Attorney - General Litigation

jacksonville.gov; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Jacksonville Office of General Counsel seeks an attorney to handle a broad civil litigation docket from pre-suit negotiation through trial or appeal. The attorney will advise clients throughout the process in state and federal courts, handling matters including commercial, construction, real property, eviction, foreclosure, and constitutional claims.

Responsibilities include legal research, writing, discovery, depositions, and representing the City in hearings and appeals.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Possession of a Florida license to practice law.
• Seven (7) years or more of experience in civil litigation is preferred.
• Professional legal experience in government is preferred.
• Legal writing sample is required.

Responsibilities

• Performs sophisticated legal research and prepares opinions on various legal issues.
• Represents the Office of General Counsel and clients in civil cases, hearings, administrative proceedings and appeals.
• Drafts pleadings, motions, and legal memoranda.
• Handles the drafting of discovery, responses to discovery, and depositions.
• Attends meetings of the City Council, boards, agencies and OGC clients when needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Oral communication

Civil procedure knowledge

Mentoring

Education

Graduated from accredited law school

Florida license to practice law

Job description

The primary purpose of this position is to handle a variety of civil litigation matters from pre-suit negotiation through trial or appeal and advise clients throughout the process. Additionally, the attorney will be expected to provide other legal services to clients as needed relating to civil litigation in State and Federal courts. Types of matters handled within the General Litigation Department may include without limitation: commercial litigation, construction litigation, real property litigation, eviction, foreclosure, garnishment, eminent domain, and constitutional claims.Thepositionwill report to a supervising attorney and will perform work at their direction and subject to their review and evaluation. The attorney is expected to handle routine matters with limited supervision. The attorney will also be expected to work with and mentor less seasoned attorneys.

• Performs sophisticated legal research and prepares opinions on various legal issues.
• Interprets and applies legal principles and precedents in resolving complex legal issues.
• Represents the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and clients in civil cases, hearings, administrative proceedings and appeals.
• Works with consulting and testifying experts and reviews their work-product.
• Drafts pleadings, motions, and legal memoranda.
• Handles the drafting of discovery, responses to discovery, and depositions.
• Attends meetings of the City Council, boards, agencies and OGC clients when needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of Florida and Federal civil procedures and rules of evidence.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal principles and precedents in resolving complex legal issues.
• Ability to effectively communicate and express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and inwriting.
• Ability to conduct research on complex legal issues and prepare significant and high priority legal opinions.
• Ability to gain knowledge of municipal, county, state and federal case law, statutory and regulatory law as it relates to City government and other OGC clients.
• Abilitytoprepareandtrycivillawcasesbeforecounty,stateandfederalcourts,administrativebodiesandarbitrators.
• Abilitytoanalyzeandpreparecivillawcases,settlement agreementsandotherlegaldocuments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Graduation from an accredited law school. Possession of a Florida license to practice law.
• Seven (7) years or more of experience in civil litigation is preferred.
• Professional legal experience in government is preferred.
• Legal writing sample is required.

A FULLY COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. A resume and legal writing sample are required with your application. Work history is required for all employment/volunteer work in which qualifications are being based. When meeting/basing qualifications on education, a copy of your college transcript is required with application. Transcripts do not need to be official, but must state your name, the school's name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred.