Assistant City Attorney

The City of Salinas is accepting applications for Assistant City Attorney. The ideal candidate will possess substantial experience in independently handling a variety of municipal matters involving land use and environmental law, public finance, code enforcement, and government contracts. This recruitment is open until filled and may close at any time. Click here for a brochure.

Summary of Duties: To provide a wide range of professional legal services to all City departments, the City Council and various boards and commissions, as well as legal tasks involving a wide variety of municipal legal subjects with general instruction or assistance from City Attorney.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This is the advanced journey level of the legal series. This class may be distinguished from the next lower class of Senior Deputy City Attorney by the level of independent judgment exercised and the difficulty and complexity of work performed. In addition, this position is expected to provide expert advice and assistance to less experienced attorneys on complex legal problems.

1. Performs legal research and prepares written and oral opinions on various legal problems for City departments, the City Council, and various boards and commissions
2. Provides legal updates and training to staff and commissions
3. Confers with and renders assistance to department heads in establishing departmental policies by applying legal points and procedures; recommends changes in policies and procedures in order to meet legal requirements
4. Prepares, drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments, and offers opinions as to legal acceptability when presented to the City for consideration by an outside agent or agency
5. Brings litigation on behalf of the City and defends litigation brought against the City
6. Investigates claims and complaints against the City and takes or recommends appropriate action
7. Assists in or prepares cases for hearings and trials and represents the City in such hearings
8. Represents the City Attorney at various City Council and board and commission meetings and in court when necessary
9. Prosecutes for civil and criminal remedies to enforce city ordinances, abates public nuisances, recovers damages to City property, condemns property for public purposes and other matters
10. Assists in the supervision of the clerical staff and subordinate professionals
11. Performs related duties as assigned

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and practices, including civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law and procedures
• Methods of legal research
• Judicial procedures and rules of evidence
• Ordinances, statutes, and court decisions relating to municipal corporations
• Organization, duties, powers, limitations, authority, and operating procedures of a City Attorneys Office
• Organizations and public agencies in Monterey County

Ability to:

• Analyze a wide variety of legal issues
• Conduct research on legal problems and prepare sound legal opinions
• Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing
• Analyze or prepare a wide variety of legal documents
• Prepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly and logically
• Perform legal work requiring the use of independent judgment
• Work independently in the absence of supervision
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Assist in the supervision and training of subordinate clerical and professional staff

Experience: Six (6) years of professional legal experience. Municipal experience providing full-time legal services for governmental agencies including municipal or county counsel, special district counsel or private law firm providing legal support to local government clients is highly desirable.

Licenses and Certifications: A valid State of California Drivers License. Active membership in the State Bar of California. Employee must complete AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Physical, mental and emotional stamina to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position; manual dexterity sufficient to write, use telephone, computer, business machines and related equipment up to six (6) hours per day; vision sufficient to read printed materials, visual display terminals; hearing sufficient to conduct in person and telephone conversations; speaking ability in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in a normal conversational distance, on the telephone and in addressing groups; physical agility to push/pull, squat, twist, turn, bend, stoop and reach overhead; physical mobility sufficient to move about the work environment, physical strength to lift up to 20 lbs.; physical stamina sufficient to sit for prolonged periods of time; mental acuity to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, make valid judgments and decisions.

Business office working environment subject to sitting at a desk for long periods of time, bending, crouching, or kneeling at files, pushing/pulling of file drawers and supplies, reaching in all directions and prolonged periods of time working at a computer terminal.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills which may be required.