City Attorney-Updated Wage

General Description

The City of Galesburg seeks interested applicants to fill the position of City Attorney in the Department of Administration. This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position with a starting annual salary range of +/- $180,000. The City Attorney serves as the chief legal advisor for the City of Galesburg, providing professional legal work under the direction of the City Manager and in support of the policies set by the City Council. The City Attorney serves as the sole in-house attorney for the City and is responsible for providing legal counsel and representation to the City in a wide range of legal matters, including labor and employment, collective bargaining, public policy, land transfers, contracts and agreements, prosecution of all code and ordinance violations, and litigation.

The range for this position is +/- $180,000.

A listing of benefits associated with this position can be found at this link.

A position profile can be found at this link.

Essential Functions

• Ensure that all city operations are in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws, and in conformance with acceptable standards and practices.
• Prepare legal and highly confidential information. Develop, analyze, and provide appropriate factual and policy background information.
• Defend the city in all legal matters in which the City is a party. Oversee and serve as the point of contact for any case in which the City has appointed outside counsel or is defended by an insurance carrier of the City.
• Negotiate, draft, or review contracts, deeds, agreements, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents as needed.
• Develop an annual legal budget based on anticipated needs and administer the assigned budget.
• Represent the city as plaintiff in collections, small claims, judgments, and tax foreclosures; prepare contract, bond, and other documents.
• Provide advice and updates to the city manager on policy issues and pending litigation.
• Represent the City in collective negotiation matters, union grievance and arbitration hearings as needed, and advise on other personnel matters in coordination with the human resources director.
• Provide assistance to the city manager on special projects as assigned.
• Attend all regular and special meetings of the city council and act as parliamentarian.
• Prosecute ordinance violations via Circuit Court and Administrative Adjudication.

Requirements

• Education and Experience:
  • Juris Doctorate, licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois.
  • Good standing with the Illinois State Bar Association.
  • A minimum of three years of legal experience, preferably in Illinois municipal law.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work productively with colleagues, elected officials, community members, developers, and within the judicial system.
  • Extensive knowledge of local, state, and federal law and court decisions, including those that affect municipalities.
  • Knowledge and experience in the principles and methods utilized in legal research.
  • Experience in general municipal law, including but not limited to drafting complaints, urban planning, employment law, labor law, municipal code enforcement, risk management, and prosecution of ordinance violations.
• Licenses, Registrations, and Certifications:
  • Valid Illinois driver’s license or equivalent.
  • License to practice law in the State of Illinois and the ability to maintain the same.
• 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.