CRA Legal Advisor

The City of Fort Myers strives to be an employer of choice and most of our employees turn jobs into long term careers.  The salary shown in the job description is the full range for this position from entry to later career.  

NEW EMPLOYEES ARE HIRED AT, OR NEAR THE ENTRY POINT SHOWN, DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

FLSA Status: Exempt              Safety Sensitive: No          Level II Screening: No

The Staff Counsel is a critical legal resource for the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), collaborating closely with the CRA Attorney to deliver comprehensive legal support. This role is responsible for overseeing and managing the daily legal matters affecting the CRA, and reports to the Executive Director. No supervisory responsibilities.

• Free city-paid employee health coverage, additional for spouse or family
• 3 weeks Paid Time Off (sick & vacation)
• 13 paid holidays
• Pension plan & optional Deferred Compensation 
• City-paid life insurance
• Optional Vision, Dental, and Disability Insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• On-site Gym facility
• And much more!

The Staff Counsel will play a pivotal role in providing comprehensive legal support to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Attorney. Key responsibilities will include:

• Conduct thorough research of statutory and case law, preparing detailed legal memoranda to inform strategic decisions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legal issues, precedents, and regulatory changes impacting the CRA.
• Lead the negotiation, drafting, and review of a variety of legal documents, including contracts, resolutions, and leases.
• Facilitate all legal aspects related to the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of real property.
• Interpret complex federal, state, and local laws concerning contracts, real property, public agencies, construction, and land use.
• Provide effective legal solutions for a wide range of CRA legal challenges.
• Clearly, concisely, and accurately interpret CRA objectives, policies, and definitions to internal and external stakeholders.
• Conduct in-depth legal research, draft legal memoranda, and present findings.
• Apply principles of general civil law and government law, with specific expertise in real property, lending, and construction.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the legal functions of the CRA.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

We are seeking a candidate who possesses a robust set of legal skills and a deep understanding of relevant legal frameworks:

• Possess a keen understanding and knowledge of litigation strategies specifically applicable to government entities.
•  Exhibit comprehensive knowledge of state and federal law and the rules of civil procedure.
• Understand the intricacies of quasi-judicial proceedings.
• Show a strong commitment to effectively representing the Community Redevelopment Agency Commissioners.
• Possess extensive knowledge of City code, City charter, state and federal laws and regulations, court decisions, and other legal requirements relevant to municipal government functions and operations.
• Proficiently utilize principles, methods, and practices of legal research.
• Demonstrate the ability to skillfully draft legal documents, propose legislation, and prepare related ordinances, resolutions, and policies.
• Communicate clearly and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, employees, the court, and the public.
• Apply all aspects of Sunshine Law and Public Records Law effectively.

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Prior experience working within a municipal government setting is required.
• Licensed to practice law in Florida and membership in good standing in the Florida Bar 
• A valid Florida Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record at time of hire.

This work typically requires the following physical activities to be performed.  

• Balancing – maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching. 
• Climbing – ascending, descending ladders, stairs, ramps, requires body agility. 
• Reaching – extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion – substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers. 
• Speaking – expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely. 
• Crouching – bending body forward by bending leg, spine. 
• Feeling – perceiving attributes of objects by touch with skin, fingertips. 
• Fingering – picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand.
• Grasping – applying pressure to object with fingers, palm. 
• Handling – picking, holding, or working with whole hand.
• Hearing 1 – perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information. 
• Standing – for sustained periods of time. 
• Talking 1- expressing ideas by spoken word 
• Visual Acuity 1 - prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading.
• Visual Acuity 2 - color, depth perception, field of vision.
• Visual Acuity 3 - determine accuracy, neatness, observe facilities/structures.
• Lifting – raising objects from lower to higher position, moving objects side to side, using upper extremities, back. 
• Mental Acuity – ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning. 
• Walking - on foot to accomplish tasks, long distances, or site to site. 

Work performed is primarily: 

• Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• May be required to work hours other than the regular schedule including nights, weekends, holidays and during emergencies.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described herein.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.