Assistant City Attorney IV

City of Spokane; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Spokane seeks an Assistant City Attorney IV to provide specialized legal services to all city departments, reporting to the City Attorney. This role requires extensive experience, independent judgment, and the ability to handle complex municipal issues.

You will advise the Mayor, City Council, and boards, draft ordinances and contracts, and guide litigation, land use, and utilities matters. Washington Bar membership and ten years of practice are expected.

Qualifications

• Make difficult and complex decisions quickly.
• Express legal concepts in clear and concise language for the City Council, Mayor, City officials and staff and the general public.
• Knowledge of municipal law and the practices and procedures of the City government is helpful. Demonstrated expertise in specific areas of municipal law.
• Organize and manage own work and supervise support staff and junior attorneys.
• Foster and maintain effective professional relationship with City officials and staff, colleagues and general public.
• Exercise good moral character and integrity in matters pertaining to professional responsibilities.
• Prepare legal analyses and recommendations. Analyze and understand complex problems; identify and implement solutions.
• Present matters clearly and persuasively before public bodies, arbitrators, management and employee groups.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Use of a computer and software necessary to effectively perform the duties of the position.

Responsibilities

• Engage in a broad range of legal representation for City departments, officials and employees.
• Draft ordinances, regulations, contracts, proposals for state legislation and other legal documents.
• Draft, review, and assist in the administration of City contracts and other procurement.
• Conduct legal research, and provide oral and written opinions on major substantive, procedural, and administrative issues to major City departments, boards and commissions.
• Attend meetings of City Council boards and commissions as legal advisor to City officials.
• Prepare and conduct major litigation before federal, state, and local courts, and administrative agencies and other adjudicative bodies.
• Negotiate and recommend settlement of claims filed against the City.
• Analyze changes in state and federal laws and court decisions and provide legal guidance to City departments as to method of compliance with new requirements.
• Provide legal assistance and guidance to other attorneys within specific area of expertise.
• Participate as active member (non-legal role) in various City administrative and management projects.
• The individual who holds or desires the position may develop a focus on a specific area of municipal law depending on their experience including litigation/tort defense, land use/real estate, public utilities, or police legal advisor.
• Perform other related work as requested or required.

Skills

Oral advocacy

Legal research

Written opinions

Policy development

Negotiation

Public speaking

Education

Juris doctor or equivalent degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Under general direction from the City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney (IV) provides specialized legal services, including advice and representation for all City departments, requiring considerable experience, discretion and independent judgment. Provides the City Attorney, Mayor and Senior City staff with analysis of complex legal issues for assigned departments. Assists in development of policies and procedures. Develops expertise in specific areas of municipal law such as litigation/tort defense, land use/real estate, public utilities, or police legal advisor. Works directly with elected officials, department heads, city boards and commissions and outside agencies.

SUPERVISION

Works independently subject to guidance by City Attorney or Senior Attorneys. May supervise junior attorneys and support staff in specific projects or areas of expertise.

Assistant City Attorneys have the unique opportunity to develop specialization in various areas of municipal law such as land use/planning, human resource/labor law, and/or utilities/public works.

The following Responsibilities and Requirements are skills the individual who holds or desires the position must be able to perform, unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.

• Engage in a broad range of legal representation of all City departments, officials and employees.
• Draft ordinances, regulations, contracts, proposals for state legislation and other legal documents.
• Draft, review, and assist in the administration of City contracts and other procurement.
• Conduct legal research, and provide oral and written opinions on major substantive, procedural, and administrative issues to major City departments, boards and commissions.
• Attend meetings of City Council boards and commissions as legal advisor to City officials.
• Prepare and conduct major litigation before federal, state, and local courts, and administrative agencies and other adjudicative bodies.
• Negotiate and recommend settlement of claims filed against the City.
• Analyze changes in state and federal laws and court decisions and provide legal guidance to City departments as to method of compliance with new requirements.
• Provide legal assistance and guidance to other attorneys within specific area of expertise.
• Participate as active member (non-legal role) in various City administrative and management projects.
• The individual who holds or desires the position may develop a focus on a specific area of municipal law depending on their experience including litigation/tort defense, land use/real estate, public utilities, or police legal advisor.
• Perform other related work as requested or required.

REQUIREMENTS OF WORK

• Make difficult and complex decisions quickly.
• Express legal concepts in clear and concise language for the City Council, Mayor, City officials and staff and the general public.
• Knowledge of municipal law and the practices and procedures of the City government is helpful. Demonstrated expertise in specific areas of municipal law.
• Organize and manage own work and supervise support staff and junior attorneys.
• Foster and maintain effective professional relationship with City officials and staff, colleagues and general public.
• Exercise good moral character and integrity in matters pertaining to professional responsibilities.
• Prepare legal analyses and recommendations. Analyze and understand complex problems; identify and implement solutions.
• Present matters clearly and persuasively before public bodies, arbitrators, management and employee groups.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Use of a computer and software necessary to effectively perform the duties of the position.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is conducted primarily in an office setting. It involves frequent attendance at meetings and may include irregular hours and potentially out-of-town travel. Incumbents in this classification are expected to communicate verbally, in person, and by telephone. A computer terminal is used and requires the use of repetitive arm-hand movements.

Any combination equivalent to the experience and education that would likely provide the relevant knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. Generally, this will include:

Education

• Juris doctor or equivalent degree.

Membership

• Membership in Washington State Bar Association.

Experience

• Ten (10) years' experience in the practice of law.
• Admitted to Washington State Bar Association

BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS

As an exempt employee of the City of Spokane, the Assistant City Attorney IV is subject to the City’s Code of Ethics set forth in Chapter 1.04A of the Spokane Municipal Code. As such, “it is the policy of the City of Spokane to uphold, promote, and demand the highest standards of ethics from all of its employees who shall maintain the utmost standards of responsibility, trustworthiness, integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fairness in carrying out their public duties, avoid any improprieties in their roles as a public servant including the appearance of impropriety, and never use their City position, authority or resources for personal gain.”

EEO STATEMENT

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status, or disability status.