Corporation Counsel

Dearborn, City of (MI); Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Dearborn seeks a highly skilled City Attorney to provide complex legal advice to the Mayor, City Council, departments, and boards. The role requires issuing timely opinions, supervising staff, and coordinating outside counsel for major matters.

You will oversee risk management, real estate development, labor issues, and criminal matters, appearing at public meetings and representing the City in court when needed. JD required; Michigan bar admission preferred.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and demonstrated experience in a variety of areas of the practice of law.
• Must have excellent public speaking skills to communicate information in public forums effectively.
• Demonstrated and effective litigation skills.
• Must be capable of handling high profile, very public legal work.
• Maintains a highly visible position in the community by virtue of responsibilities and is expected to project a positive image of the City Administration at all times.
• Must be capable of making immediate, informed decisions on a variety of legal issues spanning all aspects of municipal law.
• Must be a skilled diplomat in matters which are high profile, very sensitive and contentious.
• Must be a skilled facilitator among diverse groups of people.
• Experience as an attorney or administrator in a municipal law department.
• Demonstrated office skills, employee management and case management skills.
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop, articulate and implement strategic plans.

Responsibilities

• Provides complex legal advice and services to City officials, departments, boards and commissions relating to official City duties, which may involve expensive and complicated litigation.
• Responsible for providing legal advice and direction to other department directors on vital and complicated issues.
• Provides supervision of professional staff and coordinates legal representation of the City’s interests by outside counsel.
• Responsible for the City risk management programs including insurance and self-insurance programs and workers’ compensation administration.
• Responsible for the coordination of City legal representation on real estate matters and other major development activities.
• Responsible for the coordination of City legal representation on matters of employment and labor issues within the City workforce.
• Performs or assigns requests for legal research on various topics as requested by the City.
• Reviews documents, contracts or other written instruments on a variety of topics and addresses their legal implications as requested.
• Drafts contracts on behalf of the City and approves all contracts the City enters into.
• Approves all procurement requests such as professional staff and goods, and is a standing member of all specifications committees and review panels.
• Independently prepares ordinances and resolutions or as directed by City officials.
• Required to appear regularly at City Council meetings and at other public meetings and is expected to provide immediate and decisive legal opinions.
• Represents or coordinates the representation of the City in court and is ultimately responsible for the litigation of all lawsuits that involve the City.
• Prepares criminal warrants as needed.
• Oversees the prosecution of a high volume of District Court ordinance violations.
• Serves as a liaison to community organizations.
• Represents the City Administration in a variety of public forums, may speak publicly at special events.
• Acts as the Legal Information Officer and Legal Spokesperson related to all legal matters for the City.
• Maintains current knowledge of legal developments and current issues related to municipal affairs and acts as a legislative liaison to the Michigan Municipal League.
• Coordinates recruitment and hiring of department staff with the Human Resources Department. Assigns work, supervises personnel, evaluates performance, and oversees professional development. Takes disciplinary action according to established procedures.
• Continually improves the quality of all operations.
• Keeps abreast of changing regulations and policies through continued education and professional growth. Maintains cooperative relationships with peer agencies and other governmental units. Attends conferences, workshops, and seminars as appropriate.
• Prepares and presents annual budget requests, administers departmental budget, and ensures that the authorized budgetary procedure is properly used. Reviews purchase requests, overtime usage, expense reports, and other related requests.
• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.

Skills

Public speaking

Litigation

Municipal law

Strategic decision making

Diplomacy

Team leadership

Legal research

Oral and written advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Job description

STARTING SALARY:

$175,000 per year

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK

The Corporation Counsel provides legal solutions to complex organizational problems throughout the City. This is highly technical and accountable, public work providing effective and timely legal services to the Mayor, City Council, City Departments, Boards and Commissions in all matters relating to official City duties.

This appointee interacts in a consistently pleasant and helpful manner to fellow employees, visitors, and citizens of the City of Dearborn and demonstrates the highest standards of internal and external customer service.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Job Functions (Functions essential to attaining job objectives):

• Provides complex legal advice and services to City officials, departments, boards and commissions relating to official City duties, which may involve expensive and complicated litigation.
• Responsible for providing legal advice and direction to other department directors on vital and complicated issues.
• Provides supervision of professional staff and coordinates legal representation of the City’s interests by outside counsel.
• Responsible for the City risk management programs including insurance and self-insurance programs and workers’ compensation administration.
• Responsible for the coordination of City legal representation on real estate matters and other major development activities.
• Responsible for the coordination of City legal representation on matters of employment and labor issues within the City workforce.
• Performs or assigns requests for legal research on various topics as requested by the City.
• Reviews documents, contracts or other written instruments on a variety of topics and addresses their legal implications as requested.
• Drafts contracts on behalf of the City and approves all contracts the City enters into.
• Approves all procurement requests such as professional staff and goods, and is a standing member of all specifications committees and review panels.
• Independently prepares ordinances and resolutions or as directed by City officials.
• Required to appear regularly at City Council meetings and at other public meetings and is expected to provide immediate and decisive legal opinions.
• Represents or coordinates the representation of the City in court and is ultimately responsible for the litigation of all lawsuits that involve the City.
• Prepares criminal warrants as needed.
• Oversees the prosecution of a high volume of District Court ordinance violations.
• Serves as a liaison to community organizations.
• Represents the City Administration in a variety of public forums, may speak publicly at special events.
• Acts as the Legal Information Officer and Legal Spokesperson related to all legal matters for the City.
• Maintains current knowledge of legal developments and current issues related to municipal affairs and acts as a legislative liaison to the Michigan Municipal League.
• Coordinates recruitment and hiring of department staff with the Human Resources Department. Assigns work, supervises personnel, evaluates performance, and oversees professional development. Takes disciplinary action according to established procedures.
• Continually improves the quality of all operations.
• Keeps abreast of changing regulations and policies through continued education and professional growth. Maintains cooperative relationships with peer agencies and other governmental units. Attends conferences, workshops, and seminars as appropriate.
• Prepares and presents annual budget requests, administers departmental budget, and ensures that the authorized budgetary procedure is properly used. Reviews purchase requests, overtime usage, expense reports, and other related requests.
• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge and demonstrated experience in a variety of areas of the practice of law.
• Must have excellent public speaking skills to communicate information in public forums effectively.
• Demonstrated and effective litigation skills.
• Must be capable of handling high profile, very public legal work.
• Maintains a highly visible position in the community by virtue of responsibilities and is expected to project a positive image of the City Administration at all times.
• Must be capable of making immediate, informed decisions on a variety of legal issues spanning all aspects of municipal law.
• Must be a skilled diplomat in matters which are high profile, very sensitive and contentious.
• Must be a skilled facilitator among diverse groups of people.
• Experience as an attorney or administrator in a municipal law department.
• Demonstrated office skills, employee management and case management skills.
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop, articulate and implement strategic plans.
• Ability to establish departmental goals and meet established timetables and financial targets.
• Ability to build community consensus and support for projects and programs.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and use good judgment, initiative and resourcefulness when dealing with employees, professional contacts, community groups, residents, elected officials, and regulatory agencies.
• Ability to work on multiple tasks in a very public and fast-paced environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate and present ideas and concepts orally and in writing, and make presentations in public forums.
• Ability to critically assess situations and solve problems, and work effectively under stress, within deadlines, and changes in work priorities.
• Ability to continually improve the quality of all operations.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Must possess a Juris Doctor degree and be licensed to practice law in the state of Michigan. Must have a minimum of five years of applicable work experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

A valid driver license and a good driving record.

LAST DATE FOR FILING APPLICATIONS

Open until filled