City of Austin, TX - City Attorney

The City of Austin seeks a seasoned and highly qualified individual to serve as City Attorney, the chief legal counsel for the City. Currently, the City Attorney reports to and is appointed by the City Manager. The City Attorney provides legal advice and counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, department heads, boards, commissions, and other City staff. This role also represents the City in litigation and legal proceedings, coordinates with outside agencies, and directs the City’s legal activities and law department. The City Attorney is a key member of the City’s executive leadership team and collaborates closely with the Mayor and City Council, contributing to strategy and policy decisions to ensure the City’s mission, vision, and core values are reflected in its operations and strategic goals.

A central aspect of the position is advising the Mayor and City Council, the City Manager, and City departments on legal issues and ensuring compliance with the current City Charter and other applicable laws. The City Attorney represents the City in local, state, and federal courts, administrative proceedings, and City Council meetings, providing sound, clear, and concise legal advice and presents legal opinions and options on municipal activities. This role requires the ability to develop solutions, identify legal strategies, and resolve legal questions arising from City projects and programs.

The City Attorney also leads the City Attorney’s Office and its divisions, which include Litigation, Land Use and Real Estate, Municipal Operations, General Counsel, Criminal Prosecution, Open Government/Ethics and Compliance, Utilities and Regulatory, Financial and Administrative Services including Human Resources. Responsibilities include developing and implementing the Office’s strategic plan, setting priorities, and establishing annual work plans with measurable goals and objectives. The City Attorney oversees the $21.1 million fiscal year 2024-2025 budget for the Office, including resource forecasting for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies. In addition to managing the Office’s activities, the City Attorney is responsible for staff supervision, including selection, training, performance evaluation, and, when necessary, disciplinary actions. Through collaboration with departments and leadership across the organization, the City Attorney ensures that legal support is aligned with the City’s objectives and that projects are completed efficiently and responsibly. The role also includes drafting and interpreting ordinances and resolutions, negotiating contracts, reviewing legal documents, and maintaining confidentiality regarding work-related issues and client records.

As part of the role, the City Attorney stays current on legal trends and conducts research on a wide range of legal issues. They analyze data, prepare legal opinions, and compile reports to guide decision-making. This position also interprets concerns, and presents recommendations to the Mayor and City Council, City Manager, and City departments on major issues facing the City. The City Attorney promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while fostering a positive, collaborative work environment.

Key Areas of Focus

• Establish strong connections with the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and department heads, ensuring open communication and alignment with City priorities.
• Develop a clear litigation strategy that will improve the City’s legal outcomes in court and detail how the City will manage overall litigation for the City’s legal cases.
• Develop and implement systems to track and monitor legal cases, providing regular updates to the Mayor and City Council, the City Manager, and the City’s Executive team on potential legal matters and the progress and outcomes of existing legal matters.
• Deliver innovative, solutions-oriented legal guidance on complex issues, including but not limited to, navigating state and federal legislative impacts, land use regulations, open meeting laws, mobility projects, municipal financing tools, and other politically sensitive topics.
• Analyze Office staffing, workflows, and caseloads to streamline operations.
• Promote a culture of excellence by recruiting talent, offering training, professional development, and retention strategies, ensuring that the legal team is equipped to meet the City’s needs.
• Promote organizational values of equity, inclusion, and belonging within the City Attorney’s Office and in legal strategies, reflecting Austin’s progressive community standards.
• Anticipate potential legal exposures and provide preemptive advice on mitigation strategies.
• Ensure timely, well-informed responses to the Mayor and the City Council’s requests and community concerns.
• Oversee the $21.1 million department budget, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to align with strategic priorities. Plan for future staffing, equipment, and operational needs.
• Monitor state and federal legislative changes, develop comprehensive briefing materials, and equip City leaders with the legal knowledge needed to navigate regulatory impacts and evolving policy landscapes.

The Community

People in Austin enjoy the wide variety of what the City offers, including restaurants, museums, and nature trails, attending University of Texas football tailgating parties and games, browsing local shopping meccas and vintage shops, and cheering on the Austin FC at the Q2 Stadium.

By any traditional measure, Austin is thriving. Fueled by an influx of people and businesses, Greater Austin is one of the country’s fastest-growing regions. Austin is currently the 11th largest city in the U.S. and is projected to be the 3rd largest metro in the U.S. by 2100.

U.S. News and World Report releases a series of lists each year, including the highly respected 150 Best Places to Live. They consider many factors to determine the best, including quality of life, the local job market, value for money, and the place’s desirability. Austin is ranked #9 in the U.S. and #1 in Texas for 2024-2025 on that list. Austin is ranked #9 best places to find a job in the U.S. for 2024-2025. One additional U.S. News and World Report ranked Austin’s University of Texas as the #1 public university in Texas, 7th best public university in the nation, 30th among private and public universities, and 12 Austin Metro area high schools made the Best High Schools list. The highest ranked in Austin is #38. Austin Independent School District’s Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) is ranked #6 in Texas.

In support of the LGBTQ people who live and work in Austin, the City of Austin scored 100 points out of 100 on the 2023 Municipal Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign.

Austin attracts many visitors with its live music events. It’s one of the top things to do in Austin, though there’s music to enjoy throughout the year – not only during the South by Southwest (SXSW) and Austin City Limits festivals. As the “live music capital of the world,” Austin serenades the community with live music in the airport terminal, on the downtown streets, and at about 200 venues. Museums in town include The Contemporary Austin, the Blanton Museum of Art, and the Mexic-Arte Museum. Austin offers many community centers, gardens, parks, libraries, churches, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship and contemplation.

Emerging as a player on the international scene, Austin is well known for its diverse events such as the Austin Marathon, Rodeo Austin, Austin Urban Music Festival, Blues on the Green, Austin Pride Festival, Austin Trail of Lights, SXSW, Austin City Limits, and Formula 1. The City is home to notable employers such as the State of Texas, Apple, The University of Texas at Austin, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Dell Technologies, Oracle, Meta, IBM, Tesla, Google, Applied Materials, St. David’s Medical Center, Indeed, Emerson, and Ascension Seton Health.

Located at the edge of the Texas Hill Country – rolling terrain of limestone bluffs, springs, rivers, and lakes – Austin’s climate is ideal for year-round jogging, cycling, hiking on the City’s many trails, or swimming at Barton Springs or one of the area’s many other swimming holes. There are several excellent golf courses in the area, as well as opportunities for rowing, kayaking, canoeing, camping, rock climbing, disc golf, mountain biking, fishing, and more. Austin has something for everyone.

Austin City Government

The City of Austin is a progressive, full-service municipal organization operating under the Council-Manager form of government. Austin’s Mayor is elected from the City at large, and ten City Council members are elected from single member districts. The terms of the Mayor and City Council members are four years, and terms are staggered so that a general election is held every two years, with half the Council being elected at each election. Term limits for the Mayor and City Council members provide for two consecutive four-year terms. The City Council is responsible for the appointment of the City Manager, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the City, City Clerk, City Auditor, Municipal Court Judges, and the Municipal Court Clerk.

To learn more about the dynamic City of Austin, visit austintexas.gov.

The Law Department (City Attorney’s Office)

The City of Austin Law Department is a mid-size, in-house law firm averaging 60 attorneys. The department meets the vast majority of the City’s legal needs, ranging from areas as diverse as animal control to zoning. The City Attorney is appointed by the City Manager and cannot provide legal advice to private citizens on personal legal matters. The City Attorney provides legal advice and representation to the Mayor and, City Council, City Officers, City Manager, city departments, and boards and commissions of the City. The Law Department’s key activities are to advocate and resolve disputes, to review and develop contracts, and to render opinions and advice.

Over the years, the Law Department has striven to develop “subject-matter” experts in certain demand areas, while maintaining a balance of full-service lawyers to meet the City’s overall legal needs. The Department is organized into several functional divisions:

• Litigation Division
• Land Use & Real Estate Division
• Municipal Operations Division
• General Counsel Division
• Criminal Prosecution Division
• Open Government/Ethics and Compliance Division
• Utilities and Regulatory Division
• Financial and Administrative Services

Law Department Organization Chart

The Successful Candidate

The next City Attorney is a seasoned legal professional known for their integrity, pragmatism, and unwavering commitment to public service. With a comprehensive understanding of municipal law and a collaborative leadership style, they bring a solutions-oriented approach to addressing the City’s complex legal and policy challenges. The successful candidate demonstrates expertise across a broad range of legal areas, including land use and zoning, open meetings law, elections law, environmental and sustainability law, utilities, public safety, housing policies, municipal financing, and legislative review. They are adept at providing clear legal pathways to support the City Council’s vision while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, managing high-stakes litigation, and navigating the impacts of state and federal legislative actions on local governance.

A proven leader, the City Attorney inspires trust and collaboration within the legal department, fostering a high-performing team and instilling a culture of creativity and excellence. They are committed to mentoring, developing, and empowering staff while ensuring efficient operational processes and timely legal counsel. Politically astute yet apolitical, the City Attorney builds strong relationships with elected officials, city management, and community partners, and stakeholders. They understand the legal nuances of a progressive city operating within a conservative state and address challenges with diplomacy, tact, and a commitment to the City’s values.

The City Attorney is an exceptional communicator, capable of distilling complex legal concepts into accessible guidance for elected officials, staff, and the community. They maintain transparency and keep stakeholders informed of legal risks and opportunities. Calm and measured under pressure, they offer decisive guidance and navigate controversial issues with confidence and professionalism. They are a strategic thinker who balances risk aversion with actionable options, enabling the City to achieve its goals while safeguarding against liability.

Deeply aligned with the City’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the City Attorney fosters a culture of belonging within the organization and ensures that legal strategies and policies reflect the City’s values and social context. They bring a can-do attitude, proactively identifying innovative legal solutions while adhering to the highest ethical standards.

The ideal candidate has previous municipal law experience and is skilled in recruiting, retaining, developing, and motivating a talented legal team, reducing bottlenecks, and empowering staff to deliver exceptional results. They partner seamlessly with the Mayor and City Council, and the City Manager to align legal services with the City’s strategic goals. By embracing the City’s vision and its unique challenges, the City Attorney offers creative, pragmatic advice that advances the aspirations of a progressive community while addressing the realities of operating in a politically diverse environment.

Qualifications

The following are the minimum qualifications required for the City Attorney:

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited law school, plus seven years of experience as an attorney including five years of municipal experience, two of which were in an upper management legal capacity. Shall have practiced law in the State of Texas for at least five years immediately preceding appointment.

Licenses or Certifications: Admission to the Bar of the State of Texas and member in good standing with the Texas State Bar.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is commensurate based on experience. The benefits package includes medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, compensated leave, short-term disability, and retirement benefits. The city is a member of the Proportionate Retirement Program. Optional benefits include supplemental life insurance, a 457 deferred compensation plan, long-term disability plan, and a legal plan. Visit Active Employee Benefits to learn more about the City’s employee benefits.

Reasonable relocation benefits will be provided to the successful candidate.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will be open until filled.

Information submitted for consideration may be made available to the public in compliance with the Texas Public Information Act. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact one of the recruiters below before submitting materials.

Questions

Please direct questions to Pamela Wideman at pwideman@raftelis.com or 704.287.3649 and Robert Colichio at rcolichio@raftelis.com or 503.866.4213.

RECRUITMENT BROCHURE