DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY IV - ADVISORY

About the role

The City Attorney's Office is seeking a well-qualified individual to fill the Deputy City Attorney IV - Advisory position. Experience in employment law is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Represents the City, and its officers and employees in their official capacities, in court cases encompassing a wide variety of civil and criminal subject matters.
• Handles court appearances, including dispositive motion hearings, settlement conferences, and mediations in complex cases.
• Investigates claims and complaints by or against the City; gives advice on action to be taken and prepares cases for hearings and represents the City in such hearings.
• Represents the City in administrative hearings before City Boards, Committees, and Commissions as well as Federal and State Agencies.
• Initiates Code Enforcement proceedings as necessary and prepares all required documents; prepares cases for condemnation proceedings.
• Performs all discovery tasks, including fact and expert discovery; strategically develops and implements comprehensive discovery plans in complex cases.
• Directs and effectively manages heavy caseload of complex civil litigation files from inception to disposition.
• Identifies necessary deposition witnesses; takes and defends percipient witness, party, and expert depositions.
• Presents recommendations to the City Council in Closed Session.
• Maintains familiarity with legal developments, including proposed legislation and court decisions; evaluates their impact on existing litigation and/or City operations and recommends appropriate action.
• Performs complex legal research and prepares opinions on various legal problems for the City Council, and the City’s boards, committees, commissions, departments, and city staff.
• Acts as a liaison with outside counsel.
• Prepares and offers advice/opinions on ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, and other legal documents; confers with and assists City departments by analyzing and applying legal points and procedures and makes necessary recommendations regarding existing policies and procedures in order to meet legal requirements.
• Applies legal knowledge to varied problems.
• Reviews and approves contracts.
• Presents or supports client on items at Council and Committees or other public hearings.
• Researches and prepares oral and written memoranda, opinions and reports; recognizes when issues require alternative analysis and approaches.

Requirements

• Knowledge of: Municipal, State, Federal, and Constitutional laws affecting city government; Principles, methods, and techniques of legal research and investigation; Court and Administrative Agency procedures, including pleading requirements, rules of court, presentation techniques, and evidentiary rules; Municipal government organization, structure, and functional responsibilities; Ethical and other Rules of Professional Conduct that regulate the practice of law; Principles and practices of contract administration; Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment including relevant technology and software programs; Oral and written communication skills; business English including vocabulary, spelling, and correct grammatical usage and punctuation; Safe work practices; and Principles and practices of excellent customer service.
• Skills: Defining issues, performing legal research, analyzing problems, evaluating alternatives, and making sound recommendations; Presenting statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically; Utilizing effective techniques in the presentation of court cases; Exercising sound, independent judgment within general policy guidelines and legal parameters; Utilizing in a proficient manner, available computer equipment and software, and other law office technology to format prepare, and process documents in a reasonably efficient manner; Interpreting state and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting municipal operations; Understanding and carrying out oral and written instructions and prioritize workload to meet deadlines; Reading, writing and comprehending the English language at a level necessary for effective job performance exercising correct English usage, vocabulary, spelling, grammar and punctuation; Communicating effectively, tactfully and positively in both oral and written form; Operating and using modern office equipment and technology, including computers and applicable software; Utilizing appropriate safety procedures and practices for assigned duties; Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; and Contributing effectively to the accomplishments of City goals, objectives and activities.

Qualifications

• Education/Experience: All Levels - Possession of a Juris Doctorate from an accredited college or university. DCA-IV: Three years of professional legal experience comparable to a Deputy City Attorney with the City of Stockton.