Assistant City Attorney – Civil Litigation

City of Minneapolis; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Union representation

Job summary

City of Minneapolis seeks an attorney for the City Attorney’s Office to advise the Mayor, City Council, and departments on civil litigation matters. Responsibilities include researching case law, drafting persuasive briefs, handling discovery, and representing the City in trials and appeals.

The role requires a JD, Minnesota bar eligibility, and strong written and oral communication, with hybrid work options and no visa sponsorship.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Current Minnesota bar admission or eligibility to practice law.
• Experience representing a public entity or government body preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze pleadings to determine issues, immunities, and liabilities.
• Research and apply case law to persuasive briefing and court arguments.
• Manage discovery and respond within timelines.
• Prepare cases for court presentations and trial readiness.
• Negotiate settlements and engage in hearings or trials.
• Communicate with clients and City staff on case status and strategy.
• Draft briefs and represent the City in appeals as needed.

Skills

Legal knowledge and technical skills

Civil litigation experience

Westlaw research

Strong legal analysis

Excellent oral and written comms

Organization & prioritization

Initiative & problem-solving

Continuing legal education 45 credits/

Education

Juris Doctorate

Tools

Westlaw

Job description

City Charter and Role Overview

By the City Charter, the attorneys of the City Attorney’s Office, as a team, serve as the attorneys and counselors at law to the Mayor, City Council, boards, committees, departments, and officers. The attorneys of the CAO are the exclusive representatives of the City and are authorized to provide legal advice and opinion to the City and its officers and staff. Under supervision provide the City of Minneapolis and its various officials, boards, agencies and departments with professional legal services relating to a wide range of civil litigation matters, including representing the city in all stages of civil and administrative litigation matters, providing legal advice, conducting legal research, and other legal work of the Civil Division of the City Attorney’s Office.

Application Documents

• City of Minneapolis online application

Resume and Cover Letter: Individuals are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter in addition to the online application.

Writing Sample: Individuals selected to be interviewed may be asked to submit a sample of legal writing as part of the interview process.

Work Location

This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work with some days working remotely and some days working in the office.

The City of Minneapolis does not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Principal Responsibilities

• Analyze pleadings to determine legal issues, immunities, and liabilities.
• Establish an efficient and effective research plan to determine a case’s proper course of action.
• Conduct research using a caselaw database, such as Westlaw, to locate relevant controlling or persuasive cases that address specific legal issues presented in litigation.
• Apply case law to the facts in a persuasive briefing to the court with proper assertions of support cited accurately from case law.
• Respond within time-sensitive timelines to discovery requests with responses asserting appropriate defenses and seek requests to reinforce City defenses and minimize liability.
• Manage discovery process including using e-discovery tools.
• Direct investigative staff to conduct any additional necessary investigation.
• Review and analyze evidence, including physical evidence, body-worn cameras, squad, transit, and surveillance footage, and jail and 911 tapes.
• Evaluate and secure expert witnesses.
• Review and analyze medical records, laboratory reports, and expert witness reports.
• Make appropriate recommendations to City staff, including the City Attorney, client departments, elected officials, and internal colleagues, to minimize legal exposure. This includes analysis and advice on whether to settle the matter and for how much, appeal an adverse decision or verdict, and consider the risks and benefits of continuing litigation.
• Attend and engage in negotiations at settlement conferences with council members and department administration.
• Deliver well-thought-out, persuasive oral arguments advancing the case’s legal theories and strengths both internally (client departments, CAO colleagues, and elected officials) and externally (judge and jury).
• Respond to asserted claims of weaknesses in the case with well-reasoned counterarguments.
• Meet and communicate with the plaintiff’s counsel regarding the status of the case and related issues.
• Prepare cases for presentation in court, including those of a complex nature, by determining trial themes, identifying trial exhibits, drafting witness examinations, and thoroughly preparing City witnesses for direct and cross-examination.
• Represent the City in administrative, court, and jury trials.
• Communicate regularly with decision-making clients and city employees impacted by the litigation.
• Research and draft briefs and present oral arguments for appeals at the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Manage an assigned caseload, coordinating court dates and other schedules with all concerned parties.

Working Conditions

Regular indoor office and courtroom environment.

Minimum Education

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.

Minimum Experience

Two or more years of relevant legal experience which may include both legal on the job experience before bar admission and experience as a practicing attorney.

Licenses/Certifications

Currently licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of one or more of the following steps: a rating of relevant education and experience 100%. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions. Only those candidates who attain a passing score 70% on each step in the selection process will be placed on the eligible list. The City of Minneapolis Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number in any phase of the selection process.

Background Check

The City has determined that a full, criminal background check (CJIS) and/or qualifications check may be necessary for this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

Union Representation

This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the AFSCME Attorneys (CAT). For more information on the terms and conditions of this agreement please visit AFSCME Attorneys - City of Minneapolis.

Eligible List Statement

The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire three months after it has been established.

Interview Selection

The hiring authority reserves the right to determine the maximum number of candidates to interview from the established eligible list. If the hiring authority decides to interview other than by exam score order, they may select additional people to interview based on a candidate’s education or experience related to the field, work history, or skills uniquely related to the operational needs of the position.

• Legal knowledge and technical skills
• Civil litigation experience
• Knowledge of and the ability to use online law resources such as Westlaw.
• Knowledge of a wide range of legal issues and precedents pertinent to civil law.
• Ability to deal respectfully and effectively with people with people from all cultures.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Organizational and prioritization skills
• Initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Forty-five credits of continuing legal education courses every three years

The following are desired:

• Experience in representing a public entity as a lawyer or student attorney.
• Jury or court trial experience.