Attorney, Municipal Law

DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP; Paramus (NJ); Vor Ort; USD 120.000 - 190.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP in Paramus, NJ seeks a Municipal Law Attorney to lead municipal guidance, advise governing bodies, and handle land use, procurement, and governance matters for New Jersey municipalities, counties and public entities. A minimum of 10 years of substantive municipal law experience is required, with strong drafting and advocacy skills.

The role also involves mentoring associates, collaborating with partners, and serving as lead counsel on complex matters; a portable

Qualifikationen

• Minimum of 10 years of municipal/local government law experience.
• Experience serving as general or lead counsel to a municipal/public entity client.
• Strong knowledge of OPMA, OPRA, MLL, Local Public Contracts Law and related NJ statutes.

Aufgaben

• Serve as general or special counsel to NJ municipalities, counties and local public entities.
• Advise governing bodies and boards on a full range of legal issues affecting local government operations.
• Draft ordinances, resolutions, contracts, procurement documents and shared services agreements.
• Mentor and supervise junior attorneys and paralegals; collaborate on case strategy.

Kenntnisse

Legal research

Legal writing

Drafting

Time/billing

Westlaw/LexisNexis

Communication

Negotiation

Mentoring

Ausbildung

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

NJ Bar admission

Tools

Case management systems

Time/billing systems

Westlaw/LexisNexis

Jobbeschreibung

Department: Municipal Law Practice Group

JOB SUMMARY

DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP, a mid-size, full-service firm in New Jersey, seeks a Municipal Law Attorney to join our Municipal Law Practice Group. This position is ideal for an accomplished attorney with a minimum of 10 years of substantive municipal and local government law experience who is prepared to serve as lead counsel to New Jersey municipalities, counties, and other local public entities on a broad range of governmental matters. The successful candidate will advise governing bodies, planning and zoning boards, and redevelopment agencies on various matters affecting local public entities, including land use, redevelopment, public procurement and contracting, and governance issues. This attorney will work closely with partners and associates. A portable book of municipal law business is preferred.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as general counsel, special counsel, or designated municipal attorney to New Jersey municipalities, counties, and other local public entities.
• Advise governing bodies, planning boards, zoning boards of adjustment, and redevelopment agencies on the full range of legal issues affecting local government operations.
• Knowledge of various forms of municipal government, including Faulkner Act, Borough, Township, Village, etc. and their enabling legislation.
• Draft, ordinances, resolutions, procurement documents, contracts, and shared services agreements, and other miscellaneous agreements.
• Counsel public entity clients on compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), Open Public Records Act (OPRA), Municipal Land Use Law, Local Public Contracts Law, Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, Local Budget Law, and Local Fiscal Affairs Law.
• Represent municipalities, counties and local independent agencies in public bidding, procurement, and bid protest matters.

Client Representation & Relationship Management

• Attend and advise at public meetings, including evening municipal and public entity meetings as required.
• Maintain regular client communication and provide strategic legal counsel to municipal officials, administrators, and boards.
• Mentor and supervise associate attorneys working on municipal law matters.
• Review and provide substantive feedback on work product prepared by junior attorneys and paralegals.
• Collaborate with partners and practice group members on case strategy, client staffing, and workload management.
• Contribute to the development of Firm best practices for municipal law representation.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Bar Admission

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Admission in good standing to practice law in the State of New Jersey.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of substantive municipal/local government/public entity law experience, ideally with a New Jersey law firm or in-house municipal/county law/public entity law department.
• Demonstrated experience serving as general counsel to a municipal, county or other public entity client.
• Strong working knowledge of the statutory schemes governing New Jersey public entities, including OPMA, OPRA, the Municipal Land Use Law, Local Public Contracts Law, Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, Local Budget Law, and Local Fiscal Affairs Law, as well as enabling legislation regarding various forms of municipal government, including Faulkner Act, Township, Borough, Village, etc.

REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Technical Skills

• Superior legal research, writing, and drafting abilities.
• Experience with case management and time/billing systems.
• Advanced knowledge of legal research tools such as Westlaw and/or LexisNexis.

Professional Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex legal and policy matters clearly to public officials.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple public entity client relationships simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Sound professional judgment and the ability to exercise independent legal analysis.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with public officials, colleagues, and opposing counsel.
• Excellent advocacy and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Capacity to mentor and develop junior attorneys.
• Willingness and ability to attend evening public meetings as required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Admission in good standing to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey preferred.
• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• Membership or active involvement in municipal law-focused professional organizations (e.g., NJSBA Local Government Law Section, New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys, NJ State League of Municipalities).
• AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell or similar peer-review distinction.
• Portable book of municipal law business (preferred).

ABOUT DECOTIIS, FITZPATRICK & COLE, LLP

Founded in 1986, DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP, has become a leader in the New Jersey government, legal, and business communities. Our firm is a 50-plus-attorney, full-service firm headquartered in Paramus, New Jersey. We specialize in delivering innovative solutions with an unparalleled ability to collaborate across practice groups. Our attorneys practice in a wide variety of areas, including litigation, environmental law, labor and employment, commercial real estate, redevelopment, municipal law, government and regulatory affairs, construction law, health care, insurance, education law, public finance, tax, and corporate and business law.

We emphasize practical legal thinking and consistently focus on helping our clients achieve their objectives and get things done. Many of our attorneys have decades of experience working in government roles, including the State Attorney Generals’ Office, Prosecutor’s Offices, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, while others worked in-house for Fortune 100 legal departments. The background of our attorneys, combined with our legal and business experience, provides our firm with the ability to offer superior representation to our clients.

As a client-centered firm, we value our relationships with clients and the trust they place in us. We strive to provide legal counsel that is unmatched in expertise, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness for every client, in every matter, every time.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.