Assistant City Attorney - Civil

This position is open until filled. The hiring range is $76,805.82 to $90,719.03 dependent on experience.

Under general direction of the City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney-Civil assists in the administration and supervision of the City Attorney's Office; provides expert legal advice to the Mayor, City Council, Department Directors, City Boards and Commissions, and City employees on a wide range of municipal law issues. Researches, investigates, evaluates, and resolves a variety of complex legal matters; represents the City in civil litigation and proceedings before the courts, boards, arbitrators, mediators, and other administrative agencies.

Receives and reviews claims and lawsuits against the City and recommends settlements; coordinates with outside counsel on business matters and litigation; negotiates, reviews, and drafts contracts, ordinances, and other documents; conducts legal research; and prepares opinions, memoranda, policies, regulations, and other legal documents. May assist the Criminal Assistant City Attorney-Criminal from time to time on an as-needed basis.

Confers with and advises the Mayor, the City Council, City departments, 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.

Reviews or responds to public records requests, prepares memos, legal opinions, ordinances, and resolutions, as needed.

Represents the City in civil litigation cases, mediation, arbitrations, and/or administrative hearings; prepares memoranda, motions, briefs, and pleadings to be filed in judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings; negotiates, reviews, and prepares agreements and contracts for City Departments; and may represent City in complex contract negotiations.

At the request of the City Attorney, Department Directors, or other City officials or employees, provides training to public safety officers, first responders, and other City employees, as well as legal training in civil and related law topics in areas of municipal law, risk assessment, legal compliance, and policy development.

Attends City Council meetings and meetings for City Boards and Commissions, including those that occur in the evening hours.

Learn ordinances, statutes, and court decisions relating to municipal corporations; 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; learn organization, procedures, duties, powers, limitations, and authority of the City Attorney's office, City government, and other public agencies.

Manages a heavy workload effectively and efficiently; meets deadlines.

Areas of emphasis may include contract, code, ordinance, and resolution writing; real property transactions; legal research and writing assignments; employment; land use, and planning and zoning

Demonstrates conduct of a team player.

Assists the Assistant City Attorney-Criminal as needed.  This may include prosecuting City traffic violations, misdemeanor charges, and other City Code violations at the magistrate court level; reviewing police reports and citations; checking prior criminal history records; reviewing defendants' license statuses; evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of criminal cases; communicating with pro se defendants, defense counsel, witnesses, and victims in a timely manner; making reasonable settlement offers; drafting motions, pleadings, warrants, affidavits, discovery, and other legal documents; performing legal research; writing legal briefs; and preparing cases for trial, among other tasks.

Attends CLE courses and maintains bar membership and remains in good standing with the Idaho State Bar.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school; licensed member of the Idaho State Bar in good standing or a state bar with reciprocity in Idaho; 1-3 years' experience as a practicing attorney with an emphasis in civil or municipal law preferred. Must possess a valid Idaho driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Knowledge and Abilities:

Functional knowledge of Idaho municipal law, civil and criminal rules, rules of professional conduct, rules of evidence, and civil and criminal trial procedures

Knowledge of and ability to effectively use online legal research tools

Excellent legal research and writing skills

Knowledge of state statutes and case law

Maintain confidentiality

Ability to define and analyze complex legal issues and problems, research and organize facts, perform legal risk-benefit analysis, evaluate alternatives, and develop sound conclusions and recommendations

Present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly, logically, and persuasively

Operate a computer to prepare legal documents and perform legal research

Communicate effectively, professionally, and persuasively, both verbally and in writing

Work harmoniously with clients, co-workers, the general public, other attorneys, and other organizations

Use a high degree of tact, discretion, and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive situations and concerned or upset individuals

Work independently with minimal direction

Exercise sound, independent judgment within general policy guidelines and legal parameters under pressure

Interpret and explain city, state, and federal law, regulations, legislation, and constitutional provisions

Strong work ethic

Exercise tact, ingenuity, resourcefulness, and good judgment

Conduct self in a professional manner

Successful completion of a City of Lewiston background check

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may lift or carry up to 25 pounds. The noise level is generally quiet.

General office environment. The position requires occasional after-hours, weekends, and holiday work as City business necessitates.

With or without reasonable accommodation, this position requires: Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing that permits the employee to communicate effectively in writing, on the telephone, and in-person; Sufficient vision that permits the employee to review written and electronic materials; Sufficient manual dexterity that permits the employee to handle a variety of records and files and to operate a computer; and sufficient personal mobility that permits the employee to access office files, attend courtroom proceedings and public meeting, visit other City offices and governmental agencies.