City Attorney

Gulfshoresal; Ames, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Ames seeks an exceptional City Attorney to guide the city’s legal strategy across council, departments, and public stakeholders.

The ideal candidate combines land use expertise with a strong sense of municipal government, balancing risk with pragmatic, business-minded counsel. You will lead litigation when needed and explain complex law in plain terms for diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from ABA-accredited law school.
• Admission to Iowa state courts or eligibility within six months.
• Five years of general legal practice, incl. at least one year in litigation, negotiation, and contract law.
• Some experience in municipal or government law.
• Must pass credit and background check.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted, forward-facing advisor to City Council, department directors, and the public.
• Provide practical counsel balancing risk in land use and local government matters.
• Litigate when needed and explain complex legal concepts in plain terms to stakeholders.

Skills

Legal analysis

Litigation experience

Contract negotiation

Public advisory

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Job description

We’re looking for an exceptional legal leader who is:

• A trusted, forward-facing advisor to the City Council, department directors, and the public
• A strong land use and local government generalist who balances risk with sound, practical counsel
• A confident litigator and problem solver who reads, interprets, and applies the law — then explains it in plain terms

Ames is a vibrant, progressive community of roughly 68,000 residents in the heart of central Iowa. Home to Iowa State University and located in Story County about 35 miles north of the state capital of Des Moines. Ames operates under a council-manager form of government. The Mayor and City Council set policy, while a professional City Manager oversees day-to-day operations.

The City Attorney’s Office provides full-service legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, city staff, and the City’s boards and commissions, and when available to the city-owned Mary Greeley Medical Center. The City Attorney reports to the Mayor and City Council.

The ideal candidate is a well-rounded local government attorney with strong land use expertise and the judgment to balance risk with practical, business-minded counsel.

Required qualifications include:

• Graduation from an ABA-accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree
• Admission to practice in Iowa state courts, or the ability to obtain admission within six months of appointment
• Five (5) years of experience in general legal practice, including at least one year in litigation, negotiation, and contract law
• Some experience in municipal or government law
• Must pass a credit and background check

Preferred qualifications include:

• At least three (3) years in management and supervisory capacity over legal staff and/or a department
• At least one (1) year of experience in real estate law or construction contracts
• Demonstrated experience in land use, municipal utilities, and/or property tax matters

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to DOQ.