SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR/LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY (UNCLASSIFIED)

The City of Cincinnati Solicitor’s Office is seeking an experienced labor and employment (L&E) attorney to join the Labor & Employment Division.  The Labor & Employment Division is responsible for managing the City’s defense-oriented litigation and assessing legal issues and providing solution-oriented guidance regarding potential City liability in multiple contexts.  The Labor and Employment attorney will be responsible for providing legal advice and representation related to L&E matters, including all aspects of litigation, arbitration, administrative advocacy, collective bargaining, appellate matters, and compliance with labor contracts and applicable state and federal law. The successful candidate will act as a resource and liaison for City of Cincinnati leadership, the Department of Human Resources, and departmental HR liaisons, and will manage special projects and assist other attorneys in the office as assigned. 

The L&E attorney will provide and review written opinions and documents, legal research and analysis, and internal and external communications.  The successful candidate will work with the City of Cincinnati administration to review policies and practices impacting L&E matters in the City’s multiple departments and agencies, helping the City to consistently provide a positive and constructive work environment for over 6,000 City of Cincinnati employees.  The L&E attorney will review new and proposed legislation impacting the City of Cincinnati workforce and the City’s operations and provide related legal guidance to leadership in the Solicitor’s Office and the City Administration.  

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of L&E legal experience, preferably with a public employer or similar corporate entity.  The ideal candidate will have substantive experience regarding compliance with relevant employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, EEO, and civil service law.  Candidates must possess excellent communication skills, advanced legal analysis, and innovative decision-making skills, and must demonstrate sound judgment and discretion and be able to work independently in performing assigned responsibilities.  Excellent drafting, research, communication, project management, and interpersonal skills are required.  Successful candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to public service. 

Candidates must be currently licensed to practice law in Ohio. The City of Cincinnati is an equal opportunity employer. The salary for the position will be competitive commensurate with experience and skill set.

City Solicitor’s Office

801 Plum Street, Room 214

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Modern and complex principles and practices of public law. Basic methods of public administration.

Legal principles, practices, and procedures of civil, constitutional, and administrative law. 

Knowledge of public sector law, including familiarity with federal and state L&E laws and regulations.

Experience with collective bargaining laws, contract negotiation, and compliance requirements.

Methods and techniques of effective legal research. 

Organization, duties, powers, limitations, and authority of City government.

Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations and their past applications. Awarenessoftheorganization,duties,powers,authority,policies,andproceduresofboththeCity Solicitor's office in general and the Litigation Division. 

Advanced legal writing skills.

Ethical standards as applied to the City Solicitor’s Office and all public employees in Ohio.

Work collaboratively and congenially within the office and with a diverse constituency.

Prepare clear, concise, and effective legal position papers and opinions.

Negotiate, draft, review, and execute agreements, including MOUs, settlement agreements, or other documents related to L&E matters.

Organize, interpret, and apply legal principles and knowledge of complex legal problems. 

Provide concise and well-reasoned recommendations on legal issues and questions from internal clients in situations in which laws, regulations, and legal precedent may be unclear.

Communicate substantive legal issues to non-lawyers in a concise and effective manner, in written and verbal contexts.

Manage case preparation and presentation of City cases in court.

Practice effective time management.

Establish and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

Research legal issues through various computer programs and applications.

Stay engaged in continued professional development through appropriate internal and external trainings.  

Interact with elected officials, City administration, community stakeholders, and the general public.

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited academic institution.  

Currently licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio.

Experience working within or closely with a governmental organization or other complex organization.

Specific:

Investigate L&E claims against the City and potential municipal liability in multiple contexts; respond to L&E claims in defense of the municipal corporation and its officers and employees in court or other tribunals; interact regularly with City decision makers, elected officials, and community stakeholders to implement strategic initiatives; draft complex legal opinions and provide timely guidance to City clients.

Collaborate with and support attorneys and staff within the division.

Research legal questions and evaluate the impact on City policies and procedures.  

Provide legal guidance and written legal opinions to City departments and other City clients.

Appear in court and administrative proceedings to represent the City's interests as required. 

Coordinate office activities with those of other departments, outside agencies, and organizations; provide necessary assistance to the City Solicitor; prepare and present reports and other office correspondence.

Review legal publications to keep abreast of current legal issues and cases; attend seminars to keep abreast of new laws.

Prepare various legal memoranda and correspondence. 

Respond to citizen inquiries as assigned.

Represent the City Solicitor’s Office at a variety of City boards and commissions; attend and participate in professional groups andcommittees including private mediation programs.

Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.  

Environmental Conditions: Work in an office setting plus occasional remote work; driving to court hearings or other off-site meetings; exposure to computer screens; need to work closely with others.

Physical Conditions: Duties require maintaining physical condition necessary for standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time.

Applications for City positions are considered public records under Ohio’s Public Records Act. As a public record, applications maintained by the City shall be made available to any person requesting to view them.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Reasonable accommodation for qualified people with disabilities. To help us achieve the City’s goal to recruit qualified persons with disabilities, please self-identify at the time of application and at employment interviews. Help the City help you!

All offers extended to candidates are contingent upon successful completion of a physical evaluation/drug screen and background check. An applicant with a positive drug test result may not be considered for any position with the City of 

Cincinnati for a period of one year. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Our on-line application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact the Help Desk between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM Pacific Time Monday - Friday at 1-855-524-5627.

For inquiries, please contact Lisa Kunz, Chief of Staff, Law Department, Room 214, City Hall, 801 Plum Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, [email protected]