City Attorney

Detailed Work Activities

• Reliable and dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Assume full responsibility for all activities and services of the City Attorney?s Office including the development and presentation of legal opinions and representation of the City?s officers and employees in all legal matters pertaining to their operations.
• Manage the development and implementation of department goals, objectives, and priorities for each assigned service area; recommend and administer policies and procedures.
• Establish, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; and allocate resources accordingly.
• Assess and monitor work load, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvements; and direct and implement changes.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate, through subordinate level staff, the City Attorney?s Office work plan; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures; and meet with key staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Select, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; and implement discipline and termination procedures.
• Oversee and participate in the development and administration of the department budget; approve the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; and approve expenditures and implement budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary.
• Assist and advise the City Council regarding labor relations; oversee the preparation and/or draft of ordinances, resolutions, and other legislative documents.
• Prepare complaints and represents the City in cases for court and administrative hearings.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the City as well as elected officials and staff including to serve as legal advisor to the City Council, City Departments, and City Boards and Commissions; provide sound, relevant, and up-to-date legal advice; and other options to all parties in the best interest of the City.
• Oversee and/or investigate claims by or against the City; provide recommendations regarding legal positions and actions to be taken.
• Coordinate with various State and Federal agencies, as needed.
• Prepare and supervise the preparation of City contracts, conveyances, and documents.
• Work with City staff and the public on a wide array of projects, processes, and topics.
• Represent the City at conferences with community organizations and citizens; assist the City Clerk with reviewing conflict of interest documents and codes.
• Prepare, research, review, develop, and present correspondence, memos, staff reports, proposed ordinances, resolutions, policies and procedures, and other legislation for City staff.
• Represent the City in litigation cases including case preparation, pleadings, discovery law and motion calendar, court appearances, settlement negotiations, mediation, arbitration, legal research, and related matter; advising pursuing, compromising or dismissing litigations.
• Represent and maintain communication between the City Attorney?s Office to other departments, elected officials, the courts, other government agencies, professional groups, and other outside agencies or organizations; coordinate assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations; confer with department managers and staff regarding current and anticipated legal services requirements and issues; and analyze the feasibility of alternative approaches in meeting program needs.
• Explain, justify, and defend department programs, policies, and activities; negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues.
• Attend all regularly scheduled staff meetings, City Council meetings, Planning Commission meetings, and any other meetings as requested or directed.
• Maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of municipal law; and incorporates new developments as appropriate.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Operations, services, and activities of a City Attorney?s Office.
• Principles and application of civil, Constitutional, and administrative law and procedure.
• Advanced methods and techniques of case management, prioritization, and control.
• Methods and techniques for legal research, analysis, and writing.
• California codes and statutes applicable to the functions and services of government agencies.
• Judicial procedure and rules of evidence.
• Computer legal research capabilities.
• Budget development and control.
• Principles of project planning, development, coordination, and direction.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations.

• Manage and direct the work of the City Attorney?s Office.
• Develop and administer departmental goals, objectives, and procedures.
• Properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, and policies.
• Analyze and assess programs, policies, and operational needs and make appropriate adjustments.
• Identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs.
• Delegate authority and responsibility.
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff.
• Prepare and administer the Department budget.
• Perform the most complex professional civil legal work and legal research.
• Analyze facts and apply legal precedents and principles of litigation.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Prepare and present cases at all levels of the court system.
• Direct the preparation of legal cases.
• Interpret and apply applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports.
• Ability to perform work in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites; occasional work outside; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings; and continual contact with the public and other staff.
• Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for extended periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach and twist; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; to life and move objects up to 25 pounds.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Qualifications