Senior Assistant City Attorney

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

Under limited guidance of the City Attorney, the Senior Assistant City Attorney serves as deputy legal counsel and provides senior-level expertise and support in a variety of legal services to the City Council, City Manager, various departments, and other appointed parties. The incumbent will exercise a high level of independence and professional judgment, and may represent the City in legal proceedings, hearings, litigations, and negotiations. 

The Senior Assistant City Attorney will be primary for one or more areas, which may include airport, contracts, employment, general governance, land use, labor, police, procurement, public records, real property, water, and/or other areas.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguished from the City Attorney classification in that the Senior Assistant City Attorney operates in a support capacity to the City Attorney, who is responsible for the overall Legal department decisions and functions.

Distinguished from the Assistant City Attorney in that the Senior Assistant City Attorney has a higher level of complexity, experience, and depth of knowledge in municipal law, and is typically an expert in one or more relevant areas of law. Senior Assistant City Attorney generally provide leadership or supervision to lower-level classifications including Assistant City Attorneys.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Assists the City Attorney in researching, planning, organizing and administering legal services.

Concurrent with the City Attorney, responsible for general municipal law, public meetings, public records, advising public bodies and attending meetings.

Responsible for an independent portfolio of specialized legal functions which may include airport, land use, contracting, employment, labor, water, environmental, or other areas of law.

Analyzes, interprets, and drafts codes, laws, policies, contracts, and other legal documents as requested.

Provides senior-level professional legal services, interpretation, and consultation to department managers/supervisors and employees on Legal matters relating to the City.

As directed by the City Attorney, attends City Council, Planning Commission and other City committee or commission meetings or work sessions to address legal issues and provide advice on compliance with public meetings, records and ethics law, and meeting/hearing procedures.

Serves as lead attorney for various departments as assigned by the City Attorney.

Participates in meetings and responds to legal questions from City staff, community members, and other agencies relating to City business. Provides legal advice related to implementation of Council goals and City and department strategic plans.

Drafts legal opinions, memos, contracts, agreements, findings, ordinances, letters, and other legal documents to be finalized by the City Attorney.

Conducts legal research of varying levels of complexity and delegates legal research to other Assistant City Attorney staff.

May provide training and education in areas of prevention and legal areas to City employees and community partners.

Stays abreast of developments in state and federal standards, legislation, and regulations governing municipalities. Assists relevant departments and City Officials to revise and update policies to ensure compliance.

Prepares and prosecutes municipal court traffic and code enforcement cases, including making charging decisions, performing legal research, drafting pleadings, negotiating cases, preparing witnesses, and conducting motion hearings, jury trials, and appeals.

Serves as the Acting City Attorney in the case of absence of the City Attorney.

Serves as the lead Assistant to the City Attorney in representing and defending the City and its employees in legal proceedings and administrative motions. 

Represents the City to the public, elected officials, City Council, and other outside agencies.

May supervise, lead, train, or provide guidance to any Assistant City Attorneys.

Operates a motor vehicle regularly to attend meetings, trainings, hearings, and other situations when necessary.

Performs other similar duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory Requirements:

Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from an accredited school of law and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in a related field. 

Two (2) years of progressive experience and demonstrated expertise in one or more specific areas of airport law, land use, real property, labor/employment, public contracting, litigation, or law office supervision.

Special Licenses and Certifications:

Active member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar Association

The position could be required to operate a vehicle in the course of their position. Possession of or must obtain within thirty (30) days from date of hire, a valid Oregon driver’s license. 

Must have a safe driving record. 

Desirable Requirements:

For desirable requirements to be considered, one must have met the minimum requirements noted above

Ability to obtain and remain in possession of the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) certification.

Five (5) years of experience in a municipality or local government.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

Knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and collective bargaining agreements affecting City policies and operations.

Knowledge of City government administration, organization, functions, and services.

Knowledge of practices, principles, procedures, regulations, and techniques of local government law, administrative law, constitutional law, public contracting, and others.

Knowledge of, and ability to, interpret applicable Local, State, and Federal laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, policies, and directives. Principles and practices of paralegal support functions related to municipal government operations.

Legal terminology, forms, documents, and procedures used in composing, processing, and filing a variety of legal documents and reports.

Methods of legal research and analysis, and legal writing and document preparation.

Pertinent Local, State, and Federal laws, ordinances and rules; applicable court rules, deadlines, and related requirements. Knowledge of court procedures and rules of evidence.

Skills and Abilities:

Ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate information and issues, and to develop recommendations and alternatives. 

Ability to interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.

Ability to prepare and analyze data, prepare narrative and statistical reports from data, and written outlines and/or oral instructions. 

Ability to present orally and in writing to individuals and large groups, and to internal and external customers. 

Ability to exercise keen time management skills, balance multiple priorities, and consistently meet timelines and due dates.  

Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with individuals and groups, be an effective collaborator in a team-centered environment, and work effectively under general direction. 

Ability to utilize Microsoft Office technology applications in documents processing, spreadsheets, data bases, PowerPoint presentations, and publishing software applications. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.    

The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability and adjust focus. 

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Computers, including word processing, databases, internet, and spreadsheet programs; calculator, telephone, copy machine, fax machine and postage machine. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in an open office environment with varying levels of distraction and rarely works in outside weather conditions.

This description covers the most significant essential and auxiliary duties performed but does not include other occasional work which may be similar, related to, or logical assignment to the position. 

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.