Assistant City Attorney

City of Lakewood, CO; Lakewood (CO); On-site; USD 131,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Lakewood, CO seeks an Assistant City Attorney to provide legal support to City departments under the supervision of the City Attorney and senior staff of the City Attorney’s Office. The role involves legal research across municipal areas, including real estate, technology, law enforcement, economic development, contracts, and regulatory matters, with drafting of memoranda and opinions.

It requires sound judgment, high ethical standards, and clear legal guidance in a local government

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited school of law.
• At least two years of active law practice; demonstrated courtroom proficiency.
• Colorado license to practice law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and counsel to assigned organizational clients under the direction of the City Attorney and senior staff.
• Draft memoranda, opinions, and legal documents; participate in meetings and hearings as needed.
• Represent the City in litigation and administrative matters; monitor legal developments affecting municipal operations.

Skills

Municipal law

Legal research

Courtroom proficiency

Written communication

Open Records Act knowledge

Open Meetings Law knowledge

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

HIRING RANGE: $130,927.23 - $145,474.70/year

The Assistant City Attorney provides legal support to various departments throughout the City under the supervision of the City Attorney and Senior staff of the City Attorney’s Office. This position is expected to conduct legal research on specialized areas of municipal law including, but not limited to: real estate, technology, law enforcement, economic development, human resources, contracts, governmental liability, open meetings, open records, and code interpretation. Additionally, an Assistant City Attorney will draft memoranda and legal opinions and provide legal counsel to assigned organizational clients.

The Assistant City Attorney is expected to exercise sound legal judgment, uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, and provide clear, practical legal guidance in a local government setting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Provides legal advice and counsel to assigned organizational clients under the direction of Senior legal staff.
• Attends staff meetings of Client Departments as needed.
• Prepares, reviews and/or approves documents including, but not limited to: ordinances, legislative bills, resolutions, memoranda, contracts, staff reports, regulations, procedures, and action reports.
• Negotiates and drafts documents for real estate transactions to include: offers, counteroffers, deeds, and property acquisition agreements for parcels and easements under the direction, and with support of, Senior legal staff.
• Negotiates, drafts and/or reviews documents including, but not limited to: contracts, grants, intergovernmental agreements, personnel policies, and administrative polices.
• Assists with enforcement of all applicable codes, including drafting non-compliance letters, and representing the City at administrative hearings and in civil matters as assigned.
• Supports City employees who are subpoenaed to testify in Federal, State or local court.
• Represents the City in Federal, State and local litigation, as primary or secondary counsel in all civil and administrative matters as assigned, including preparation of memoranda, motions, briefs, and pleadings to be filed.
• Monitors legislative action potentially impacting the City, and provide written and verbal updates to elected officials, appointed officials and staff as directed by the City Attorney.
• Identifies potential and actual legal issues raised by City laws, regulations, policies/practices and recommend actions to address such issues.
• Attends meetings of the City Council and other City Boards, Commissions, and Committees as required. These meetings occur after 5:00 p.m.
• Presents to City Council on legal implications of proposed policies.
• Provides special project support at the direction of the City Attorney/Senior legal staff, which may require conducting legal research and drafting legal opinions for the City Council, City Boards and Commissions, Committees, and City staff, or presenting to the City Council.
• Provides legal guidance to City staff in responding to requests under the Colorado Open Records Act and Open Meetings Law.

Employee Type

Individual Contributor

An Individual Contributor is responsible for their own tasks and deliverables and does not formally oversee the work of others. They may offer expertise or informal guidance but do not have supervisory or employment‑decision authority. Their primary focus is performing operational, technical, or professional work within their role.

Reporting Relationships

Supervision Received: City Attorney

Supervision Exercised: None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of laws, regulations, and statutory obligations for Colorado municipalities.
• Knowledge of the principles and procedures of municipal, civil, business law, and constitutional law.
• Knowledge of the principal methods, materials, and practices of legal research and investigation.
• Knowledge of judicial procedure and Colorado and federal rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of local ordinances, state and federal laws, and constitutional provisions affecting municipal operations.
• Ability to work in a confidential manner with, and on behalf of, the City Attorney, and all agents or employees of the City as directed.
• Ability to skillfully represent the City in court at the Federal, State and local level, or in an administrative hearing, including employment related matters.
• Ability to write persuasively in both legal and non-legal formats.
• Ability to monitor developments in the law for potential impact upon functions of municipal government and advise accordingly.
• Ability to monitor developments in the law for potential impact upon functions of municipal government and advise accordingly.

Technological Skills

• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of standard office equipment including copiers, computers, printers and tape recorders.
• Ability to learn new software systems and applications.

Education and Experience

(Must represent the minimum required for this position)

• Education:Graduation with a Juris Doctorate from an accredited school of law
• Experience:
  • Minimum Qualifications:
    • At least two (2) years in the active practice of law.
    • Demonstrated proficiency in the courtroom.
  • Desired Qualifications:
    • Two (2) or more years of practice in local government law.
    • Demonstrated proficiency in both bench and jury trials.

Certification/Licenses/Specialized Training

• License to practice law in the State of Colorado.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Must successfully complete and maintain required state or departmental physical standards and certifications.

LIGHT WORK:Exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Physical Demands

• Bend or position self to move items from higher place to lower place or vice versa
• Sit, stand or be stationary
• Talk, hear, converse, communicate, or exchange information
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, turn or twist, all of which may include awkward positions on both even and uneven terrain
• Use of hands and/or fingers in a repetitive motion to handle, pinch, grasp, move, feel, and inspect, etc.
• Walk, ascend, descend on both even and uneven terrain
• Vision to include distance, depth perception, peripheral and color

Environmental Conditions may include

• Office settings

Physical Requirements – No Physical Needed

• Lift, carry, push, pull, move, or positions from all levels up to 30 pounds with or without assistance

The City of Lakewood is a drug‑free workplace that provides employment opportunities in compliance with all pertinent federal, state, and local laws. All Lakewood employees are expected to work and complete all tasks in a safe manner consistent with training, standard operating procedures, City or Department policies, and common sense. Working in a safe manner includes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and complying with all City and/or Department safety rules. Horseplay on-the-job is strictly forbidden. The failure to work in a safe manner, use PPE, follow standard operating procedure, or comply with a safety rule will result adverse employment consequences ranging from verbal discipline to termination from employment, including any applicable reduction in benefits under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act. Employees are also expected to encourage safe work practices by all co-employees, and to report any unsafe work practices immediately to a supervisor.

The City of Lakewood celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion in all areas of our workforce. Accordingly, the city is committed to creating, nurturing and sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our community and employees.

Background and reference checks will be conducted for all regular and some variable/seasonal positions.