Assistant City Attorney

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

Provides legal advice and representation; prosecutes crimes; conducts significant and complex civil lawsuits; draws up legal documents; advises City officials as to legal rights, obligations, practices and other phases of applicable local, state and federal law; prepares cases for trial; drafts resolutions, ordinances and other documents; prepares legal opinions; practices in the area of labor relations; litigates labor related cases; appears on behalf of the employer in arbitration and Public Employee Relations Board hearings; conducts reviews of open record requests; and reviews contracts for legal sufficiency.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WITH YOUR APPLICATION:

1. Resume
2. Law School Transcripts
3. Two (2) samples of Legal Writing

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF POSITION:

· Evaluates claims against the City and, if appropriate, assumes primary responsibility for representation of the City in jury and non-jury trials before local, state and federal courts.

· Represents the City in adversarial proceedings before Municipal Court, District Court, Workers Compensation Court, Court of Civil Appeals, Oklahoma Supreme Court, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, the various United States Courts, state and federal, administrative agencies, boards and commissions, and at other hearings of concern to the City.

· Evaluates criminal citations issued by city enforcement officers and citizen complaints to determine prosecutorial merit.

· Interprets laws, rulings and regulations for City officials and staff.

· Directs the investigation of claims and complaints by or against the City and recommends a course of action to the appropriate authority.

· Performs complex legal research and prepares legal opinions regarding diverse matters relating to all areas of city government for the City Manager, City departments, boards and public officials.

· Approves ordinances, resolutions and contracts as to legality and form; provides legal advice as to substance.

Performs duties as the Prosecutor of Lawton City Code violations in Municipal Court.

· Makes legal recommendations to the City Attorney and acts as the city representative in the area of labor relations, negotiations, grievances filed by unions, arbitration hearings, Public Employee Board hearings and general labor related matters.

· Drafts ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, deeds, leases, franchises, etc.; reviews documents prepared by other agencies, departments or parties.

· Drafts legal briefs, develops strategy, arguments and reviews testimony in preparation for litigation.

· Attends City Council meetings to brief the Council regarding matters within the responsibility of the attorney.

· At the direction of the City Attorney, attends meetings of the City Council, trust authorities, boards or commissions at which legal advice may be necessary.

· Communicates with city, state and federal officials through personal contact, telephone and written correspondence on matters of interest to the City.

· Prepares cases for trial and represents the City in court and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies.

· Acts as legal counsel to boards and commissions as assigned by the City Attorney.

OTHER DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Other duties as assigned.

POSITION STANDARDS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Graduation from an ABA accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate Degree and admission to practice law before the Supreme Court of Oklahoma; and the ability to be admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit within six months of employment.

· Considerable knowledge and expertise in the areas of municipal, state, and federal law.

· Considerable knowledge and expertise in the area of state and federal constitutional law affecting city government and civil rights matters.

· Considerable knowledge of city ordinances and charter provisions particularly as relating to the authority and functions of city departments.

· Considerable knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.

· Considerable knowledge of established common law and judicial precedents and experience indicating a proven ability to use various sources of legal references.

· Ability to prepare and try cases before local, state and federal courts and administrative boards.

· Ability to prepare a wide variety of legal documents in the areas of contracts, real property, employment, public works, public funding and other areas of municipal concern.

· Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing and to read, analyze and understand complex written documents.

· Skill in conducting traditional and computer-assisted research on complex legal problems.

· Skill in operating the following tools and equipment: personal computer, including word processing program; calculator; telephone; copy machine and fax machine.

· Ability to prepare and analyze comprehensive legal documents; ability to carry out assigned projects to their completion; ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, City officials, the court system and the general public.

· License to practice law in the State of Oklahoma and member in good standing with the OBA.

· Must possess a valid Oklahoma drivers license or the ability to obtain one prior to employment.

JOB LOCATION:

Work is performed mostly in an office setting. The noise level in the work environment is normally quiet. Occasional travel within the city limits will be required. Some travel outside the city limits may be required.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS ON THE POSITION:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

ESSENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties performed primarily in an office setting, but often require travel to county, state and federal courts, boards, commissions and administrative agencies.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

The personal contacts are typically with key officials or representatives of organizations which could have an unusually significant impact on the programs and policies in the work place such as members of the City Council, federal or state officials who determine standards of compliance for federal or state issues. The purpose of the contacts is to justify, defend, negotiate, or settle matters of considerable consequences. The persons contacted typically have diverse viewpoints, goals or objectives requiring the employee to achieve a common understanding of the problem and satisfactory solution by convincing them, arriving at a compromise, or developing suitable alternatives.

SUPERVISES: None

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

The employee is under the supervision of the Deputy City Attorney who provides managerial direction with assignments in terms of broad practice, precedents, policies and goals. Work may be reviewed for fulfillment of program objectives and for conformance with department policy and practice