Assistant City Attorney

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Represent the City and Advise on Criminal Law Matters
• Prepare and try criminal cases of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor, including those of a complex nature.
• Manage an assigned caseload, coordinating court dates and other schedules with judges, defense attorneys, defendants, and witnesses.
• Make independent determinations as to what constitutes fair and legal case outcomes, deciding whether to offer incarceration, restorative justice, or another disposition and structuring offers for case resolution.
• Work with crime victims to accurately assess their losses, obtain appropriate restitution awards, and vindicate their rights in court.
• Review and analyze evidence, including physical evidence, body-worn cameras, squad, transit, and surveillance footage, and jail and 911 tapes.
• Direct investigative and support staff as necessary to gather evidence and build a criminal case.
• Advise on applying legal requirements to specific data and facts.
• Conduct legal research and prepare legal opinions on criminal law issues, including complex ones.
• Produce written briefs and memoranda on various criminal law issues, including complex matters, in district court, frequently under very tight deadlines, and occasionally at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
• Deliver well-thought-out, persuasive oral arguments advancing the case’s legal theories and strengths to judges and juries.
• Develop the necessary expertise in various criminal and constitutional law areas, including complex areas.
• Draft changes to state statutes and city ordinances as requested.
• Confer with and advise Minneapolis Police Departments, other law enforcement partners, and other Minneapolis City departments on legal matters and concerns involving criminal law issues, including complex ones.
• Help implement community-based criminal justice and public safety initiatives, reforms, and grant programs.
• Aid the criminal deputy and criminal supervising attorneys with projects, policy, and legal research, including a complex nature.
• Exhibit critical thinking and problem-solving skills, sometimes with supervision.
• Prepare and conduct public presentations and provide training on various criminal law and criminal procedure issues, including complex ones, to other attorneys, city departments, elected officials, and outside partner agencies.
• Foster relationships of trust with department heads, city staff, state and judges, partner agencies, other governmental subdivisions, and internal colleagues.
• Research and draft briefs and present oral arguments for appeals at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
• Regularly review new case law and statutes that change how laws are interpreted or enforced and adapt to those changes in making legal decisions.
• Review police reports, video evidence, and other available evidence and independently apply the facts to applicable criminal statutes to make charging decisions.
• Work on cross-departmental multi-disciplinary work groups, task forces to develop and implement policies.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum Education: A Juris Doctorate (J.D.)
• Minimum Experience: Two or more years of relevant legal experience.
• Licenses/Certification: Minnesota attorney licensure through the successful bar examination and current active bar membership; ability to be licensed in federal court.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Legal knowledge and technical skills
• Work ethic, drive, diligence
• Complex problem-solving, decision making, sometimes with supervision
• Communication skills
• Teamwork/collaboration skills
• Contributions to CAO, the enterprise, legal systems
• Commitment to Equity
• At least some demonstration of leadership
• Strong legal research skills
• Organizational and prioritization skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Capacity to handle complex projects and make quality decisions