Assistant City Attorney

cityofsomerville; Somerville (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 114,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation—4 weeks annually

Health insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Pension/retirement benefits

Job summary

City of Somerville is seeking an Assistant City Attorney to provide broad municipal legal services in a fast-paced department. The role focuses on civil litigation, litigation strategy, contract work, public records and ethics compliance, and legislative guidance.

Office hours are regular with occasional evening meetings. Qualifications include admission to the Massachusetts Bar with at least three years in government or public sector practice, and admission to the US District Court Bar.

Qualifications

• Admission to the Massachusetts Bar in good standing with 3+ years related work experience.
• Admitted to United States District Court Bar in good standing; Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Represent the City in all phases of state and federal civil litigation.
• Represent the City before state boards, commissions and other state agencies.
• Draft and respond to litigation pleadings and discovery; prepare witnesses for litigation.
• Negotiate, draft and review contracts; negotiate settlements through mediation and discussions.
• Draft ordinances and home rule petitions; advise elected officials and department heads.

Skills

Municipal law

Litigation

Legal research

Oral advocacy

Contract drafting

Education

Massachusetts Bar

US District Court Bar

Job description

Statement of Duties

The Assistant City Attorney has direct and independent responsibility for a general, broad municipal legal practice in a fast-paced, high-volume Law Department. Areas of focus include representing the City in various litigation venues including federal and state courts and labor and employment litigation. . The position is also responsible for legislative counseling, legal research, reviewing and responding to public records requests, contract review, working closely with a diverse group of municipal officials in all manner of municipal legal matters.

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Represent the City in all phases of state and federal civil litigation.
• Represent the City before state boards, commissions and other state agencies (i.e. labor arbitration, mediation, Civil Service Commission, Department of Labor Relations, Division of Administrative Law Appeals, Appellate Tax Board, etc.).
• Draft and respond to litigation pleadings and discovery;
• Prepare witnesses for litigation.
• Negotiate, draft and review contracts.
• Negotiate settlements through mediation and direct discussions.
• Presents before City Council, committees, boards and commissions, sometimes during weekday evening hours.
• Prosecute violations before Licensing Commission.
• Draft ordinances and home rule petitions.
• Research complex legal issues and advises on dynamic legal strategies that achieve the City’s goals and minimize legal exposure.
• Develop creative and innovative resolutions to legal challenges.
• Advise elected officials, department heads and employees on general matters such as state ethics laws, the open meeting laws, public records laws, public sector procurement matters, specific departmental or interest areas, municipal finance, etc.
• Draft legal documents.
• Work collaboratively with fellow City attorneys and outside counsel.
• Perform duties related to the City Charter and Ordinances.
• Ensure compliance with the Board of Bar Overseer rules, regulations and ordinances.
• Supervise administrative and paralegal staff, as well as law student interns, and act on behalf of the City Solicitor as needed.
• Reasonable availability by phone and email during off-hours to advise and consult elected officials, department heads and employees, as necessary.
• Effective, appropriate and dynamic interpersonal communication in a diverse environment. Ability to maintain high level of confidentiality in all aspects of job performance.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Admission to the Massachusetts Bar in good standing, with three (3) or more years related work experience. Candidates with experience in government or public sector employment may substitute up to (1) one year of required experience.

Special Requirements

Admitted to Massachusetts Bar in good standing;

Admitted to United States District Court Bar in good standing; Driver’s License.

Reasonable availability by phone and email during off-hours.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Experience in municipal legal practice, including but not limited to public sector labor law, civil service law, state ethics law, public records law; comprehensive understanding of the Board of Bar Overseers rules, regulations and guidelines, city charter, ordinances, state and federal laws.

Abilities: Ability to present a case, examine and cross-examine witnesses and argue effectively; ability to research and analyze legal issues and apply them effectively on a practical level; ability to draft legal documents; ability to review a wide variety of circumstances, conduct investigations and make reports on same. Ability to communicate effectively with elected and appointed officials, city employees and department heads. Ability to resolve legal issues in a practical, creative manner.

Skill: Excellent organizational skills; excellent skills in the use of computers and office software including word processing, email, research data bases and spreadsheet applications. Excellent independent legal research skills. Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to respond to time-sensitive questions and attend evening meetings.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes.

Hours: Regular City Hall Hours
Salary: $110,000 - $114,400
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: June 9, 2026

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The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or [e-mail].

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.