Title Attorney, Assistant Counsel (Ncs) - Department Of Housing And Community Development

THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION

POSTNG DATE: 07/02/2024

CLOSING DATE: 10/02/2024 AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT

SALARY RANGE: $79,507.00 - $127,043.00 USD Annually

CLASS DESCRIPTION

The Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development is seeking an Associate General Counsel for our Development Division - Legal Section.

AGENCY & POSITION OVERVIEW

The Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) was created in 1968 to consolidate local community development efforts with housing and building code enforcement. With over 400 employees, DHCD strengthens City neighborhoods by attracting investors, developers, and homebuyers. Through the administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME funds, City bond funds, and other creative financing mechanisms, DHCD finances and guides strategic development projects to meet housing and neighborhood needs. To hold property owners accountable and keep neighborhoods safe, DHCD monitors construction and building activity and enforces the City's building, fire, zoning and related codes, as well as provides energy conservation services.

DHCD works with community groups and other stakeholders to address the problem of vacant buildings and lots in neighborhoods throughout the City. Utilizing legal tools such as tax sale foreclosure, judicial In Rem foreclosure, negotiated purchases, and condemnation. DHCD clears the titles to these abandoned properties and, through direct sales or receivership auctions, returns them to productive use through rehabilitation and redevelopment projects. A crucial step necessary for the successful exercise of each of these legal tools is the identification and planning of acquisition activities, the programming and oversight of the case filing and management operation, and the directing of legal services that support and enable the acquisition and disposition of vacant lots and buildings in pursuit of DHCD's mission.

The Associate General Attorney acts as the Managing Attorney within the Development/Land Management Division and oversees the assignment, preparation, management, and completion of legal proceedings in District Court, Circuit Court, and at the appellate level to acquire properties by DHCD Development legal staff on behalf of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore. Such cases may include actions in Condemnation, Tax Sale Foreclosure, In Rem Foreclosure, and Quiet Title actions. The Managing Attorney also coordinates closely with the City Law Department regarding the allocation and strategy surrounding such legal proceedings, and with other City agencies and departments to ensure DHCD receives the information and support it needs to successfully prosecute and manage its cases. Additionally, the Managing Attorney oversees the drafting, review, and approval of legal documents required for the acquisition and disposition of targeted properties needed to advance DHCD's blight elimination goals. Work of this class involves the supervision of DHCD Development Division's attorneys and paralegals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• In coordination with the Assistant Commissioner for the DHCD Development Legal Section, contribution to the development and refinement of DHCD policies and programs, and explanation/advocacy for said policies and programs before other agencies and departments, community groups, legislative bodies, and other stakeholders.

• In coordination with the Assistant Commissioner for the DHCD Development Legal Section, monitoring, analyzing, revising, and opining on legislation before the Maryland General Assembly and the Baltimore City Council. Also proposing, drafting, revising, and advocating for legislation in said bodies that is in the interest of DHCD. In such capacity, may brief legislators and City Officials, and/or testify before committees of said legislative bodies.

• Coordination with other divisions, agencies and departments regarding quotidian functions of DHCD Development Division, and efforts of common interest.

• Supervision of Attorneys and Paralegals in the DHCD Development Division

• Searching and examine land records and writing of opinions on titles

• Direct engagement in and oversight of the drafting, review, revision, and approval of various legal documents necessary to carry out the DHCD Development Division's acquisition and disposition of real property for the purpose of blight elimination and redevelopment. Such documents include deeds, mortgages, land disposition agreements, contracts, intergovernmental agreements, memoranda of understanding, releases, amendments, extensions, among others. Communication of standard principles and language to Development Division colleagues.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: Have a Juris Doctor from an accredited college or university and must be a member of the Maryland State Bar and in good standing.

AND

EXPERIENCE: Have one year of experience in corporate and/or public law with trial experience before State courts or one year experience as a judicial clerk. Continued legal education in relevant areas of law.

OR

NOTES(EQUIVALENCIES): Have an equivalent combination of education and experience also acceptable, except that the law degree and Maryland State Bar admission are required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the purposes, policies, and regulations of DHCD.

• Knowledge of the pertinent Federal, State, and local laws and statutes.

• Knowledge of the basic steps and structure of a real estate transaction, and basic knowledge of real estate development and finance.

• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing the handling of contracts and agreements.

• Knowledge of pertinent principles and practices of law, court procedures and legal research.

• Knowledge of report preparation techniques and procedures and report writing.

• Knowledge of general operations and procedures of a Public Housing Agency.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, with at least an intermediate level of skill/experience in Word and Outlook

• specifically.

• Ability to prepare pleadings and represent the agency at trial in cases of limited complexity.

• Ability to organize, interpret and apply legal principles

• Ability to present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to p Ability to supervise subordinates and to assign and review work for attorneys, paralegals, and other administrative staff.

• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, vendors, consultants, contractors, residents, representatives of governmental agencies, property owners and buyers, city officials, financial and banking institutions, and the general public.

• Ability to balance and coordinate multiple priorities.

• Prepare and revise legal documents.

This position is Non-Civil Service (at-will). DHCD is currently participating in Baltimore City's Future of Work program which enables a hybrid work environment.

NOTE: Those eligible candidates who are under final consideration for appointment to positions in this class will be required to authorize the release of criminal conviction information.

Financial Disclosure:

This position is required to complete a Financial Disclosure pursuant to Sections 7-7, 7-8, and 7-9 of the City Ethics Law.

BALTIMORE CITY AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER