Assistant City Attorney II, (A261610-2), 213, City Attorney

SALARY: Negotiable depending on qualifications and experience 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborates with City staff and community stakeholders to engage in proactive problem solving for neighborhood quality of life issues.
• Represents the City in administrative hearings.
  1. Legal Advice: with general oversight, provides legal advice primarily to mid-level and senior-level City management on routine and some complex issues with primarily low political or financial impact. May assist other attorneys on more complex assignments.
  2. Legal Research: with minimal supervision, performs research on complex legal issues with low or moderate political or financial impact. May assist other attorneys on more complex assignments.
  3. Legal Writing: with minimal supervision, prepares legal documents on routine and moderately complex matters. May assist other attorneys on more complex assignments.
  4. Legal Advocacy: under general supervision, acts as a prosecutor, lead, or supporting representative of the City in internal or external legal matters with low or moderate political/ financial impact. May assist other attorneys on more complex assignments.
• Performs a variety of professional legal work involving real estate, land use, eminent domain, labor and employment, civil service, health care, business transactions, regulatory compliance, and/or municipal law.
• Provides legal advice to City officials, departments, boards, commissions, and management personnel regarding contracts, leases, settlement negotiations, litigation cases, and/or other legal matters.
• Makes professional presentations before staff, boards and commissions, and the City Council, trains city employees in legal matters.
• Serves as a representative of the City Attorney's Office; attends and participates in City Council, board, and commission meetings; provides legal support and makes recommendations regarding City projects.
• Performs legal research and monitors case law, administrative regulations, Federal, State, and local statutes.
• Drafts resolutions, ordinances, policies, procedures, contracts, and real estate documents; prepares litigation documents including briefs, pleadings, and discovery responses and requests.
• Liaises and confers with outside legal counsel and/or other external parties regarding legal transactions or other activities involving the City.
• Represents the City in civil and criminal matters before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, state and federal agencies, mediators, and arbitrators, including acting as a prosecutor in municipal court.
• Drafts and negotiates purchasing contracts on behalf of all City departments.
• Interacts with citizens and other governmental entities regarding various legal issues and matters.
• Prepares and maintains legal correspondence, memoranda, staff/litigation reports, and other types of departmental documentation.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of substantive laws applicable to Texas local governments.
• Knowledge of the City of Laredo Charter, Code, and administrative policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of relevant court procedures and rules of evidence.
• Skills in effective law office organization.

Skill and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate and present analysis and information both orally and in writing in a clear and effective manner.
• Ability to conduct thorough and accurate legal and factual research relevant to the job assignment.
• Ability to analyze and problem solve timely on legal issues relevant to the job assignment.
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, schedule interruptions, and shifting time deadlines.
• Ability to conform to Departmental administrative procedures and requirements.
• Ability to form and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency in use of departmental computer systems and technology.
• Ability to analyze and prepare a variety of legal documents.
• Ability to conduct research on legal problems and to prepare legal opinions.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing in the English language and orally in the Spanish language.
• Ability to maintain good health and physical condition sufficient to permit the full performance of the duties of the position.
• Posses interpersonal communication skills, problem solving, and decision making abilities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical Effort Requirements Position will have the following exposures

• Office or similar indoor environment, relatively free from unpleasant environmental conditions or hazards.
• Occasional exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and/or hazards. Occasional outside work.
• Frequent exposure to unpleasant environmental conditions and/or hazards. Majority of work performed outside or with exposure to risk.
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Exerting up to 35 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly having to move objects.

Work Environment Locations Position will require the employee to work in the following types of work environments
 
 Never

• Street environment (near moving traffic)
• Construction site
• Confined space 
• Warehouse environment

Seldom

• Outdoor environment 
• Vehicles

Often

Exposures Position will require the employee to be exposed to the following environmental elements

Never

• Extreme cold (below 32 degrees)
• Extreme heat (above 100 degrees)
• Communicable diseases
• Moving mechanical parts
• Fumes or airborne particles
• Toxic or caustic chemicals or substances
• Loud noises (85+ decibels such as heavy trucks, jack hammers, construction)

Seldom

Travel Position will require the employee to travel

Seldom:

• Regional travel
• National travel
• International travel

Sometimes:

• Local travel

• Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited school of law.
• Current active membership in good standing of the State Bar of Texas.
• At least two (2) full years of active practice as a licensed attorney. 

•  License to practice law issued by the State Bar of Texas (Must provide License information on application)
• Valid Texas Driver License. If applicant holds an out-of-state license, a State of Texas Driver License must be obtained within 6 months of employment.

As part of the minimum requirements for all positions with the City of Laredo, a thorough background check and certified school transcripts will be required from all applicants who are offered employment.

Effective February 24, 1997, all selected applicants are required to undergo a drug and alcohol test prior to employment.

Effective January 7, 2008, all persons in safety-sensitive functions/positions, as per City of Laredo Drug and Alcohol Policy definition, shall be subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

A person with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation related to a selection process is requested to contact the Human Resources Department at (956) 791-7480 two days prior to the scheduled interview and/or test if applicable.

City of Laredo is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer. We welcome differences in the form of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, philosophy, sexual orientation, or gender identity. All applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply. Must be able to function in a principle-based organization that has a culture built on character and core values.