Assistant City Attorney

NACBA; Champaign (IL); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fringe benefits package

IMRF pension

Paid holidays

Job summary

City of Champaign is seeking an Assistant City Attorney to provide municipal legal services in a council-manager government. You will support elected officials, City leadership, and staff across diverse legal areas in a collaborative, service-oriented environment with stability and work-life balance.

The role offers broad exposure to government law, opportunities for litigation and contract work, and a focus on improving the community through hands-on legal advice and problem-solving.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Illinois or obtain licensure within an approved timeframe.
• Experience practicing law.
• Superior interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical abilities.

Responsibilities

• Advising City officials and departments on local government law, including FOIA, 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 decisionmaking.
• Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting contracts, legislation, resolutions, real estate documents, and municipal regulation materials.
• 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 and support community initiatives.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Analytical thinking

Written communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Illinois bar admission

Job description

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

Responsibilities of Position

In this role, you’ll apply your legal expertise in a missiondriven 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, teamoriented environment that provides professional stability, worklife 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, wellreasoned written legal opinions to support City decisionmaking.
• 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.

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. Benefits include: paid vacation, sick, and personal leave; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; 11 paid holidays per year; pension under IMRF and more. Visit champaignil.gov/hr/salaries-and-benefits/ and select Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt Full-Time under Fringe Benefit Summaries for details.

The City’s mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, and Results. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. The City of Champaign is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Required 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 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 history background check will be required.