Deputy City Attorney

City of Coconut Creek; Pompano Beach (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Coconut Creek seeks an experienced City Attorney to provide expert legal counsel to the City Commission, City Manager, staff, and advisory boards. The attorney will oversee litigation, draft ordinances, and supervise legal staff while ensuring compliance with Florida law.

The role requires a Juris Doctor and a licensed Florida attorney with substantial local government experience. Strong research, negotiation, and communication skills are essential for complex, high-stakes matters.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active Florida law license in good standing.
• Board certification in local government law preferred, not required.

Responsibilities

• Advise City Commission, City Manager, staff, and boards on legal matters.
• Attend Commission and board meetings as needed and represent the city in legal matters.
• Prepare and review ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents.
• Assist in civil litigation for the City and manage discovery, pleadings, and motions.
• Conduct legal research and prepare reports and opinions for senior staff.
• Provide guidance to junior attorneys and staff on city policies and procedures.
• Engage with officials and the public to explain legal positions and actions.

Skills

Legal research

Florida law

Litigation

Westlaw/LexisNexis

Office software

Customer service

Independent work

Policy interpretation

Multitasking

Case preparation

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Westlaw

LexisNexis

Job description

GENERAL PURPOSE

Performs work as a recognized subject matter expert in the City Attorney’s office. Provides legal advice and counsel to the City Commission, City Manager, City Staff, and City Advisory Boards. The employee attends meetings of the City Commission and advisory boards, as necessary, represents the City before various local and state departments and other governmental subdivisions, reviews and/or prepares routine legal documents and legal opinions, as well as assists the City Attorney in more difficult and complex questions and problems. Supervision is exercised over legal and clerical staff, which includes training and evaluating work performance. General direction is received from the City Attorney however; significant latitude is provided requiring the use of initiative and independent judgment. Position requires a high level of critical thinking and ingenuity in bringing successful resolution to unusually complex and strategic situations and issues.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Advises the City Commission, City Manager, City staff, and City boards as may be required, relative to legal matters affecting the City
• Attends City Commission meetings and workshops, Planning and Zoning Board meetings and other Advisory Board meetings as needed
• Conducts investigations and interviews based upon alleged or potential legal problems of a routine nature, and prepares reports or opinions based upon findings made
• Reviews contracts
• Prepares legal opinions, drafts ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases, and other legal documents
• Represents various departments in legal matters as directed by the City Attorney
• Responds to and resolves sensitive and complex inquiries and complaints including: responding to requests of the City Attorney, City Manager, and elected officials for information and interpretation
• May present issues to the City Commission as needed or directed by the City Attorney
• Assists City Attorney in the preparation of legal opinions regarding more complex legal questions
• Assists in the preparation and defense of all civil cases involving the City including preparation of initial pleadings, discovery documents, motions and other litigation documents as needed; reviews claims and complaints by or against the City; works with other legal specialists hired by the City for special and/or complex cases
• Assists the City Attorney in conducting legal research concerning complex problems or projects and prepares reports, memoranda and draft opinions containing proposed or recommended courses of action or solutions; handles appeals as needed
• Assists the City Attorney in providing guidance to and reviewing the work of other attorneys retained by the City; enforces and makes recommendations regarding city policies and procedures
• Meets with City officials, City employees, and the public as needed

Qualifications

Juris doctor degree from an accredited school of law; supplemented by ten (10) or more years’ experience practicing in the area of City, County, and Local Government law or related field. Related field includes: land use/zoning, labor and employment, real estate, litigation/ trial experience, eminent domain, procurement/public finance, grants, contract drafting and administration, public records/ Sunshine law, civil litigation relating to Section 1983 liability, workers’ compensation, personal injury law, construction law, police, fire, or other local government related experience. Board certification in City, County, and Local Government law is preferred, but not required. Must be an attorney at law in good standing in Florida and possess a license to practice law in the state of Florida.

• The City reserves the right to consider alternate combinations of education, certification, training, and/or experience.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research (Westlaw and Lexus/Nexus)
• Knowledge of the laws of Florida and considerable knowledge of local, state and Federal statutory law
• Skill in conducting research on complex legal issues and preparing sound legal opinions – and considerable knowledge of the sources and availability of current legal decisions, opinions, rulings and statutes
• Considerable knowledge of legal instruments in applicable fields of law
• Skill in Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, and Excel)
• Skill in providing good customer service
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to interpret and apply legal principles and precedents in resolving complex legal problems
• Ability to multi-task while working with tight deadlines and shifting priorities
• Ability to prepare cases for civil litigation
• Ability to analyze and define problems, identify alternative solutions, estimate consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals