Assistant Corporation Counsel

Town of West Hartford; West Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of West Hartford seeks an experienced attorney to provide professional legal assistance to the Town Council, Town Manager, and municipal departments on matters affecting town interests.

The role requires an ABA-accredited law degree, Connecticut bar admission, and at least five years’ municipal law experience. You will draft and review contracts, advise boards, and support negotiations and litigation as needed.

Qualifications

• Requires ABA-accredited law degree and Connecticut bar admission.
• Minimum five years’ experience as an attorney, preferably in municipal law.
• Ability to research and interpret state/federal laws, charter, ordinances, and contracts.

Responsibilities

• Advise Town Manager and departments on municipal law matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and legal documents.
• Provide counsel to the Board of Education on employee matters and policy updates.
• Represent the municipality in administrative proceedings and litigation support.
• Perform complex legal research and prepare opinions for town entities.

Skills

Municipal law

Legal research

Drafting pleadings

Oral & written communication

Judicial procedures

Education

ABA-accredited law degree

Job description

Job Purpose

Under administrative direction of the Deputy Corporation Counsel, provides professional legal assistance to the Town Council, Town Manager, and municipal departments, boards, commissions and agencies on matters affecting the interests of West Hartford. Researches and prepares advice and opinions for the municipality in matters requiring interpretation of state or federal laws, Town Charter, ordinances, administrative regulations, contracts or other legal instruments.

Essential Job Functions

Advise the Town Manager and municipal departments with respect to legal matters in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, municipal law, real estate law, land use and zoning matters, labor and employment law, health and building code enforcement, commercial real estate transactions, lease and license agreements, contracts and construction law.

Provide counsel to the Board of Education regarding employee matters, policy revisions, updates to forms and waivers, and provide legal opinions on matters involving student privacy, public meetings and statutory authority.

Prepare, draft, review and may negotiate a variety of contracts, including but not limited to, professional services contracts, vendor contracts, construction contracts, and service provider agreements.

Serve as counsel to the municipality in property transfers, federal and state grant awards and redevelopment and construction projects, including affordable housing projects.

Perform complex legal research and prepare legal opinions for municipal departments, commissions, boards and the Town Council.

Assist outside counsel in the preparation of court documents in connection with suits, trials, appeals, and other legal procedures involving the municipality.

Review and evaluate legal claims and suits against the municipality for settlement purposes.

Attend settlement and status conferences related to pending litigation and administrative proceedings involving the municipality.

Serve as counsel to the municipality in administrative proceedings before the Freedom of Information Commission, Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, Department of Public Health and Department of Transportation.

Prepare and draft ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds and other legal documents.

Advise boards and commissions with respect to the legal requirements for public meetings and public hearings and the legal issues presented by the matters before the boards and commissions.

Conduct training sessions for municipal boards, commissions and staff.

Manage assignments for law clerk and administrative staff.

Provide other related duties as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.

Knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of legal research.

Knowledge of state and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting municipal operations.

Ability to draft pleadings, briefs, memoranda of law.

Ability to research complex issues and to render sound opinions.

Ability to apply judicial decisions to the interpretation of statutes, charter provisions, ordinances, and contract provisions.

Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively.

Ability to work with limited supervision and to exercise sound judgment.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with office associates, other employees of the municipality and municipal elected and appointed officials.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an ABA accredited school of law and admitted to the practice of law in the State of Connecticut; five (5) years’ experience as an attorney, preferably in municipal law; or any combination of training and experience deemed equivalent by the Corporation Counsel.