Assistant City Attorney

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

Job summary

City of Champaign seeks an Assistant City Attorney to support officials and staff on local government matters, including FOIA/OMA, contracts, real estate, and civil rights defense. You’ll handle practical legal work in a collaborative, service‑oriented environment with daily community impact.

The role offers a comprehensive salary range and fringe benefits, with opportunities to grow in government law, litigation, and municipal finance while maintaining work‑life balance.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in 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.

Responsibilities

• Advising City officials on local government law, 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 opinions to support City decision‑making.
• Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting contracts, legislation, resolutions, real estate documents, and municipal regulatory materials.
• Leading or supporting contract creation, review, and negotiation, including labor negotiations.
• Conducting real estate transactional work, including acquisitions, dispositions, and related documentation.
• Supervising or managing assigned staff as appropriate.
• Collaborating across the organization to solve problems and support community initiatives.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Critical thinking

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

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 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

• 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.
• Supervising or managing assigned staff 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.