Senior Assistant City Attorney

Pay $95,000 - $145,000 DOQ

Provides legal assistance to the City Attorney's Office, including one or more of the following actions, and offers guidance to other attorneys with questions that arise regarding the following actions: filing charges against, prosecuting and resolving issues with violators of city law, both criminal and civil; initiating and defending civil suits on behalf of the city; researching legal issues and providing briefs summarizing the law; preparing contracts, M&C's (Mayor and Council Communications), ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents; providing legal advice to the City Council, the City Manager's Office, City Departments, and City Boards and Commissions; and performing other legal tasks, as assigned. The Senior Assistant City Attorney addresses more complex legal issues and carries a greater and more difficult caseload or assignment load than an Assistant City Attorney I or Assistant City Attorney II.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs all functions listed for Assistant City Attorney I and II.

• Offers guidance to attorneys who are serving as Assistant City Attorney I or Assistant City Attorney II in the performance of functions listed above.

• Supervises the investigation and handling of claims and complaints for potential litigation in a variety of areas including civil rights violations, employment discrimination, prohibited conduct, equal opportunity and related issues.

• Receives and reviews claims and lawsuits filed against the City including liability claims for personal injury or death; coordinates the investigation, evaluation, settlement or litigation of claims.

• As lead attorney, conducts and participates in pre-trial preparation of complex and difficult cases set for trial; arranges and participates in depositions; organizes documents and exhibits used in court cases; appears in federal and state courts for trials and appeals.

• Maintains as lead attorney a full case load of litigation involving the City, exercising substantial independence in the management and trial of the cases.

• Serves as liaison for the City Attorney's Office to negotiate and resolve significant and complex legal issues in transactional work.

• Performs other related duties as required.

• Adheres to assigned work schedule as outlined in the Department and City attendance policies and procedures; ensures all behaviors comply with the City's Personnel Rules and Regulations.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures of common, civil, criminal, constitutional and administrative law. Methods and techniques of legal research.

• Knowledge of law of damages for personal injury and property damage.

• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.

• Knowledge of State and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting city government.

• Knowledge of modern principles and practices of public and municipal law.

• Knowledge of City Codes and Charter provisions.

• Knowledge of organization, duties, powers, limitations and authority of city government and city attorney's office.

• Methods and techniques of arbitration. Federal, state and local court rules of procedures and evidence.

• Skill in legal research, analysis and writing.

• Skill in negotiation.

• Skill in computers and applicable software.

• Skill in organization and time management.

• Skill in participating in trials.

• Skill in public speaking.

• Skill in personnel management.

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to organize, interpret and apply legal principles and knowledge of complex legal problems.

• Ability to prepare and present as lead attorney difficult cases in court.

• Ability to interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

• Ability to present statements of law, fact and argument clearly and logically.

• Ability to conduct research on complex legal problems and prepare sound legal opinions.

• Ability to recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practices for providing effective and efficient legal services.

• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.

• Ability to research, analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques.

• Ability to effectively apply legal knowledge and principles in court.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

Requires a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from an accredited school of law and licensed to practice law in the State of Texas (in good standing) and a minimum of five years of legal experience in municipal government or working as in-house counsel for a governmental entity. Valid Texas Driver's License required. The City may consider all relevant work experience when determining a candidates minimum qualifications.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically require touching, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, walking and repetitive motions. Primarily works Monday-Friday, 8 am

• 5 pm, but may be required to work extended hours as necessary.

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Sedentary Work

• Depending on assignment, positions in this class typically exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

The City of Amarillo is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages applications from eligible and qualified persons regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law.

The City of Amarillo provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case by case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 806-378-4294.