Town Attorney

TENNESSEE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE; Tennessee; On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, seeks a licensed attorney to serve as Town Attorney, the chief legal advisor to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and to town departments and commissions.

The selected attorney will provide comprehensive legal services including attendance at meetings, issuing legal opinions, drafting and reviewing ordinances, contracts, deeds and leases, and representing the Town in judicial or administrative actions.

Qualifications

• Admission to the Tennessee Supreme Court Bar and licensed to practice law in Tennessee in good standing.
• Minimum of five (5) years of active experience in Tennessee municipal law or related public sector fields.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Tennessee planning, zoning, annexation, municipal finance, and open records laws.

Responsibilities

• Attend regular and special meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Planning Commission as required.
• Provide verbal and written legal opinions on municipal matters and administrative actions.
• Draft, review, and approve ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents.
• Represent the Town in judicial and administrative proceedings or coordinate outside counsel when needed.
• Advise on municipal code compliance and enforcement with Code Enforcement and Police Department.
• Ensure compliance with Sunshine Law and Public Records Act.

Job description

• Submitting Agency: Town of Chapel Hill, Board of Mayor and Aldermen
• Contact Location: Town Hall, 4650 Nashville Highway, Chapel Hill, TN 37034

1. Introduction and Project Overview

The Town of Chapel Hill, Tennessee ("Town"), a vibrant municipality located in Marshall County, is seeking sealed proposals from qualified and licensed law firms or individual attorneys to serve as the Town Attorney.

The selected attorney or firm will act as the chief legal advisor to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the Town Administrator, the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and all other town departments, boards, and commissions as directed.

2. Scope of Services

The appointed Town Attorney will be expected to provide comprehensive legal services, including but not limited to:

• Meeting Attendance: Attend regular and special meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (typically held monthly), and Planning Commission (monthly) or Zoning sessions as required.
• Legal Opinions: Provide verbal and written legal opinions on municipal matters, ordinances, resolutions, and administrative actions under Tennessee law (including Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service - MTAS guidelines and Tennessee Code Annotated - TCA).
• Drafting & Review: Draft, review, and approve ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases, and other legal documents.
• Litigation Representation: Represent the Town in judicial and administrative proceedings, or coordinate and oversee specialized outside counsel when necessary.
• Code Enforcement Support: Advise the Town Codes Enforcement Officer and Police Department on municipal code compliance and violation enforcement.
• Public Records & Open Meetings: Ensure town compliance with the Tennessee Open Meetings Act ("Sunshine Law") and the Tennessee Public Records Act.

3. Minimum Qualifications

Respondents must meet the following criteria:

• Admission to the Tennessee Supreme Court Bar and licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee in good standing.
• Minimum of five (5) years of active experience in Tennessee municipal law, local government operations, or closely related public sector fields.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Tennessee planning, zoning, annexation, municipal finance, and open records laws.

5. Selection Criteria

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will evaluate submissions based on:

• Relevant experience in Tennessee municipal law.
• Qualifications and availability of the primary attorney.