ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY

City of Kissimmee; Kissimmee (FL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Kissimmee is seeking an experienced attorney to join the City Attorney’s Office, providing legal services to the City Commission, departments, boards and committees. You will research legal issues, prepare resolutions and ordinances, issue opinions, and render analysis across local government matters, including litigation work as needed.

Requires a Juris Doctor, active Florida Bar membership, and local government experience; candidates must obtain FEMA ICS certifications within 6

Qualifications

• Requires a Juris Doctor degree and active Florida Bar membership.
• Minimum 2–5 years of professional legal experience in local government, land use or real estate law.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license.
• Must obtain FEMA ICS certifications (100/200/700/800) within 6 months of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Researches and drafts legal memoranda, ordinances, and board resolutions.
• Negotiates contracts, leases, and inter-local agreements.
• Provides legal counsel on issues and conducts investigations.
• Drafts contracts, ordinances and resolutions; prosecutes ordinance violations.
• Represents the City in court and before City boards.
• Monitors Federal and State legislation; provides training on legal issues.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting ordinances & resolutions

Contract negotiation

Legal counsel

Litigation & representation

Municipal law knowledge

Staff training

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Florida Bar admission

Valid Florida driver’s license

FEMA ICS certifications (100/200/700/800)

Experience in local government law

Job description

General Statement of Job

Assists the City Attorney in the legal representation of the City. Performs professional work in providing legal services necessary to the City Commission, City departments, boards and committees. An employee in this class provides research on legal questions, prepares resolutions and ordinances, issues legal opinions and legal documents and renders legal analysis pertaining to a variety of local government matters. Some litigation work may also be required. Work is performed under the direction of the City Attorney.

Essential Functions

• Researches and drafts legal memoranda, ordinances, and board resolutions.
• Negotiates contracts, leases, and inter‑local agreements.
• Provides legal counsel on issues.
• Conducts investigations.
• Drafts contracts, ordinances and resolutions.
• Prosecutes ordinance violations.
• Represents the City in Court and before City boards.
• Monitors Federal and State legislation.
• Prepares and provides training on legal issues.

Additional Duties

• Attends Board meetings as may be required.
• Conducts training for City staff and board members on various legal issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• In the event of an emergency, all employees are considered essential personnel and may be required to perform alternate duties.

Minimum Education and Experience

Requires a Juris Doctor Degree, supplemented by a minimum of two (2) years to five (5) years of professional legal experience in local government, land use or real estate law. Must be a member in good standing of the Florida Bar. Must possess and maintain a valid state of Florida driver’s license. Must possess or obtain the most current FEMA 100, 200, 700, and 800 Incident Command System certifications within 6 months of appointment to the job. Experience practicing law in local government is preferred but not required.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited law school.

Additional Requirements

Knowledge of Municipal, County, State, Federal, common law, and constitutional law affecting the City. Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence. Some knowledge of City ordinances and charter provisions relating to the authority and functions of City departments. Some knowledge of established precedents and sources of legal reference applicable to municipal activities.

Ability to prosecute. Ability to analyze and prepare a variety of legal documents. Ability to conduct research on legal problems and to prepare legal opinions.

Must be skilled in applying responsible attention to detail as necessary in preparing reports and correspondence. Must be able to read and interpret various materials pertaining to the responsibilities of the job. Must be able to offer training and assistance to fellow employees as necessary. Has the ability to learn and utilize new skills and information to improve job performance and efficiency.

Performance Expectations

Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates.

Completes assigned work within deadlines in accordance with directives, policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Maintains accountability for assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Performs described Essential Functions and related assignments efficiently and effectively in order to produce quantity of work which consistently meets established standards and expectations.