Deputy Town Attorney/Assistant Town Attorney

About the Role

The Town of Front Royal seeks an Assistant Town Attorney or Deputy Town Attorney, depending on experience and qualifications. The successful candidate will provide legal services to the Town Council, public bodies, and departments, with primary responsibility for Town Code enforcement, transactional work, and FOIA compliance. The position reports to the Town Attorney and requires strong interpersonal and written communication skills, along with knowledge of Virginia general and local government law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel to Town Council, department heads, and staff, including research and legal opinions.
• Draft and review contracts, ordinances, resolutions, policies, and other legal documents.
• Negotiate contract terms and review legal instruments for sufficiency.
• Interpret statutes, rules, regulations, and ordinances to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
• Review agendas and attend meetings of Town Council, Planning Commission, Board of Architectural Review, and Board of Zoning Appeals.
• Handle Conflicts of Interests Act (COIA) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) issues.
• Handle civil, criminal, and traffic litigation in trial and appellate courts.
• Assist with bankruptcy-related issues.
• Supervise a small group of employees in the Legal department.

Qualifications

• Licensed member in good standing of the Virginia State Bar.
• For Deputy: 5-10 years of general law practice experience, with 3-5 years in local government law. Salary range: $100,000 to $120,000.
• For Assistant: 2-5 years of general law practice experience, with local government law highly preferred. Salary range: $85,000 to $100,000.
• Prior experience in local government practice is highly preferred.
• Applicants with less than 5 years of experience should submit a law school transcript.

Skills

• Knowledge of legal principles, precedents, and practices, especially in local government.
• Understanding of statutory, administrative, and state/federal laws.
• Familiarity with judicial and administrative procedures and rules of evidence.
• Strong collaborative conflict resolution, negotiation, and meeting facilitation skills.
• Ability to lead and direct employees effectively.
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

• Automatic enrollment in the Virginia Retirement System.
• 457 Deferred Compensation with pre-tax and Roth options.
• Health, vision, dental, wellness, and employee assistance benefits.
• Generous paid time off and 14 paid holidays.
• Life, disability, and supplemental insurances.

Work Environment

Office environment; mostly sedentary with occasional outdoor exposure.

Physical Demands

Light work requiring occasional lifting up to 20 pounds, frequent lifting up to 10 pounds, and prolonged periods of sitting. Requires climbing, reaching, standing, walking, and repetitive motions. Vocal communication, hearing, and visual acuity are essential.