Special Counsel & Legislative Services Division Director

City of Gallatin; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Metropolitan County Council seeks a Special Counsel & Legislative Services Division Director to serve as the chief legal officer and lead the Council Office’s Legislative Services Division. This role provides expert legal counsel to the Council, Vice Mayor, committees, and members on legislative and legal matters, ensuring independent, high‑quality services.

The Director leads a diverse legal team, manages workload and priorities, drafts legal instruments, and participates in budget input.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and bar admission in good standing.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible legal experience in public/municipal law.
• 2+ years of supervisory or team leadership experience in a legal setting.
• Demonstrated skill in legislative drafting and delivering formal opinions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief legal advisor to the Metropolitan County Council, Vice Mayor, committees, and members on legislative and charter matters.
• Draft, review, and analyze ordinances, resolutions, amendments for legal sufficiency and Charter conformance.
• Provide formal and informal legal opinions in response to questions from the Vice Mayor, Council members, or committees.
• Review contracts, leases, and instruments for legal risk, Metro interests, and Charter compliance.
• Attend Council and committee meetings to provide real-time legal support.
• Monitor state and federal developments affecting Metro Council operations.
• Coordinate with the Metropolitan Department of Law and other departments as needed.

Skills

Legislative drafting

Statutory interpretation

Deliver complex legal opinions

Legal leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

The Special Counsel & Legislative Services Division Director is the chief legal officer for the Metropolitan Council and the lead of the Council Office’s Legislative Services Division. Authorized by Section 8.607 of the Metropolitan Charter, this position provides expert legal counsel exclusively to the Metropolitan County Council, the Vice Mayor, Council committees, and individual Council members on all legislative and legal matters. The Special Counsel leads the Legal Services team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, independent, legal services that support sound legislative decision-making and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Services to the Council

• Serve as the chief legal advisor to the Metropolitan County Council, the Vice Mayor, Council committees, and individual Council members on legislative, regulatory, charter matters.
• Draft, review, and analyze ordinances, resolutions, amendments, and other legislative instruments for legal sufficiency and conformance with the Metropolitan Charter and Tennessee law.
• Provide formal and informal legal opinions on questions submitted by the Vice Mayor, Council members, or any Council committee.
• Review all contracts, leases, and other instruments submitted to the Council for approval; advise on legal risk, Metro interests, and Charter compliance.
• Attend Council and committee meetings to provide real-time legal support and guidance to the maximum extent practicable.
• Monitor legislative developments at the state and federal level that may affect Metro Council operations, authority, or responsibilities.
• Coordinate with the Metropolitan Department of Law and other departments and offices of the Metropolitan Government as needed.

Division Management & Team Leadership

• Lead and manage the Council Office Legislative Division, including attorneys, analysts, paralegals, and support staff.
• Assign and supervise legal research projects, work, drafting assignments, and committee support duties across the team.
• Manage Legal Services Division workload planning and prioritization to ensure timely and effective service delivery to all Council members and committees.
• Establish quality standards, workflows, and best practices for all legal deliverables produced by the Legislative Division.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide mentorship and support professional development and continuing legal education for legal staff.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding attorneys and Legislative Services Division staff; provide input on administrative staff positions as appropriate and in coordination with the Chief of Staff.
• Contribute to the Council Office annual budget process by providing input on division resource needs, staffing, and priorities- .

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work in close partnership with the Vice Mayor and Chief of Staff to align legal services division with Council Office strategic priorities and operation.
• Support the Chief of Staff, Vice Mayor, and Executive Committee with legal review of Office policies, procedures, and administrative decisions with legal implications.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Council Office and external legal partners, including the Metropolitan Department of Law, outside counsel (if engaged), and other Metro offices and departments.
• Advise the Chief of Staff on legal risk and compliance issues arising from Council Office operations.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible legal experience, with demonstrated expertise in public law, municipal law, legislative practice, or government affairs.
• Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory or team leadership experience in a legal environment.
• Demonstrated skill in legislative drafting, statutory interpretation, and the delivery of complex legal opinions.

Required License

• Active license to practice law and membership in good standing with the Tennessee Bar Association.