What are the responsibilities and job description for the City Attorney position at City of Longview, WA?
Job Description
About Longview: Longview, Washington is located in Southwest Washington along the scenic Columbia River Basin 50 miles north of Portland, Oregon and 145 miles south of Seattle. Longview is a comfortable and affordable community with close proximity to larger city amenities as well as abundant outdoor recreational activities in the Cascade Mountains, Pacific beaches, and numerous rivers and lakes.
The City provides a comprehensive benefits package that is predominantly employer paid for full family coverage, which includes medical or VEBA account, dental, vision, long-term disability, and basic life insurance. The City offers a generous paid leave program including paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave, and the ability to participate in a tax-deferred 457 retirement savings plan, Washington State PERS, short term disability, Flex 125 spending account, and supplemental life. The City also operates on a 4 day work week, to allow for a meaningful work/life balance.Position Overview: Under the general administrative direction of the City Manager, serves as the department head for the Legal Department. The incumbent is responsible for planning, organizing, and delivering of legal advice to the City by establishing goals and objectives within the policy directives set forth by the City Council the City Manager and various department heads of the city, and developing and implementing procedures to accomplish department goals and objectives. The City Attorney acts as the legal advisor and advocate for the City, its employees, and elected officials.
To Apply: Complete the City's on-line application process with a thorough list of education, training and experience; attach a cover letter and resume and complete the supplemental questions by creating a Word document to attach to your application packet. When you are attaching documents, please add your name in the title. Additional attachments are welcome, but not required.
This position is open until filled with a first review of applications occurring on January 23rd.
Essential Job Duties
- Responsible for providing legal advice to the City Council, City Manager and City Departments through direct consultation and written opinions.
- Prepares and oversees the preparation of reports for information and action for the Mayor, City Council, City Manager and City staff, and City Boards and Commissions; researches and provides legal opinions.
- Conducts and directs the enforcement of City ordinances and codes, regulations and standards, and ensures compliance with Federal, State, and local law.
- Directs the implementation of City-wide legal policy and operational goals in response to service demands and consistent with performance standards.
- Address legal questions which arise during the development and implementation of City projects and programs. Identify options and recommend direction to take concerning legal issues.
- Attend City Council meetings, Planning Commission meetings, meetings of the Appeal Board of Adjustment and various other boards and commissions to provide legal opinions and advice as questions are raised by them, including procedural issues.
- Serves as legal advisor to the Longview Public Development Authority and Longview Revolving Loan Fund Board.
- Conducts and directs the development, review, interpretation, and enforcement of contracts for the City on a variety of subjects including real estate, development, intergovernmental interests, loans and financing, personnel, and other agreements.
- Represent the City in preparing and interpreting civil contracts and other agreements with outside governmental agencies and private concerns.
- Ensure adequate legal protection of the City.
- Research and analyze complex legal problems/situations.
- Develop and communicate legal decisions to individuals with varying degrees of legal sophistication. Practice preventative law by interpreting, projecting and applying legal/municipal law trends.
- Supervise all activities of the Legal Department which includes: assignment and review of projects/programs, providing assistance, evaluating performance, administering discipline, and making hiring, termination and pay change recommendations.
- Develops, recommends and monitors City Legal Department, Municipal Court, and Indigent Defense budgets by reviewing past revenues/expenditures, determining future needs and making determinations regarding the necessary resources to accomplish department goals.
- Provide direction and technical assistance to the Assistant Prosecutors to ensure the proper and effective handling of all civil and criminal litigation.
- Appear in court on behalf of the city in connection with civil matters not including torts. Work with civil attorneys and bond attorneys in connection with tort claims and lawsuits and in connection with the issuance of municipal bonds.
- Responds to inquiries from law enforcement personnel, the general public, the media, and/or other interested parties.
- This position is not served with clerical services, so it is necessary that the City Attorney possess word processing and computer skills, and be able to draft all necessary documents.
- Performs other duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Juris Doctorate degree AND 5-7 years of civil legal management experience preferably in the public sector, OR a combination of education, training and experience which would provide the required skills, knowledge and ability to perform the job as determined by the department.
Ideal Candidate Information
Required Knowledge and Ability:
- Comprehensive knowledge of municipal law including criminal, administrative, contract, insurance, land use, torts, public meetings/public records, property transactions and development, and real property conveyancing.
- Comprehensive knowledge of land use zoning and land use planning laws.
- Comprehensive knowledge of parliamentary rules applicable to municipal agencies.
- Comprehensive knowledge of corporate and partnership laws of Washington State.
- General knowledge of Federal Income Tax laws and Washington State excise tax regulations.
- General knowledge of Washington State laws relative to gambling regulations.
- Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state public disclosure laws and records retention.
- Knowledge of supervisory principles and office management.
- Skill in resolving conflicts and gaining cooperation among conflicting groups.
- Ability to apply innovative and logical reasoning abilities to legal problems.
- Ability to grasp complex factual data, draw appropriate conclusions and formulate sound legal decisions.
- Ability to communicate complex legal ideas verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences in a clear, comprehensive, and professional manner.
- Admission to and ability to practice law before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
- Ability to articulate and persuade in verbal and written argument.
- Ability to plan, organize and evaluate the work of others.
- Thorough political understanding on process of creating legislation.
- Ability to work cooperatively with the City Council, City Manager, and Department Directors as a member of the Senior Management Team.
- Ability to respond to citizen complaints and suggestions in friendly and professional manner.
- Excellent word processing and computer skills are essential.
- Initiative to act and be self-motivated. Work well independently as well as in a team or cooperative setting.
- Communicate in a professional business-like manner, both orally and in writing. Portray a professional image and attitude.
- Able to exercise discretion over sensitive and confidential issues related to the Department and its business.
- The ability to handle job stress and interact effectively with others in the workplace.
The City provides a comprehensive benefits package that is predominantly employer-paid for full family coverage, which includes medical, dental, vision, employee assistance program, long-term disability insurance, and basic life insurance with buy-up options for the employee, employee’s spouse and dependents. All employees are required to participate in the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems programs and have the option to participate in a 457 deferred compensation program. Other benefits include generous paid leave such as vacation, holidays, and sick leave, and voluntary participation in a tax-deferred medical or dependent 125 plans.
