Senior Transit Counsel

City of Charlotte; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Counsel at Charlotte Area Transit System (future: MPTA) provides comprehensive legal services, advises leadership, and represents the agency in internal and external legal matters. The role collaborates with the City Attorney’s Office to address regulatory, operational, and policy issues affecting CATS.

It requires independent judgment, managing complex assignments, and clear communication of risks and options to executives and staff.

Responsibilities

• Provides timely and practical legal advice to CATS leadership, City representatives, department attorneys, and staff on routine and complex matters.
• Analyzes matters from legal, operational, policy, and business perspectives and recommends appropriate courses of action.
• Advises clients regarding legal requirements, potential risks, available options, and the practical implications of proposed decisions.
• Assists senior, lead, or supervising attorneys with highly complex, sensitive, or significant legal matters.
• Researches and analyzes constitutional, statutory, regulatory, judicial, and administrative authorities relevant to assigned matters.
• Prepares legal opinions, memoranda, correspondence, agreements, pleadings, resolutions, policies, and other legal documents.
• Reviews documents and proposed actions for legal sufficiency, accuracy, consistency, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Communicates legal conclusions and recommendations clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Represents CATS in litigation in state and federal court, administrative matters, negotiations, hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and other external legal matters, as assigned.
• Coordinates with City attorneys, manages outside counsel, consultants, subject‑matter experts, and CATS staff in managing assigned matters.
• Organizes and manages a diverse legal portfolio, establishes priorities, and completes assignments within required timeframes.
• Maintains appropriate legal records, work products, correspondence, and matter documentation.
• Monitors local, state, and federal laws, regulations, judicial decisions, and proposed legislation that may affect CATS or City operations.
• Identifies and researches legal issues arising within the operational, business, policy, and regulatory framework applicable to public transit and local government.
• Supports compliance with applicable constitutional, federal, state, and local legal requirements.
• Advises CATS leadership and staff regarding changes in legal requirements and their potential effect on policies, programs, services, and operations.
• Develops effective working relationships with CATS leadership and staff, City attorneys, elected and appointed officials, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Works collaboratively with clients to understand operational needs and develop legally sound and practical solutions.
• Participates in meetings, working groups, negotiations, and other activities requiring legal support.
• Performs other legal services and related duties as assigned by a Senior II, Lead, or Supervising Attorney.
• Legal Analysis and Judgment: Ability to evaluate complex legal and factual issues and provide well‑supported, practical advice.
• Applies relevant legal authorities to operational, policy, and business matters.
• Exercises sound judgment in assessing risk, recommending action, and escalating sensitive or highly complex issues.
• Client Counsel and Service: Ability to understand client needs and translate legal requirements into clear, actionable guidance.
• Explains legal risks, requirements, and options to attorneys, executives, managers, and staff.
• Develops legally sound solutions that account for operational needs and organizational objectives.
• Legal Communication and Advocacy: Ability to communicate complex legal information clearly, accurately, and persuasively.
• Prepares concise, well‑reasoned legal opinions, agreements, memoranda, pleadings, and other documents.
• Represents CATS and the City professionally in meetings, negotiations, proceedings, and other legal matters.
• Collaboration and Relationship Management: Ability to establish productive working relationships across legal, operational, governmental, and external stakeholder groups.
• Collaborates effectively with CATS leadership and staff, government officials, outside counsel, and other stakeholders.
• Builds credibility through responsiveness, professional integrity, and constructive problem‑solving.
• Accountability and Work Management: Ability to independently manage a diverse legal portfolio in a complex and time‑sensitive environment.
• Prioritizes assignments, meets deadlines, and manages multiple matters concurrently.

Job description

The Senior Counsel at Charlotte Area Transit System (future: MPTA) provides comprehensive legal services, advises leadership, and represents the agency in internal and external legal matters. The role collaborates with the City Attorney’s Office to address regulatory, operational, and policy issues affecting CATS.

It requires independent judgment, managing complex assignments, and clear communication of risks and options to executives and staff.