Salary: Commensurate with Experience - Demonstrate strong technical, persuasive and polished writing and speaking ability.
- Have direct client contact on complex and policy level issues and advice.
- Exercise good judgment on legal and strategic issues.
- Assist more junior lawyers in seeing and thinking through the big picture of a case, matter, issue or transaction.
- Ensure that all critical deadlines are met.
- Delegate and supervise work effectively as appropriate.
- Proactively identify and anticipate critical legal issues, assign legal research as appropriate, review junior lawyer work product and advise the City Attorney’s Office of pertinent legal issues.
- As directed or delegated by the City Attorney’s Office, advise City departments and the City Council on pertinent legal issues
- Keep City Attorney’s Office fully informed of critical developments, deadlines and upcoming events.
- Keep abreast of new developments in litigation practices and methods.
Knowledge - Knowledge of legal principles, practices, and procedures of civil, constitutional, and administrative law.
- Knowledge of Public Utilities. Public Elections and Redistricting and Public Safety Law and Practice.
- Knowledge of general and public contract law.
- Knowledge of methods and techniques pertaining to legal research.
- Skilled in litigation strategies.
- Knowledge of duties, powers, and limitations of a city government.
- Familiar with appellate practices.
- Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
- Familiar with pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
- Actively participate in the development of others, including more junior lawyers by providing prompt and direct feedback, by presenting topics at Department, sub-group or practice group meetings, particularly in the area of litigation.
- Be available for and provide consultation to other attorneys and staff within the department on matters related to his/her specific area of expertise.
- Speak on litigation practices at CLE seminars and participate in other community or legal events to enhance the Department’s reputation in the legal community.
- Work closely with the City Attorney’s Office, providing updates on the status of cases, matters or transactions and discussing issues related to litigation in the City, Department or practice group.
- Be actively involved in activities such as development and delivery of client and community training and relationship development.
- Be fully committed to and supportive of department policies, processes, and procedures, and take a leadership role in activities involving the Law Department and the City.
- Be known in the legal community as an example of the quality and leadership of the City of Atlanta Law Department.
- Client/Customer service oriented.
- Well-regarded by peer groups and other professional both within the City and externally.
- Works efficiently and effectively under stress while meeting deadlines.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and documents.
- Continuously improves skills by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
- Actively promotes the Department of Law’s values by participating in committees, collaborating across practice groups, fostering positive relationships departments, boards, and agencies within the City.
- Sharing institutional knowledge and experience.
- Adherence with the City of Atlanta’s Code of Ethics.
Specific Skills - Effectively manage caseload, including all cases involving the City related to litigation
- Provide advice and counsel on transactional and legislative matters related to litigation.
- Advise City Departments, City Council, and City Boards and Commissions on a variety of legal matters including the legal implications of any action, inaction, or decision.
- Prepare, review, and examine contracts, agreements, briefs, bid protests, dispute resolutions, ordinances, and other legal documents for City departments.
- Prepare resolutions for the City related to litigation
- Perform legal research and provide legal opinions related to litigation for the City Attorney’s Office as assigned.
- Respond to internal inquiries regarding various legal issues concerning City business.
- Prepare and present training for City Departments in litigation practices and methods.
- Attend and participate in professional groups to stay abreast of new trends and innovations the field of litigation.
- Advise and assist the City Attorney’s Office in all aspects of media and community relations as it relates to their subject matter expertise.
- Consistently provide reliable and sound advice, recommendations and judgment to the City Attorney’s Office as a sounding board.
- Operates the Department of Law’s Document Management System with proficiency.
- Be available to provide assistance to the City Attorney’s Office at any time the need may arise, recognizing that the City operates on a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week schedule.
- Performs related duties as required.
Minimum Education: Juris Doctorate; Membership in good standing in the Georgia Bar Association and up to five years’ experience as a practicing attorney.
Preferences: Juris Doctorate; Membership in good standing in professional organizations (i.e., American Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association, others) and 5-6 years’ experience as a practicing attorney with first or second chair trial experience.
