Job Description

Assistant City Attorney

Department: Legal

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary: $75,126.23 - 91,507.72

Position Overview
Under supervision of the City Attorney and with general direction, this position of the Assistant City Attorney performs a variety of legal duties supporting the City Attorney's office (Legal Department), including drafting resolutions, ordinances, contracts, leases, permits, agreements, deeds, easements, and other legal documents and instruments as well as and documents related to legal proceedings and actions; participating in civil litigation activities, hearings, and trials as well as alternative dispute and administrative proceedings on behalf of the City and its officials / employees; and rendering legal opinions and providing advice regard in legal issues and matters to the City.

Essential Job Functions
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Receive and review claims and lawsuits filed against the City, conduct investigations into the merits of these, and assist the City in its defense.
• Prepare and draft a variety of correspondence, including letters, e-mails, and memos, and documents associated with litigation, administrative proceedings, contracts, leases, agreements, deeds, conveyances, and other matters.
• Prepare resolutions, ordinances, and policies.
• Participate in court appearances and litigation matters, including hearings, arbitration proceedings, depositions, and trials.
• Attend public meetings; provide legal support and advice to City officials.
• Conduct legal research, provide legal advice and written and verbal opinions on a variety of legal issues and matters.
• Provide written and oral legal opinions as requested by the City Attorney.
• Provide legal advice and handle requests under the Public Information Act.
• Conduct legal research and fact finding including the use of Assistant City Attorney computer databases and electronic searches for research of cases, statutes, regulations, and other legal authorities.
• Conduct and handle litigation in his/her role as Assistant City Attorney, to include the pursuit and defense of claims as directed by the City Attorney at various different levels, including trials, appeals, and hearings, and conduct pre-trial discovery and investigations in connection with such litigation as well as submission of motions, briefs, and other documents to courts and other bodies relating to requests for relief and communications with court personnel other attorneys related to such litigation and proceedings.
• Attend meetings, internal hearings, and administrative proceedings as needed or directed.
• Perform other duties related to the judicial system or as otherwise directed or required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Considerable knowledge of municipal, state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
• Thorough knowledge of judicial procedure, rules of civil procedure, rules of evidence, court rules, and applicable rules of professional conduct.
• Considerable knowledge of specialized or substantive areas of law relevant to municipal practice, including, without limitation, general tort law, federal and state civil rights, administrative law, employment law, and environmental law.
• Knowledge of statutes and codes applicable to civil proceedings and to municipal corporations and municipal officials and employees in Mississippi.
• Knowledge and skill in developing related reports and documents.
• Skill in researching and analyzing facts, legal problems and strategizing with the City Attorney and staff.
• Ability to draft, negotiate and interpret contracts, leases, deeds, conveyances, agreements, and other legal instruments.
• Ability to research and interpret municipal, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to apply and argue legal authorities in support of positions.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with other attorneys and
• Ability to read and understand legal documents, technical materials, reports and journals.
• Ability to effectively communicate with City officials, attorneys, citizens, and employees in order to provide information related to legal issues, sometimes under stressful circumstances.
• Ability to effectively, tactfully, and professionally discuss issues and complaints with the public.
• Ability to prepare and prosecute and defend civil cases.
• Ability to use multiple pieces of office equipment including: personal computer, fax, etc.
• Ability to work under deadlines and within regulations and schedules.
• Considerable knowledge of city, state, and federal rules, policies, ordinances, and laws.
• Ability to write clearly and utilize legal terminology. Ability to communicate ideas and concepts, both orally and in writing, to the court, to other city personnel, the public, and city administrators.
• Proficiency in the use of modern computer equipment and programs, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office, as well as the ability to use multiple pieces of office equipment including personal computer, copier, scanner, fax, etc.
• Ability to utilize computer based legal research tools.
• Ability to work under deadlines and within regulations and schedules.
• Proficiency in the use of internal database programs associated with the Office of City Attorney.

Education and Experience
Must hold a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. Must be a member in good standing of the Mississippi Bar. Minimum of three to five years of increasingly responsible experience as a practicing Attorney, with experience in civil litigation, and experience in cases before state and federal courts in Mississippi. Preferably, experience of greater than ten (10) years in assigned or described areas.

Licenses or Certificates

Proof of a current license to practice law in the State of Mississippi, having been admitted to practice before the County and Circuit Courts of Harrison County and the Mississippi Supreme Court/Court of Appeals. Must possess a valid Mississippi driver's license. 

Physical Demands and Working Conditions 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 20 pounds; visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic office equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting and kneeling to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are primarily inside an office environment.

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