Counseling Attorney

About the Office

The Office of Corporation Counsel (OCC) provides legal services to the City and County through its three main divisions. First, OCC represents the City, County agencies, and City-County employees in litigation, handling a diverse docket that ranges from tort and contract matters to constitutional law. Second, through its counseling division, OCC provides legal advice to City and County agencies, officials, and oversight bodies to ensure compliance with the law and standards of ethical conduct, safeguard public funds, and promote the efficient functioning of local government for Marion County taxpayers. OCC’s third division is the Office of the City Prosecutor, which enforces City-County ordinances. OCC also oversees the Office of Equal Opportunity, which administers the City’s human rights ordinance, protecting against discrimination in employment and other contexts.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of a Counseling Attorney is to represent and advise the City-County and related agencies in general legal matters, including contracts, real estate, employment, land use, tax, environmental law, public safety, legal drafting, and administrative and regulatory matters. This role includes:

• Preparing and reviewing contracts, leases, and other transactional documents.
• Representing City-County clients at Board and Commission meetings.
• Researching and answering general legal questions and providing advisory opinions.
• Drafting ordinances, reviewing legislation, and handling other legislative matters.
• Keeping clients, including senior agency staff and elected officials, fully informed on matters affecting their agencies.
• Advising clients and colleagues on compliance with law and the avoidance of future litigation risk.
• Preparing advisory opinions and memos on general legal matters at the request of the Corporation Counsel or client agencies.
• Representing City-County agencies in Board or Commission meetings or similar settings.
• Providing advice to client agencies on litigation strategy and settlement negotiations in conjunction with the Litigation section.
• Keeping apprised of relevant legal developments at the state and federal level.
• Performing other duties as assigned by the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, or the Corporation Counsel.

Skills

• Strong independent judgment: Guidance from more senior attorneys will be available, but successful Counseling attorneys must have the good judgment to take responsibility for what they can handle themselves and seek assistance when necessary.
• Analytical ability and intellectual curiosity: This position requires rapidly digesting new information, integrating it into an existing body of knowledge, and adeptly using legal research tools to master all issues raised by each matter. Counseling attorneys will also determine alternative legal and administrative approaches to solving problems.
• Proficiency at legal writing and other written communication: Includes preparing contracts, leases, ordinances, resolutions, and formal advisory opinions, as well as informal communication with clients and City-County leaders.
• Oral communication skills: Providing advice in meetings, explaining complex legal issues to non-lawyers, and adapting tone and messaging to different audiences.
• Zealous advocacy: Treating work with the attention and seriousness it deserves, keeping in mind that the client is ultimately the public.
• Time management skills: Handling considerable caseloads with efficiency, strong time management, and the ability to prioritize pressing or important tasks.
• Ethics and professionalism: Upholding the highest standards of professional ethics and responsible advocacy as a public servant.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Valid license to practice law in the State of Indiana.
• Proficiency in legal research tools, including Westlaw.
• At least one year’s experience in the practice of law as a licensed attorney (may include a judicial clerkship).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience in one or more areas of Counseling practice: contracts, real estate, employment, land use, tax, environmental law, public safety, legal drafting, and/or administrative and regulatory matters; or other experience relevant to a governmental practice.
• Knowledge of, or experience in, local government and/or the administrative process.
• Experience with advising, drafting, researching, and/or counseling clients.