Senior Counseling Attorney

About the Role

The holder of this position will be a senior attorney responsible for handling a wide range of general legal matters on behalf of City-County agencies. This role involves providing legal advice and guidance in areas such as contracts, real estate, employment, land use, tax, environmental law, public safety, legal drafting, and administrative and regulatory matters. The position offers immediate experience in all facets of client service and representation within the Office of Corporation Counsel’s counseling division.

Responsibilities

• Keep clients, including senior agency staff and elected officials, fully informed on matters affecting their agencies.
• Advise clients and colleagues on compliance with law and the avoidance of future litigation risk.
• Prepare advisory opinions and memos on general legal matters at the request of the Corporation Counsel or client agencies.
• Represent City-County agencies in Board or Commission meetings or similar settings.
• Provide advice to client agencies regarding litigation strategy and settlement negotiations in conjunction with the Litigation section.
• Stay apprised of relevant legal developments at the state and federal level.
• Handle complex and sensitive legal issues, and provide review and guidance to other attorneys on difficult matters.
• Prepare and review contracts, leases, and other transactional documents.
• Draft ordinances, review legislation, and handle other legislative matters.
• Research and answer general legal questions, providing advisory opinions.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, or the Corporation Counsel.

Skills

• Strong independent judgment: Ability to take individual responsibility for weighty matters and make decisions independently.
• In-depth knowledge of counseling practice: Proficiency in advising, drafting, researching, and knowledge of substantive ordinances, statutes, regulations, and laws.
• Analytical ability and intellectual curiosity: Capacity to rapidly digest new information, integrate it into existing knowledge, and use legal research tools effectively.
• Proficiency at legal writing and other written communication: Ability to prepare contracts, leases, ordinances, resolutions, and formal advisory opinions, as well as informal communication with clients and City-County leaders.
• Oral communications skills: Ability to provide clear, concise advice in meetings, explain complex legal issues to non-lawyers, and adapt messaging to different audiences.
• Zealous advocacy: Commitment to treating important legal matters with the attention and seriousness they deserve, keeping in mind that the client is ultimately the public.
• Time management skills: Ability to handle considerable caseloads efficiently, prioritize tasks, and manage time effectively.
• Ethics and professionalism: Uphold 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 Indiana.
• Proficiency in legal research tools, including Westlaw.
• At least three (3) years’ experience in the practice of law as a licensed attorney (may include a judicial clerkship), or at least two (2) years’ experience as a Counseling attorney with the Office of Corporation Counsel.
• Subject-matter expertise or significant work experience in one or more areas of Counseling practice: contracts, real estate, employment, tax, land use, environmental law, public safety, legal drafting, and/or administrative and regulatory matters.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five (5) or more years’ experience as a practicing attorney in Indiana.
• Significant professional experience (as an attorney or non-attorney) in local government, law enforcement, or administrative procedure.
• Substantial experience working with and advising clients in a legal capacity.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a standard office environment.
• May occasionally travel to outside locations for meetings.
• May be required to attend off-hours meetings and work occasional late hours as necessary.
• Opportunities for scheduled remote work may be available at the discretion of the attorney’s supervisors.