Job Description
SALARY: $47.6153 - $59.3312, Exempt (DOE&Q) (Entry)
$55.0895 - $68.5514, Exempt (DOE&Q) (Level II)
OPENING DATE: 03/07/2025
CLOSING DATE: Open until Filled JOB SUMMARY: DEFINITION
To provide a wide range of professional legal services to the City Council, City Department, and various boards and commissions; to prosecute cases in Municipal Court; to draft and review City ordinances and resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents; to provide legal advice to the Police Department and to provide highly complex staff assistance to the City Attorney.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Assistant City Attorney I: This is the entry level class in the Assistant City Attorney series. Incumbents in this class are assigned the more routine legal and prosecutorial work requiring a minimum of previous municipal legal experience. Positions assigned to the higher Assistant City Attorney II class which become vacant could reasonable be filled at the Assistant City Attorney I level.
Assistant City Attorney II : Positions in the class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the Assistant City Attorney I level, or when filled from the outside, require prior municipal Jaw experience, including litigation. Appointment to this class requires that the employee be performing substantially the full range of duties for the class and fulfill the qualification standards. Work in the class is distinguished from that of greater independence with which an incumbent is expected to operate. Positions allocated to this class exercise a high degree of responsibility for litigation and other external legal representation and for advice to police officials.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXCERCISED Assistant City Attorney I Receives general direction from the City Attorney.
Assistant City Attorney II Receives direction from the City Attorney.
Exercise direct and indirect supervision over clerical/administrative staff. May exercise lead supervision as assigned.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES - Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Perform legal research and prepare written and oral opinions on various legal problems for the City Council, City Departments, and various boards and commissions.
Confer with and render assistance to department heads in establishing departmental policies by applying legal points and procedures; recommend changes in policies and procedures in order to meet legal requirements.
Prepare, draft and review ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments, and offer opinions as to legal acceptability when presented to the City for consideration by an outside agent or agency.
Prosecutes all complaints for violations of Port Arthur’s municipal code, traffic laws and various Class C Misdemeanors in Municipal or appropriate Court.
Investigate claims and complaints against the City and take or recommend appropriate action.
Assist in or prepare cases for hearings, trials, and other judicial proceedings and represent the City in such proceedings.
Represent the City Attorney at various City Council and board and commission meetings, venues, etc., and in court as directed by the City Attorney.
Assist in, the supervision, training, and evaluation of clerical staff in the City Attorney's Office.
Responds to public inquiries about code matters and other legal issues.
Serve as Acting City Attorney as required.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES Maintain mental capacity, which allows the capabilities to:
�-� Exercise sound judgement and rational thinking under stressful circumstances.
�-� Evaluate various options and alternatives and choose an appropriate and reasonable course
of action.
�-�Prepare complex actions, policies and recommendations.
�-�Effectively supervise personnel.
�-�Operate effectively in an economically and culturally diverse environment.
Maintain physical condition, which will allow the capability to perform the following:
�-�Running, walking, crawling for various periods of time as necessary.
�-�Climbing stairs and ladders as necessary.
�-�Moving loads of approximately 25-50 lbs. as necessary.
�-�Ability to sit, stand, and move inside buildings as necessary to perform duties.
�-�Ability to transfer self from building to building as necessary to perform duties.
Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception for:
�-�Making observations
�-�Reading and writing
�-�Operating necessary and assigned equipment.
�-�Communicating with others.
Perform related duties assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS Assistant City Attorney I Knowledge of :
Legal principles and practices, including civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law and procedures.
Methods of legal research.
Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
Ordinances, statutes and court decisions relating to municipal corporations. Organizations and operating procedures of a City Attorney's Office.
Ability to: Serve as Prosecutor in Municipal Court. Analyze a wide variety of legal issues.
Conduct research on legal problems and prepare a wide variety of legal opinions. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Analyze or prepare a wide variety of legal documents. Prepare and present cases.
Perform legal work requiring the use of independent judgment. Work independently in the absence of supervision.
Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Experience and Training Guidelines Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way would be:
Experience: Three years of responsible professional experience in general law.
Training: Equivalent to a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
Licenses or Certificate :
Membership in the State Bar of Texas.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, license for U.S. District Court practice.
Assistant City Attorney II In addition to the qualifications for Assistant City Attorney I:
Knowledge of :
Tort law and liability insurance litigation.
Statutes and court decisions relating to search and seizure and other police activities. Statues and court decisions relating to civil rights and public labor law.
Ability to: Represent the City in a wide variety of judicial and administrative proceedings.
Provide sound legal advice to police officers regarding procedures, evidence handling, ongoing investigations and related matters.
Experience and training guidelines Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way would be:
Experience: Five years increasingly responsible professional experience in municipal or other Governmental law including trial experience.
Training: Equivalent to a Juris Doctorate from accredited law school.
License or Certificate Membership in the State Bar of Texas.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a U.S. District Court license.
CITY OF PORT ARTHUR
Attn: Hiring Manager
P.O. Box 1089
Port Arthur, Texas 77641-1089
(EEO/AA/V/F/RC/H)
The City of Port Arthur is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Job Tags
Full time,