What are the responsibilities and job description for the City Attorney position at City of St. Joseph?
JOB TITLE: CITY ATTORNEY
DEPARTMENT: LEGAL
DIVISION: LEGAL
SALARY: NEGOTIABLE
CLOSING: UNTIL FILLED
Job Summary/Scope
Acts as chief legal counsel to the City Council, City Manager, and Executive Staff members on all legal matters affecting City government. Supervises and provides leadership for legal staff, including the City Prosecutor. Prepares legislation and other legal documents and reports. Oversees and monitors all legal work being performed for the City by staff attorneys and outside legal counsel. Prepares annual Legal Department budget.
Supervisory Responsibility
Integral to the position of City Attorney is the responsibility for developing subordinates to their fullest potential by exercising appropriate degrees of coaching, training, guiding, evaluating, correcting and, if necessary, disciplining.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Attends City Council meetings.
- Researches and responds to legal questions from City Council officials.
- Evaluates and advises on compliance with state and federal requirements, including open records laws.
- Prepares legislation at the request of City Council members and/ or City Manager.
- Advises the City Council, City Manager and Executive Staff members regarding various legal issues.
- Drafts contracts, leases, ordinances, resolutions, and other legal documents, as requested.
- ASSISTS with personnel issues and investigates allegations of unlawful harassment and discrimination.
- Serves as primary Staff liaison to the Human Rights Commission.
- Attends appropriate training in order to keep up to date on local government law.
- Supervises attorneys, support staff and monitors work product in Legal Department.
- Prepares and monitors Legal Department budget.
- Procures and monitors work product of outside legal counsel retained by the City.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
Performs all other related duties, as assigned.
Employee Behavior and Conduct
City employees shall conduct themselves in a professional manner and shall exhibit and extend such professional conduct appropriate for the circumstances to those with whom they come into contact both internally and externally during the performance of their duties. Examples of professional conduct include, but are not limited to, being communicative, informative, fair, honest, and respectful.
Required (Essential) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to interpret federal, state, and local laws.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to simultaneously manage a wide variety of legal projects and tasks.
- Skills in research and time management.
- General knowledge of federal and state regulations, as they relate to municipal government.
- General knowledge of specialized areas of municipal law, such as land use regulations, etc.
- General knowledge of municipal finance procedures.
- Ability to direct and supervise the work activities of Legal staff.
- Ability to efficiently manage outside counsel and consultants.
- Missouri Bar membership required.
- Three to five years prior experience in the local government field required. Over five years preferred.
Material and Equipment Directly Used
Regularly uses personal computer with a variety of software applications and other standard office-related equipment. There may be times when use of personal vehicle may be required.
Working Environment/Physical Requirements
Majority of work is performed in an office setting with a controlled environment. Seldom needs to lift more than 10 to 20 pounds. Some overnight or day travel may be required for business purposes. Vacation and other leave scheduling shall be requested of and approved by the City Manager.
Education
Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school required.
Passing of a drug screening required prior to appointment.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The City is a Governmental entity subject to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
which requires that otherwise qualified handicapped individuals be protected from discrimination.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The City is a Governmental entity subject to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
which requires that otherwise qualified handicapped individuals be protected from discrimination.
