Assistant City Attorney II

The Office of the City Attorney seeks an active attorney in good standing with the Virginia State Bar to serve as an Assistant City Attorney II.  The Assistant City Attorney litigates cases in state and federal courts, represents the City in employee grievance matters, performs legal research, reviews bonds and contracts, and provides legal advice to various City departments.  Additionally, the Assistant City Attorney will prosecute City code violations in District and Circuit Courts. 

Under limited supervision, performs legal work advising City departments on legal matters. Represents the City, its Council, its staff and its various Boards and Commissions in all courts in the Commonwealth, and U.S. District Courts (including Bankruptcy Court).  Serves as legal counsel to the City departments, City Council and City Boards and Commissions to advise officials on the legal implications for the City; and drafts and reviews major documents of the City.  Fields of law practiced in this position may include contract, employment, civil rights, personal injury, constitutional, FOIA, real estate, zoning, bankruptcy, and child welfare.  Employee must exercise considerable initiative and independent judgment in determining the proper course of action in establishing City policy and litigating cases involving constitutional matters, statutory matters, monetary settlements, money damages, etc. Employee must also exercise tact and professional courtesy in frequent contact with City Council, judges, government officials of the state, federal government and other local governments; persons conducting business; and citizens.  Reports to the Deputy City Attorney.
 
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 herein described.  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. 

• Provides legal advice to City Council, City departments, and various City boards and commissions.
• Litigates all jury and non-jury complex civil cases on behalf of the City, its Council, its departments, its staff, and various Boards and Commissions.
• Drafts, reviews, and/or approves all major documents for the City, including but not limited to, contracts, leases, settlement agreements, and memorandums of understanding, city policy, change orders, and letters.
• Trains City staff on legal matters.
• Represents the City in employee grievance matters.
• Performs legal research and prepares memorandums of informal opinions, regarding numerous fields of civil law.
• Drafts appellate briefs and appears in the following courts: Virginia Court of Appeals, Virginia Supreme Court, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
• Negotiates settlements on behalf of the City.  
• Performs case management functions, such as preparing case documents; preparing orders; requesting and responding to subpoenas, discovery, subpoena duces tecum, etc.
• Interviews witnesses in preparation of trial and represents the City in mediations.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Experience in real estate law, eminent domain, litigation, local government law, general code compliance, child welfare, and procurement are preferred.