Assistant City Attorney (Part-Time)

THE POSITION
The City Attorney's Office seeks a well-qualified, motivated Assistant City Attorney to work approximately 20 hours per week. This is an at-will position that serves as part of the City's executive management team and is a benefits-eligible position, including CalPERS membership and health care benefits. Benefit amounts will be prorated based on 20 hours per week.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES 
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assists the City Attorney in managing and directing the City Attorney’s Office.
• Assists in developing department goals and objectives; assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Assists with the preparation of the City Attorney’s office budget; assists in budget implementation; forecasts funds for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies.  
• Assists in developing and implementing the City Attorney’s Office work plan.  
• Confers with and advises City departments, the City Council, boards, and commissions concerning their duties, powers, and functions; performs legal research and investigates, evaluates, and resolves a variety of complex legal matters; prepares written and oral opinions on various legal issues for presentation to the City Council, City departments, and various boards and commissions. 
• Provides legal support to City departments; prepares drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments; reviews joint agency agreements, mutual aid agreements, grants, and various competitive bid documents; provides opinions as to the legal acceptability of agreements, covenants, and other binding documents presented to the City for consideration by outside parties or agencies. 
• Represents the City in litigation, or coordinates outside litigation counsel and supervises related activities; investigates claims and complaints against the City and takes or recommends appropriate action.
• Makes initial decisions concerning advisability to prosecute, compromise, or dismiss civil or criminal actions.
• Assists in or prepares cases including those related to the Municipal Code for hearings, trials, and other judicial proceedings; represents the City in such proceedings.
• Reviews and analyzes court rulings and legislation relative to their effect on municipal government operations; recommends changes in policies and procedures in order to meet current legal requirements.
• Represents the City Attorney at various City Council, board and commission meetings and in court as directed. 
• Confers with and advises City departments in establishing policies by applying legal points and procedures; recommends changes in policies and procedures to meet current legal requirements.   
• Prepares and presents training to City departments related to a variety of enforcement issues, public records access, employment law, and other legal matters.
• Responds to requests for information from the general public, City staff, outside agencies, and other interested parties; researches requested information.
• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Serves as the City Attorney as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.  

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and procedures of civil law, particularly as they are related to municipal government, including civil and administrative procedures.
• Principles and practices of municipal law, including land use, CEQA, public contracting, personnel, labor, and tort law.
• Responsibilities and obligations of public officials and administrative agencies, including conflicts of interest, the Brown Act, and the Public Records Act. 
• Administrative principles and methods, including goal setting, program and budget development and implementation, personnel management, training, and supervision. 
• Principles, methods and practices of legal research.
• Statutes and court decisions relating to municipal corporations.
• Principles and practices of policy development and implementation.
• Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• State and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting municipal operations.
• Municipal government organization, structure, and functional responsibilities, including powers and limitations of City government.
• Organization, authority, and operating procedures of a City Attorney's Office.

• Assist the City Attorney in managing and directing the operations of the City Attorney’s Office.
• Develop, implement, and interpret goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work   standards. 
• Supervise, hire, train, and evaluate professional, technical, and administrative staff. 
• Interpret and apply City and Department policies, procedures, rules, and regulations. 
• Learn ordinances, statutes, and court decisions relating to municipal corporations.
• Learn modern and highly complex principles and practices of municipal law.
• Learn organization, procedures, duties, powers, limitations, and authority of the City Attorney's office, City government, and other public agencies.
• Learn established precedent and sources of legal reference applicable to municipal and local agency activities.
• Represent the City in a wide variety of judicial and administrative proceedings.
• Establish precedents and sources of legal reference applicable to municipal activities.
• Prepare clear and concise documents including correspondence, memoranda, contracts, ordinances, and resolutions.
• Properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationship with the general public, staff, committee members, and public officials.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Analyze and prepare a wide variety of legal documents and court cases.
• Organize, interpret, and apply legal principles and knowledge of legal problems; effectively apply legal knowledge and principles in court.
• Present statements of law, fact, and argument clearly, logically, and effectively.
• Represent the City in a wide variety of judicial and administrative proceedings.
• Use computer technology and applications in the performance of daily activities.
• Meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties. 

• Active membership, in good standing, in the State Bar of California.
• A valid California Class C driver license or higher is required at the time of appointment.  Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

Additional Information:

• While always welcome, a resume will not be accepted in lieu of an official City application. The application must be completed in its entirety (including any supplemental questions). 
• All required documents must be attached to the application; missing documents may be submitted until the final filing date. Human Resources will not accept documents after the final filing date. For a degree to be considered, the degree or transcripts must be attached to the application.
• Applicants will be screened against the minimum qualifications and then the desired qualifications. Those who qualify may be further screened to identify the best-qualified candidates.
• Candidates must pass a LiveScan background check prior to appointment. 
• This job may require a pre-employment medical screening, which includes testing for drugs, including but not limited to marijuana; a positive test may result in revocation of an employment offer.