Description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

This is the third of four levels in the Legal series. Incumbents provide legal advice and services to the Mayor, City Council, department heads, and City committees and boards. Responsibilities include representing the City in legal matters; preparing and/or reviewing and approving contracts, deeds, bonds, ordinances, resolutions, and similar documents; preparing and filing legal pleadings, motions, briefs, and other documents; and conducting depositions, trials and appeals.

Requirements

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Essential Functions:

• Provides general legal guidance to the Mayor, City council, department heads, and City committees and boards, which includes preparing a variety of legal documents; serves in the City Attorney’s absence including, but not limited to, making presentations and providing legal advice during department meetings and various committee meetings (such as Finance and Administration Committee meetings) and supervising office administration within the Legal Department including, but not limited to, the litigation-related duties and functions performed by the Leal Executive Assistant. 
• Prepares and files pleadings, motions, briefs,  and related documents.
• Represents the City in litigation proceedings in court, which includes determining procedural avenues for actions; taking depositions; making strategic and tactical litigation decisions; and/or performing related activities.
• Reviews contracts, deeds, bonds, ordinances, and resolutions to verify appropriateness of terms, conditions, and applicable clauses.
• Supervise and mentor in-house staff attorneys concerning litigation, drafting litigation, examination and drafting of contracts and other instruments, and drafting departmental policies; and prepares cases for hearings and trials.
• Reviews contracts, deeds, bonds, ordinances, and resolutions to verify appropriateness of terms, conditions, and applicable clauses.
• May perform and examine abstractor and title search reports, evaluates economic feasibility of obtaining title insurance and performs additional services relating to real estate including, but not limited to, preparation of deeds, easement agreements and instruments of release; evaluation of City liens against real property including, but not limited to, liens arising from abatement of overgrown vegetation, debris, and unsafe structures.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.