City Attorney
Purpose
The primary responsibilities of the City Attorney include performing executive and professional level work as legal advisor to the Mayor and Council, City Staff and various boards and commissions of the City, planning and organization of civil litigation, mentoring and evaluation of professional legal staff, performing professional civil legal work in accordance with federal, state, and municipal laws. The City Attorney is appointed by, serves at the pleasure of, and reports directly to the Mayor and Council.
Essential Job Functions
Supervises and manages the day-to-day operations of a multi-practice law office, including determinations for the appropriate outsourcing of legal work.
- Renders oral and written legal opinions to the Mayor and Council, City Manager, and Department Directors and other City staff as requested.
- Prepares court papers, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, deeds, leases, and other legal documents.
- Prepares and approves proposed ordinances for consideration by the Mayor and Council.
- Reviews the legality and/or sufficiency of contracts, bonds, bids, leases, insurance, and claims.
- Attends meetings of the City Council, and other City agencies, committees and boards as required and renders legal advice as needed.
- Represents the City in resolving claims, lawsuits and administrative hearings.
- Serves the City's interests in various contract negotiations.
- Manages, supervises, and reviews the work of legal and support staff, as well as, managing the office budget, support contracts, etc.
- Researches, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authority in the preparation of opinions and briefs.
- Analyzes legislation including proposed state and federal legislation affecting the City.
- Answers communications from the public relative to municipal ordinances and legal matters affecting the City.
- Investigates complaints and claims by or against the City.
- Organizes, interprets, and applies legal principles and knowledge to complex legal problems.
- Comprehends and makes inferences from written material to provide legal representation and advice.
- Analyzes narrative and statistical data to make recommendations regarding legal issues affecting the City.
- Performs other duties as directed by the Mayor and Aldermen.