Doctorate from an accredited law school; admitted to practice law in the State of Colorado; eight years' experience in the active practice of law. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.While performing the essential duties of the job, the employee is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, finger, grasp, feel, talk, hear, and make repetitive motions. This position is mostly sedentary work; exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently to constantly lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The employee is required to have close visual acuity. The employee is subject to both inside and outside conditions.
Licensing/Certification Requirements:
Active Colorado license to practice law.
May need the ability to travel to various locations in a timely matter as the job requires.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of the policies, procedures and goals of the City of Thornton and the department.
Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws and the City of Thornton Charter and Code.
Knowledge of available resources for conducting legal research including those found in hard print and via electronic mediums.
Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and statutes governing the practice of law in the State of Colorado and the City, including City of Thornton Charter and Code, Colorado Revised Statutes, U.S. Code, Code of Federal Regulations, Colorado case law, U.S. and Colorado Constitution, Rules of Procedure for Adams County Court, State of Colorado, and the 10th Circuit Federal Court.
Knowledge of the principles and techniques of consensus-building and conflict resolution.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision and training.
Knowledge of municipal, water, civil, constitutional, administrative and criminal law and regulations.
Skill in conducting legal research and preparing legal opinions.
Skill in analyzing problems, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions and implementing recommendations in support of City goals and objectives.
Skill in reviewing, analyzing and preparing a wide variety of legal documents.
Ability to use standard office equipment, computer equipment and software including word processing, presentation, database management, spreadsheet applications and electronic mail.
Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees, management, elected officials, board members and the general public.
Ability to read, analyze, interpret common legal, scientific and technical materials, financial reports, and legal documents and clearly explain policies and the law to a variety of constituents.
Ability to listen well and communicate effectively with employees, management, City Council, board members and the general public.
Ability to write, speak, and effectively present legal arguments and legal documents to courts, administrative agencies, city employees, public groups, and city boards.
Ability to negotiate resolutions to complex legal issues.
Ability to represent the City effectively in judicial and administrative proceedings and on a variety of legal matters.
Ability to use independent judgment when making legal decisions for assigned litigation.
Ability to present sound legal arguments on behalf of the City.
Ability to effectively monitor proposed state and federal legislation and prepare legislation impact reports.
Physical and Mental Requirements: - TESTING PROCEDURES
- Examinations may include but are not limited to application screening beyond minimum qualifications; written, oral, practical exercise or any combination thereof or other job related assessment deemed appropriate by Human Resources.
Your application will be used as a screening tool. Completeness and accuracy are important! Any false or untrue statements or material omissions in the application and related paperwork or during the selection process could disqualify you from consideration.
As a condition of employment, the city of Thornton conducts background investigations for all positions which may also include a review of credit report and/or driving record. A drug screen, physical, and/or psychological examination administered by a city-designated provider will be required for pre-determined positions.
The City of Thornton is an equal opportunity employer.
- $101,382 - $193,956/year
