Job Description
JOB 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. EXAMPLE OF DUTIES 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.Serves as legal advisor to public bodies including committees, commissions, and City Council. Provides legal interpretations during all adjudicative and legislative hearings as well as work sessions; interacts with parties to pending hearings or with their attorneys to discuss or negotiate City legal positions or interpretations; makes procedural rulings during hearings; reviews each commission's proposed findings and orders for legal sufficiency.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. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 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