City Attorney

About the role

The City Attorney serves as the Chief Legal Officer for the City of South Fulton and provides independent, objective, and strategic legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, elected and appointed officials, boards, commissions, and City departments. The City Attorney is responsible for directing all legal affairs of the City, protecting the City's legal interests, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws, and promoting ethical, transparent, and accountable municipal government. Consistent with the City Charter and applicable law, the City Attorney exercises independent legal judgment and maintains professional independence in providing legal advice. Although the City Attorney works collaboratively with the City Manager regarding the administration of legal services and operational matters, the City Attorney's client is the City of South Fulton as a municipal corporation, and legal advice shall be based solely upon applicable law, professional ethics, and the best legal interests of the City. The City Attorney plans, directs, supervises, and evaluates all legal services provided by the City, including litigation management, contract review, legislative drafting, risk management, outside counsel, and legal compliance.

Responsibilities

• Executive Legal Leadership: Serve as the City's Chief Legal Officer. Provide legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, departments, boards, commissions, and authorities. Ensure the Office of the City Attorney maintains professional independence in all legal matters. Provide objective legal advice without improper influence from elected officials, City administration, employees, contractors, or outside interests. Participate in strategic initiatives that support the City's mission and long-term goals.
• Governance and Legislative Support: Attend all regular, special, work session, executive session, and called meetings of the Mayor and City Council. Draft and review ordinances, resolutions, policies, contracts, intergovernmental agreements, leases, easements, development agreements, procurement documents, and legislative actions. Interpret and advise regarding the City Charter, Code of Ordinances, Georgia Constitution, state statutes, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions. Advise City leadership on governance, parliamentary procedures, ethics, and legal risk.
• Litigation and Risk Management: Direct all litigation, administrative proceedings, claims, appeals, investigations, and legal disputes involving the City. Develop litigation strategy in consultation with City leadership. Select, retain, supervise, and evaluate outside legal counsel. Monitor legal expenditures and outside counsel performance. Implement strategies to reduce legal exposure and mitigate organizational risk.
• Compliance and Regulatory Oversight: Provide Legal Guidance Regarding Georgia Open Meetings Act