Senior Assistant City Attorney

Overview

The Senior Assistant City Attorney provides high-level, professional legal services in support of the City Attorney's Office, advancing the City's legal compliance, operational integrity, and service to the public. This position handles complex legal matters across a broad range of municipal practice areas, including civil litigation, land use and zoning, contracts and procurement, real estate, development services, constitutional issues, and municipal governance. The Senior Assistant City Attorney collaborates closely with elected officials, department leadership, and advisory boards to provide legal counsel, risk analysis, and practical solutions that support lawful policymaking, regulatory compliance, and effective City operations. The role requires sound professional judgment, impartial legal advice, and a strong commitment to ethical public service. Work is performed under the general supervision of the City Attorney and may involve independent management of legal initiatives or special projects of citywide importance.

Responsibilities

• Provides timely, practical, and impartial legal advice to City departments, elected officials, advisory boards, and staff to support lawful, effective, and transparent municipal governance.
• Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and revises a wide variety of legal instruments, including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, interlocal agreements, procurement and bid documents, easements, leases, and real estate conveyances.
• Advises on land use, zoning, code enforcement, development entitlements, and the interpretation and application of the City Code, including support for Development Services.
• Represents the City in civil litigation, administrative hearings, quasi-judicial proceedings, and appeals; responsibilities include case evaluation, discovery, trial preparation, settlement negotiations, and coordination with outside counsel where appropriate.
• Prepares formal legal opinions, internal memoranda, risk assessments, and policy guidance on a broad array of municipal issues, including public ethics, Sunshine Law, public records, charter interpretation, and constitutional compliance.
• Attends City Council meetings, advisory board meetings, and public workshops to provide real-time legal counsel, support legislative development, and advise on procedural matters.
• Monitors changes in federal, state, and local law; conducts complex legal research to ensure the City's actions, policies, and procedures remain compliant with current legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Collaborates with City leadership to proactively identify, assess, and resolve legal and regulatory issues that impact municipal operations, public infrastructure, capital projects, procurement, and employee matters.
• Supports the development and legal review of City policies, administrative procedures, and strategic initiatives; ensures alignment with applicable law and public accountability standards.
• May mentor or guide legal support staff or junior attorneys, offering feedback and informal supervision on assigned legal work.
• Performs other duties as assigned in furtherance of the mission of the City Attorney's Office.

Related tasks

Knowledge of

Skilled in

Ability to

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Post Offer Pre-Employment Screening

J-18808-Ljbffr