Assistant Law Director (Temporary)

The City of Hamilton is an EEO & AAE. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

You are invited to submit an application to be included in the general pool of candidates from which Temporary Assistant Law Director positions performing prosecution work in Hamilton Municipal Court may be filled. The number of positions varies depending on the needs of the Department of Law and there is no guarantee that an open position currently exists. Appointments are renewed based on departmental need.

Applicants may also be considered for work in the Department of Law as an independent contractor assigned to prosecute cases in Hamilton Municipal Court.

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 Law Director but considerable leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgment.   Supervision is exercised over the work of the Law Department’s Legal Analyst 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.

• Provides legal advice to the City Council, Mayor, City Manager, all City Department and Division Heads and appropriate others on the full range of legal issues affecting or potentially affecting the City as assigned by the Law Director;
• Prepares legal opinions from the Law Department;
• Attends meetings of the City Council and various City commissions and provides advice and counsel as requested;
• Processes and litigates claims against the City, including preparation of answers to complaints, pleadings, depositions, exhibits and related memoranda and papers;
• Prepares cases for trial, interviewing witnesses, examining evidence and researching the law and preparing related legal documents;
• Represents the City in trial and appellate litigation;
• Works with City Department and Division Heads in reviewing and evaluating planned actions relating to department operations, procedural and administrative matters and employee disciplinary actions;
• Prosecutes felony matters from arraignment of defendants through the preliminary hearing phase;
• Prepares for and prosecutes bench and jury trials;
• Answers questions concerning municipal law and the Law Department’s responsibilities and operations from the general public;
• Performs duties of Legal Analyst as needed and assigned by the Law Director;
• Attends meetings, conferences and workshops as requested and authorized;
• 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 some knowledge or ability to quickly acquire some knowledge of E-Mail 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
• Some experience in the practice of municipal law in the State of Ohio, preferably for a Charter City; or
• Any combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work
• Must be eligible to practice law in the State of Ohio.

Salary : $25 - $36