Assistant Corporation Counsel IV (Provisional)

City of Buffalo; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Buffalo is seeking an Assistant Corporation Counsel IV to provide general legal representation to the City government. The role involves overseeing litigation, preparing legal opinions, and working closely with department heads on complex legal issues.

Ideal candidates should possess a Juris Doctor Degree, a New York State Attorney license, and a minimum of seven years of legal experience. This position requires strong knowledge of municipal law and litigation procedures.

Qualifications

• At least seven years of full-time experience in the practice of law after graduation.
• Experience in overseeing routine litigation and training junior lawyers.

Responsibilities

• Oversees routine litigation handled by junior counsel.
• Commences and defends complex legal actions.
• Negotiates settlements and prepares legal documents.

Skills

Municipal law knowledge

Civil and criminal law

Legal research techniques

Trial techniques

Information extraction techniques

Education

Juris Doctor Degree from a recognized Law School

License to practice in New York

Job description

The Assistant Corporation Counsel IV provides general legal representation and counsel within City government by trying cases, drafting and analyzing legal opinions, briefs and other materials, preparing briefs and other legal memoranda and conferring with departmental personnel or parties to legal actions in order to try, mediate, negotiate or settle legal issues.

Responsibilities

• Oversees routine litigation handled by Assistant Corporation Counsel I/Munis, Assistant Corporation Counsels II and III in all trial courts and on appeals;
• Works directly with and provides training and assistance to Assistant Corporation Counsel I/Munis, Assistant Corporation Counsels II and III on a case‑by‑case and/or project basis in connection with assigned work;
• Commences and defends matters on appeal in all Appellate Courts within New York State by performing all actions necessary in the litigation, including but not limited to, preparing briefs and other legal memoranda, preparing opening statements and summations, arguing motions, examining evidence, examining witnesses, consulting with parties to the proceeding;
• Commences and defends complex legal actions; works closely with the Corporation Counsel, Senior Deputy Corporation Counsel and/or Deputy Corporation Counsel on developing strategy for complex legal actions;
• Reviews contracts involving complex leases of real property, purchases and sales of real property;
• Works closely with the Corporation Counsel, Senior Deputy Corporation Counsel, Deputy Corporation Counsel, officers and department heads on complex legal issues, including but not limited to, proposed changes in laws and regulations;
• Commences and defends litigation on behalf of the City of Buffalo, its officers, employees, departments, and agencies (hereinafter "City") in city, county, state and federal court proceedings by performing all actions necessary in the litigation, including but not limited to, preparing opening statements and summations, arguing motions, examining witnesses, consulting with parties to the proceeding, examining evidence, conducting discovery, preparing briefs and other legal memoranda, negotiating settlements, preparing appeals and advising superiors;
• Prepares and presents arguments at judicial, quasi‑judicial and administrative proceedings, including grievance arbitration and presides at hearings and proceedings, prepares findings, orders or decisions in an area ranging from employee disciplinary actions, to compliance with contractual and statutory regulations, to defense of claims against the City;
• Negotiates and prepares various legal documents, i.e. contracts, agreements and other legal instruments, with outside parties;
• Prepares the necessary legal papers to enforce laws, rules, regulations for services rendered by the City and reviews claims and approves payments;
• Interprets and provides verbal and/or written legal opinions on pertinent laws, rules, regulations, procedures, etc.;
• Prepares appropriate legal documents to enforce laws, rules, etc.;
• Processes court orders and prepares and presents cases at proceedings concerning such actions;
• Evaluates and negotiates amount of settlements with parties concerned;
• Gives legal counsel to and writes legal opinions for the City department heads and officers;
• Conducts legal research of statutes, decisions, opinions and other legal sources in order to respond, both orally and in writing, to requests for legal decisions and opinions;
• Participates in Law Department initiatives such as template agreement development;
• Researches requests and inquiries from department staff and prepares legal decisions and opinions and consults with department personnel regularly;
• Such other work as assigned by the Corporation Counsel, Senior Deputy Corporation Counsel and Deputy Corporation Counsel.

Qualifications

1. Juris Doctor Degree from a recognized Law School;
2. A license to practice as an Attorney and Counselor for the courts of the State of New York;
3. At least seven (7) years of full‑time experience in the practice of law, after graduation from a recognized Law School,

Skills and Knowledge

• Good knowledge of municipal law in the State of New York;
• Good knowledge of the laws governing civil and criminal practice and procedures, administrative law and supporting rules, regulations, legal terminology and forms;
• Good knowledge of techniques employed in preparing legal memoranda, conducting legal research and analyzing legal problems;
• Good knowledge of the legal aspects of public records disclosure, grievance arbitration, impasse procedures and discipline and discharge of City employees;
• Working knowledge of trial techniques and investigative and interviewing techniques;
• Working knowledge of techniques of extracting information from others including reluctant witnesses;
• Ability to interpret the laws, rules and regulations of the City;
• Ability to organize large volumes of factual and legal data into clear and logical sequences;
• Ability to analyze legal issues and identify significant cases, opinions and facts;
• Ability to both orally and in written form convince others of the legality of a specific action or point of view;
• Ability to establish a working relationship with others both in the legal profession and with departmental employees and the general public;
• Ability to apply specific techniques of gathering information and presenting it in a convincing manner;
• Ability to communicate information clearly and concisely in both oral and written form;

THE CITY OF BUFFALO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.