What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Law Director (Full-Time) position at City of Hamilton, Ohio?
This is difficult legal work involving the provision of legal services to and for the City. The work is performed under the general direction and supervision of the City's Director of Law but considerable leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgment. Oversight is exercised over the work of the Law Department's Legal Administrative Specialist and college interns and the nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain close cooperative working relationships with Department and Division Heads and other supervisory personnel in all City departments and divisions.
Initiate and prosecute civil cases in Hamilton Municipal Court related to violations of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Hamilton, including, but not limited to, zoning, property maintenance, and nuisance violations.
Initiate and prosecute civil lawsuits in Common Pleas Court seeking abatement orders regarding nuisance properties, including demolition, rehabilitation, lock orders, or other injunctive relief.
Certify liens as appropriate to Butler County.
Serve as legal counsel for certain City Board and Commission meetings (including evening meetings) assigned by the Director of Law.
Provide legal advice, verbally and in writing, to City Departments, as requested and as assigned by the Director of Law, on a variety of subjects, including, but not limited to nuisance properties and abatement strategies.
Assist in the drafting and editing of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Hamilton as assigned by the Director of Law.
Assist the City Clerk and departmental records custodians in responding to public records requests, including reviewing responsive documents for redactions or denials, and responding to said requests as appropriate.
Coordinate internship programs with local law schools, colleges, universities, and high schools.
Serve as Acting Director of Law as assigned by the Director of Law, which includes, but is not limited to, reviewing and approving agreements as to form, reviewing all legislation prior to its presentation to City Council, and serving as legal counsel at City Council meetings.
Prosecute criminal cases in Hamilton Municipal Court as assigned by the Director of Law or when the primary Assistant Law Director-Prosecutor is unavailable.
Performs related work as required.
- Extensive knowledge of the City's ordinances and administrative directives;
- Thorough knowledge of and skill in trial practices and procedures;
- Thorough knowledge of and skill in appellate practices and procedures;
- Thorough knowledge of local and state criminal law and procedures;
- Thorough knowledge of municipal law, torts, contracts, civil rights, administrative processes and real property;
- Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, materials and references utilized in legal research;
- Thorough knowledge of state and federal statutes and regulations pertaining to municipal governments;
- Thorough knowledge of municipal law and the home rule concept as practiced in the State of Ohio, including Charter provisions legislative processes and related court decisions;
- Thorough knowledge of the practices, procedures and operations of the City's departments and divisions;
- Thorough knowledge of current collective bargaining agreements, and civil service rules and regulations;
- Thorough knowledge of legal office practices and procedures and of the duties and responsibilities of the City's Law Department;
- Thorough knowledge of office terminology, procedures and equipment, including the use of computers and related word processing applications appropriate to assigned duties, and knowledge of email and related applications;
- Thorough knowledge of business arithmetic, statistics and English composition and spelling;
- Skill in negotiations and in persuasion of others, including both individuals and groups;
- Skill in presentations of both routine and complex issues;
- Skill in the original composition, editing, proofreading and final preparation of written materials;
- Skill in the assembly of numerical data and production of statistical reports;
- Ability to establish and maintain complex clerical, administrative and legal records and files and to prepare written reports from such information;
- Ability to organize and coordinate a wide variety of materials, human schedules and supportive actions;
- Ability to handle a wide variety and high volume of complex legal and related administrative tasks concurrently while under the pressure of fixed time deadlines;
- Ability to perform work with speed, accuracy and attention to detail;
- Ability to make decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures;
- Ability to independently solve problems within assigned areas of responsibility;
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City employees, Department Heads, Division Heads and other supervisory personnel, members of City commissions and the general public;
- Ability to communicate well with others, both orally and in writing;
- Ability to handle confidential legal information with tact and discretion.
- Graduation from a college or university of recognized standing with a J.D. Degree in Law; and
- Eligibility to practice law in the State of Ohio.
- Valid driver's license (will be verified for finalists)
Salary : $89,856 - $115,170
