What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant City Attorney position at City of Hopewell?
The Assistant City Attorney will perform complex professional work for departments across the city, on a myriad of issues, including providing advice to client representatives, drafting ordinances, research, transactions, and litigation across nearly every imaginable practice area. Local government law is the last true general practice.
The Assistant City Attorney will perform the following essential functions under the direction of the City Attorney:- Work closely with a paralegal and an office manager.
- Attend some public meetings, sometimes in the evenings.
- Provide oral and written advice as requested by client departments or the City Attorney.
- Assist with preparation of and advocacy for City Council’s agenda.
- Monitor legal and legislative developments in Virginia in order to keep City Code and policies up-to-date.
- Draft legal documents including ordinances, resolutions, deeds, contracts, and other legal documents in support of governmental operations.
- Litigate cases, including appearing in court for hearings and trials.
- Draft and assist in drafting contract documents.
- Perform the functions of the City Attorney when the City Attorney is absent.
- Online legal research using Lexis and others, and other applications such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
- Familiarity with contract law.
- This position is not litigation-heavy, but comfort with occasional litigation is critical.
- Ability to handle multiple projects at one time, prioritize deadlines, and communicate priorities.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
- Initiative to maintain a thorough knowledge of current principles and practices in the law relevant to local government.
- Ability to maintain professional and courteous relations with and demeanor toward clients and members of the public.
The ideal candidate need not have experience with all of the below, but familiarity with the largest number of the items below will be an important factor in selecting a candidate for this role.
- Real estate law, including deeds, closings, and leases.
- Zoning law and compliance, subdivisions, and the Virginia Statewide Building Code.
- Law related to public safety; both relating to the operation and employment matters involving police and fire-rescue.
- Land use and zoning, subdivision, and enforcement of the state Building Code.
- The Virginia Freedom of Information Act, both as it relates to public records and to meetings.
While no practice experience is required to apply, the ideal candidate will have worked for or around local or relevant state government. Candidates must be active members in good standing of the Virginia State Bar; a candidate may be accepted contingent upon licensure within a specified time.
Salary : $85,000 - $115,000
