Assistant City Attorney

City-of-Champaign,-I; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 115,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Champaign seeks an Assistant City Attorney to support elected officials and staff in a hands‑on municipal legal role with broad exposure across diverse areas of law.

The role offers stability, work‑life balance, and a visible daily impact on the community. Requires JD and IL license, with strong government law and litigation experience. Salary ranges with excellent benefits; expect collaboration across the organization.

Qualifications

• Legal training and experience in municipal or governmental matters.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to articulate complex legal issues.
• Experience handling civil, criminal, or administrative litigation related to government law.

Responsibilities

• Advising city officials on local government law and governance issues (FOIA/OMA).
• Managing, evaluating, and litigating cases involving ordinance enforcement and civil rights defense.
• Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting contracts, legislation, and real estate documents for municipal use.
• Researching issues and preparing clear, well‑reasoned legal opinions for city decision‑making.
• Leading or supporting contract creation, review, and negotiation, including labor matters.
• Overseeing assigned staff and collaborating with departments on municipal projects.

Skills

Legal experience

Government law experience

Analytical skills

Interpersonal & communication

Litigation experience

Team leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Are you looking for an Assistant City Attorney role where your work visibly strengthens the community while offering purpose, stability, and work‑life balance? In the City of Champaign’s council‑manager form of government, you’ll support elected officials, City leadership, and staff through impactful, hands‑on municipal legal work. This role provides broad exposure across diverse legal areas in a collaborative environment that values service and practical problem‑solving.

In this role, you’ll apply your legal expertise in a mission‑driven environment where your work has a real, daily impact on the community. Our Assistant City Attorneys gain broad exposure to many areas of law, handle meaningful work early on, and collaborate in a supportive, team‑oriented environment that provides professional stability, work‑life balance, and the chance to make a visible difference.

Core responsibilities include:

• Advising City officials and departments on local government law, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Open Meetings Act (OMA), and municipal governance issues.
• Managing, evaluating, and litigating cases involving ordinance enforcement, small claims, workers’ compensation, and civil rights defense.
• Researching issues and preparing clear, well‑reasoned written legal opinions to support City decision‑making.
• Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting legal documents such as contracts, legislation, resolutions, real estate documents, and materials related to municipal regulation.
• Leading or supporting contract creation, review, and negotiation, including participation in labor negotiations.
• Conducting real estate transactional work, including acquisitions, dispositions, and related documentation.
• Overseeing the work of assigned staff, including law clerks/interns, as appropriate.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the organization to solve problems, support community initiatives, and contribute to a broad range of municipal projects.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, or ability to obtain licensure within a timeframe approved by the City Attorney.
• Experience practicing the law.
• Superior interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Substantial experience in government law at the State, federal, or local level.
• Legal experience in a broad range of civil areas.
• Transactional skills in negotiating and drafting of contracts.
• Broad range of skills in real estate, development, and eminent domain.
• Experience in ordinance prosecution and/or other high volume litigation areas (e.g., collections, criminal).
• Experience in municipal finance.
• Experience with property tax assessment or appeals.
• Litigation experience including civil or administrative litigation.
• In‑house legal experience.

• Drug screening and criminal background check will be required.

The full annual salary range is $114,891 - $160,857, accompanied by an excellent fringe benefits package. Most new hires will be placed at the beginning of the range.