Deputy City Attorney
Under the general direction of the City Attorney, the Deputy City Attorney provides a wide range of legal advice; analyzes complex legal issues; prepares legal opinions, pleadings, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, and other legal instruments. Represents the City in criminal, civil, administrative proceedings and in transactional matters. Provides professional legal advice to the City Council, boards and commissions, City Manager, and City staff; and serves as a member of the City’s executive management team on strategy and policy ensuring the City’s mission and core values are incorporated into operational activities and services.
INTERESTED?
Qualified candidates are encouraged to send a resume and letter of interest to: [email protected]
PRINCIPAL DUTIES
- Provide legal advice to the City Council, City management, staff, officials, boards and commissions on a wide range of municipal law topics. Conduct legal research and provide legal opinions and advice regarding the duties, powers, functions, and obligations of a City and its related boards and commissions.
- Draft legal documents including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, council items and a variety of other legal instruments. Specifically draft deeds, deeds of trust, liens, leases, easements, releases, and other legal instruments binding the City regarding real property. Negotiate contracts and other legal documents as needed.
- Attend City Council meetings and board, commission, and committee meetings as requested by the City Attorney to provide legal guidance and advice. Review City Attorney staff work and provide feedback. Provide City staff with advice, feedback and comments regarding the legal aspects of their work.
- Under the City Attorney’s direction and guidance provide leadership, direct, counsel and advise Assistant City Attorneys, paralegals, and staff.
- Establish sound working relationships and work collaboratively with City Management and other members of the Executive Management Team, to including but not limited to, serving as a member, and participating in collaborative efforts towards achieving the City’s objectives, Council directives, and other goals, or missions meeting the City’s needs.
- Represent the City in civil, criminal, administrative proceedings, and transactional matters. Perform all phases of pretrial, develop litigation strategy, depositions, discovery, prepare briefs, trial work, and appellate work.
Negotiate legal instruments with attorneys, interest groups, contractors or vendors, customers and the public.
- Perform other related duties as assigned including, but not limited to serving as Acting City Attorney as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED:
Graduation from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in the State of Texas. Seven years of progressively professional experience in the practice of municipal law, including, utilities, real estate, public safety, open records, elections, and economic development, with some litigation experience. Possess qualifications to gain admission to practice in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Expert knowledge of the statutory provisions and case law related to the authority and operation of municipalities. Highly effective team building, and leadership skills including consensus-building to resolve conflicts, negotiate agreements and gain cooperation among competing interests. Excellent oral and written communications skills for explaining legal issues and opinions to City Council, boards and commissions, City Manager, and City staff. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with elected officials and staff, other departments, the media, the public, City Attorney staff and court officials and stakeholders.
PREFERRED:
Nine years of progressively professional experience in municipal law working in a City Attorney’s Office.