Deputy City Attorney / City Attorney's Office #8400

This job description intends to provide a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.  The duties of a Deputy City Attorney may include any or all of the duties listed below depending upon the area of law assigned to the incumbent.

• Assists the City Attorney as legal counsel for the City in all municipal areas.
• Serves in place of the City Attorney when the City Attorney is absent or unavailable to discharge his/her responsibility.
• Represents the City and its officers and employees in litigation matters, including preparation for trial of cases and handling of appeals.        Appears before all federal and state courts and administrative agencies on behalf of the City.
• Supervises outside attorneys working alongside the City Attorney’s Office on legal proceedings.
• Prepares proposed legislation and makes recommendations to repeal or amend existing laws.
• Reviews, drafts and approves ordinances, charter amendments, resolutions contracts, deeds, leases, permits, licenses and other legal documents.
• Prepares written legal opinions and renders legal advice to City Council, boards, committees and City Departments.  Interprets federal, state, county and City statutes, ordinances, charters, rules, regulations, court decisions, etc.
• Confers with and renders assistance to City departments in establishing departmental policies by developing and applying legal points and procedures; recommends changes in policies and procedures in order to meet legal requirements.
• Attends meetings of the city Council, boards and committees to advise on legal matters.
• Conducts legal research as needed.
• Maintains processional contact with other agencies as applicable.
• Performs other related dues as required.

Education and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited law school as well as licensed to practice law in the State of Florida.
• Membership in good standing with the Florida Bar.
• Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in City or related government law.

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in the Florida Bar.

• None.

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and procedures, including civil, appellate and administrative law.  
• General laws, ordinances, standards and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position.
• All facets of the City Charter, City codes and ordinances, state law and regulations pertaining to municipal government.
• Detailed components of government law, structure and organizational functions.
• Court rules and rules of evidence.
• Methods of legal research, including computer research.
• Ability to teach and evaluate personnel.
• Standard human resources practices and procedures.
• Proper English usage, punctuation, spelling and grammar, and the application of such to a variety of formats and styles; editing principles and techniques.

• Critical thinking.
• Written, verbal, electronic and visual communications for effective expression and clarity.
• The operation of various computer or other electronic devices and applications, to include Microsoft Office Word and Excel.
• Organization, attention to detail, prioritization and time management.

• Learn and follow Federal, State and City laws, regulations, methods, procedures, policies and practices and terminology as they pertain to the performance of duties of the position.  
• Teach and evaluate personnel.
• Analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents.
• Conduct research on legal problems and prepare sound legal opinions.
• Prepare and effectively present cases in court.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisor, support staff, other departments, processionals and members of the public.
• Learn the organization, practices, procedures and resources of City departments, boards and committees.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Learn and utilize new skills and information to improve job performance and efficiency.
• Relate to people beyond giving and rescuing instructions, to include applying consistent courtesy and tact in conservable public contact and/or confrontational situations.
• Adapt and perform under frequent deadlines and/or in response to emergencies.
• Apply sound judgment and interpretation based on acquired knowledge in circumstances where limited standardization exists.
• Utilizes a variety of modern office equipment and programs to create and review documents, including word processing, databases, spreadsheets.
• Organize and review work for efficient results and accuracy.