ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR I - GENERALIST

WORCESTER CITY OFC-WATER; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Job summary

The City of Worcester seeks an Assistant City Solicitor I – Generalist to join the Law Department. You will provide timely legal services to City departments, draft and review ordinances, contracts and licenses, and manage pre-litigation risk analyses.

Under the City Solicitor's direction, you will litigate and advise on diverse municipal matters, with opportunities to appear in various courts and administrative venues. Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from ABA-accredited law school.
• Active Massachusetts Bar member in good standing.
• Minimum 1 year civil/administrative law experience in MA.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent legal services to City departments and officers.
• Represent City in civil, administrative, and court matters.
• Draft, review, and file legal documents including ordinances, contracts, leases, and licenses.
• Perform risk analysis of pre-litigation claims and advise disposition.
• Attend City board/commission meetings and advise city administrators.

Skills

Legal analysis

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Legal research

Negotiation

Education

Juris Doctorate from ABA-accredited law school

Active Massachusetts Bar member in good standing

Job description

ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR I - GENERALIST

LAW DEPARTMENT

CITY OF WORCESTER

The City of Worcester is seeking qualified applicants for anAssistant City Solicitor I– Generalist to join the fast-paced, high-volume, collaborative and congenial Law Department. Under the direction of the City Solicitor, the Assistant City Solicitor 1 – Generalist will provide competent and timely legal services, advice, and recommendations to City Departments, and the City’s officers, employees, boards, and commissions. This position will be responsible for performing risk analysis and evaluation of pre-litigation claims, drafting legal documents such as ordinances, conveyance documents, and reviewing and drafting of contracts, leases and licenses. The Assistant City Solicitor, I will also represent the City’s best interests in resolving such claims before litigation or in civil litigation matters and general Government Services, including assignments such as rendering legal opinions to City officers, departments, boards, and commissions. The assignments will be based on overall related legal experience and demonstrated proficiency in a local government setting. While expertise may be gained in a specialized area of municipal law, the incumbent assumes responsibility for legal matters in any area as assigned by the City Solicitor or their designee.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS:

• Perform risk analysis and evaluation of pre-litigation claims and make recommendations for proper disposition.
• Represent and counsel the City, City employees, departments, and boards and commissions on a wide variety of civil, administrative, and other legal issues.
• Represent the City, City employees, departments, administrative boards, and bodies in all levels of state and federal courts, administrative bodies, and tribunals.
• Litigate civil, administrative, and code enforcement cases on behalf of the City, its employees, departments, and administrative boards and bodies.
• Assist in the development of legal structures and ordinances.
• Assist in the interpretation and application of laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances.
• Present legal interpretations and alternatives.
• Conduct legal research and communicate the results of research succinctly and effectively in legal memoranda to the courts and legal opinions to city administrators.
• Draft, serve and file legal documents, such as discovery requests and responses, pleadings, memoranda, orders, findings of fact and rulings of law, trial documents, and related filings, in housing court, district court, trial courts, mediations.
• May be required to attend City board and commission meetings, sometimes in the evening hours.
• Attend and participate in staff, department or other meetings, conferences, committees, task forces.
• Keep abreast of developments in field or areas of interest or expertise.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent risk analysis strategies and skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Demonstrated ability to proactively leverage available resources and apply creative learning strategies to continuously adapt to evolving issues, trends, and professional requirements.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to research and analyze complex legal issues in a fast-paced environment and advise how to effectively apply said advice on a practical level.
• Ability to draft and review legal documents; ability to analyze a wide variety of circumstances, conduct investigations and make reports on same.
• Ability to litigate civil cases on behalf of the City, its employees, departments, administrative boards and bodies.
• Ability to present and argue motions and other legal memoranda in both, informal hearings and court proceedings.
• Ability to draft, serve and file, as required, legal documents, such as discovery requests and responses, pleadings, memoranda, orders, findings of fact and rulings of law, trial documents and related filings, outlines for questioning and arguments in trial courts, mediations, tribunals or administrative bodies.
• Ability to communicate succinctly with elected and appointed Officials, City employees and Department Heads.
• Ability to resolve legal, and pre-litigation claims, and issues in a practical, cost-effective manner.
• Ability to find applicable laws and regulations apply to a specific matter.
• Ability to represent the city clearly, logically, and persuasively. Interpreting and explaining city, state and federal policy, law, regulation, and court decisions affecting City operations to diverse audiences.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, confidentiality and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential issues and situations.
• Regular onsite attendance is required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school
• One (1) year of experience in the practice of civil or administrative law in MA
• Active Massachusetts Bar member, in good standing
• Valid Driver’s License and access to reliable transportation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Municipal law experience
• Three (3) years of experience in the practice of civil or administrative law in MA
• Insurance investigation/adjuster experience

SALARY RANGE:

SALARY RANGE: $82,316 - $108,093 annually, full-time, exempt

• with an excellent benefits package.

The City of Worcester is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Preference is given to Worcester residents.