Assistant City Attorney

About the role

The Assistant City Attorney has direct and independent responsibility for a general, broad municipal legal practice in a fast-paced, high-volume Law Department. Areas of focus include representing the City in various litigation venues including federal and state courts and labor and employment litigation.

Responsibilities

• Represent the City in all phases of state and federal civil litigation
• Represent the City before state boards, commissions and other state agencies (i.e. labor arbitration, mediation, Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor Relations, Division of Administrative Law Appeals, Appellate Tax Board, etc.)
• Draft and respond to litigation pleadings and discovery
• Prepare witnesses for litigation
• Negotiate, draft and review contracts
• Negotiate settlements through mediation and direct discussions
• Presents before City Council, committees, boards and commissions, sometimes during weekday evening hours
• Prosecute violations before Licensing Commission
• Draft ordinances and home rule petitions
• Research complex legal issues and advises on dynamic legal strategies that achieve the City’s goals and minimize legal exposure
• Develop creative and innovative resolutions to legal challenges
• Advises elected officials, department heads and employees on general matters such as state ethics laws, the open meeting laws, public records laws, public sector procurement matters, specific departmental or interest areas, municipal finance, etc.
• Draft legal documents
• Work collaboratively with fellow City attorneys and outside counsel
• Perform duties related to the City Charter and Ordinances
• Ensure compliance with the Board of Bar Overseer rules, regulations and ordinances
• Supervise administrative and paralegal staff, as well as law student interns, and act on behalf of the City Solicitor as needed
• Reasonable availability by phone and email during off-hours to advise and consult elected officials, department heads and employees, as necessary
• Effective, appropriate and dynamic interpersonal communication in a diverse environment

Qualifications

• Admission to the Massachusetts Bar in good standing, with three (3) or more years related work experience
• Candidates with experience in government or public sector employment may substitute up to (1) one year of required experience

Skills

• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent skills in the use of computers and office software including word processing, email, research data bases and spreadsheet applications
• Excellent independent legal research skills
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills

Benefits

Overview of Total Rewards: 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).

Overview of Total Rewards: Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Long term disability through Sun Life
Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
Annual cancer screening & wellness release
Somerville Retirement Pension System
Tuition reimbursement
MBTA pass program
FREE Blue Bikes membership
Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)