Deputy City Attorney

The ideal candidate should possess highly effective team building and leadership skills, including consensus-building to resolve conflicts, perform mediation, and have experience in negotiating agreements and gaining cooperation between competing interests. They should have 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.

If you are looking for an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in one of the best run and progressive Cities in the United States while enjoying an exceptional quality of life, the City of El Paso is the place for you!


Under the direction of the City Attorney, assist in managing, planning, and general oversight of the daily operations of City Attorney's Office to include office policy development and implementation.  

Leadership Exercised:

1. As assigned, assist with the managing, planning, and oversight of the department’s services and activities. Involves: Assisting and making recommendations to the City Attorney in developing and implementing department goals, objectives, and policies. Direct and coordinate, through subordinate staff, the department work plan. Communicate with and work closely with the City Manager’s executive management to identify and resolve problems. Prioritize appropriate service and staffing levels for each assigned area and allocate resources accordingly. Identify opportunities for improvement and oversee the implementation of changes. As assigned, manage various aspects of the City Attorney's Office and legal work. Explain, justify, and defend department programs, policies, and activities. Negotiate and resolve sensitive, significant, and controversial issues. Monitor outside counsel contracts. Oversee the analysis and review of legally binding City contracts and provide legal opinions and recommendations to ensure proper and effective City representation in such matters.

2. Supervise assigned staff. Involves: Schedule, assign, instruct, guide, and check work. Appraise employee performance. Provide for job training and development; career advancement, enforce personnel rules and regulations, and work behavior standards, firmly and impartially. Counsel, motivate, and maintain harmony between employees. Interview applicants. Engage in recommending and making hiring, termination, transfers, discipline, or other employee status changes.

3. Serve as acting City Attorney in the City Attorney's absence. Involves: Act as an official representative of the City Attorney's Office with the Mayor and Council, the City Manager’s Office, and all City departments, various other elected officials, and outside agencies. Represent the City's interests before court and administrative proceedings as necessary. As assigned, render legal opinions to the Mayor and City Council, City Manager, City boards and commissions, and department staff as necessary. Conduct ongoing legal research in connection with pertinent municipal law issues. Prepare and present staff reports and other necessary communications. Perform related duties and responsibilities as directed and assigned by the City Attorney.

4. Represent the department professionally as requested by the City Attorney. Involves: Interact with a variety of department heads, managers, supervisors, employees, and the public to provide and gather accurate information for the City Attorney. Attend and participate in professional groups and committees. Prepare and deliver presentations at the City Council, boards, commissions, and community organizations.

 Legal Research:

 5.  Research complex legal issues with a high level of political or financial impact. Analyze legislation and the operational impact on the City. Prepare legal documents for complex matters. Communicate with City   departments and leadership to clarify legal goals.

Legal Advocacy:

The starting salary, based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, will range from $173,200 to $210,260 plus outstanding benefits. 

For a detailed recruitment brochure click here.

For more information, please contact Human Resources Manager Erica Salamanca Salamancae@elpasotexas.gov or
call (915) 212-1244.  

Salary : $173,200 - $210,260