What are the responsibilities and job description for the Deputy City Attorney position at City of Lakewood (WA)?
Under the direction of the City Attorney, plan, direct, and coordinate comprehensive legal services for the City; provide counsel to the City Council, staff, committees, and commissions; may hire, train, assign, supervise, discipline, and evaluate the work of assigned professional and support legal staff; provide legal advice to guide City policies, decisions, and activities; represent the City and supervise and direct representation of the City at various court levels and tribunals in criminal and civil litigation, as well as in administrative hearings; draft and interpret City ordinances, resolutions, policies, and contracts. Serve as Acting City Attorney as required.
This recruitment is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed up on receipt. The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for best consideration.
Attendance: Maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
General Counsel: Participate in the City's short and long range planning to assure proper consideration of legal issues; identify optional positions for the City on legal matters; negotiate large real property acquisitions. Attend regular and special City Council sessions as needed; participate in meetings and conferences with other City boards, commissions, committees, administrative officers, and staff personnel; provide legal advice as required. Attend and participate in county, regional, and state-wide legal task forces, committees, associations, and organizations.
Intradepartmental Management: Coordinate seamless and efficient collaboration between City departments.
Legal Documents: Direct or participate in the drafting and review of letters, ordinances, contracts, resolutions, policies, real estate documents, and other legal documents enacted by the City to assure proper wording, limit the City's liability, assure the City's intent is carried out, compliance with applicable laws is adhered, and protect the City's interest; draft opinion letters as required or requested.
Legal Updates and Training: Track legal and policy issues of importance to the City; review legal journals and utilize networks to establish contacts and sources of information relevant to the City; review proposed and enacted state and federal legislation for impact upon the City; recommend appropriate responses where necessary to protect the City's legal interests; analyze legal trends and developments impacting the City; and recommend appropriate City responses of actions. Monitor recommendations from the City's insurance pool and provide internal training as necessary.
Litigation Management: Assure effective representation of the City in litigation, ranging from coordinating insurance defense representing the City in Superior Court in civil and appellate matters. Similarly manage routine administrative hearings and litigation such as Abatement Hearings, Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO), Code Enforcement and matters coming before the Hearing Examiner. Serve as counsel to assigned departments and as primary counsel to the Planning and Public Works Department.
Policies, Codes, and Ordinances: Participate in decisions related to general City policies and operations; provide legal advice to guide City policies, decisions, and activities; draft and interpret City ordinances and resolutions to include code enforcement, land use, community development; and public works; collaborate with other departments to develop and refine provisions of the Uniform Building Code and related codes; provide advice, counsel, and representation to protect the City's interests.
Safety: Actively champion a culture of and commitment to workplace safety through everyday actions and leadership.
Staff Supervision: May hire, train, assign, supervise, discipline, and evaluate the work of professional and support legal staff; distribute work to assure proper and efficient work flow; Review documents prepared by legal staff to assure proper legal principles and procedures are followed and to assure that legal advice to City clients is accurate, responsive, and sensitive to political and policy considerations.
Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned.
A law degree with admission to practice law in the State of Washington and five (5) years comprehensive legal experience, including increasingly responsible legal management and administrative duties. Supervisory experience preferred.
Land use and planning, as well as governmental law experience preferred.
Public Records Act compliance preferred.
License & Certification Requirements
Admission to Washington State Bar Association at time of hire and throughout employment in this position.
A valid Washington State driver’s license with a driving record that meets an acceptable standard for safety at the point of hire and throughout employment in this position.
Principles and practices of administration, supervision, and training.
Theory, structure, and practice of municipal law, particularly as it applies to the Council-Manager form of government.
Civil and criminal litigation and appellate techniques.
Code enforcement, land use, community development, and public works codes and ordinances.
Public Records Management and Disclosure.
Research methods and report writing techniques.
City organization, operations, policies, and objectives.
Complex legal record keeping techniques and requirements.
Effective public speaking techniques.
Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.
Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
ABILITY TO:
Plan, direct, and coordinate comprehensive legal services for the City.
Provide sound and effective counsel to the City Manager, Council, staff, committees, and commissions.
Hire, train, assign, supervise, and evaluate the work of assigned professional and support legal staff.
Provide sound and effective legal advice to guide City policies, decisions, and activities.
Represent the City at various court levels and tribunals in civil litigation.
Draft and interpret City ordinances and resolutions.
Prepare and review complex legal documents and instruments.
Negotiate real property acquisitions.
Practice law, identifying legal opportunities to accomplish the City's objectives.
Communicate complex legal issues verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences in a clear, comprehensive, effective, and professional manner.
Read, interpret, explain, and apply legal and technical language.
Negotiate and administer contracts with outside vendors and service providers.
Resolve conflicts and gain cooperation among conflicting groups.
Design and execute effective trial and appellate strategies in complex cases.
Develop and maintain productive relationships with elected officials, business leaders, advisory boards, the news media, and the general public. Understand the City's political environment and sensitivities.
Listen effectively to verbal communication.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT:
Works primarily indoors in a climate-controlled office environment with low noise levels.
PHYSICAL ABILITIES
Constant use of sight, hearing, and speech abilities necessary to perform essential functions and communicate with others. Frequent fine finger manipulation and use of hands and arms in reaching/handling/fingering/grasping while operating office equipment and computers, preparing written documentation, handling paperwork, etc. Frequent sitting, may be extended at times, while doing desk activities. Frequent bending/twisting at waist/knees/neck while working at desk, worktable, or moving from sitting to standing position. Frequent standing in combination with walking (short distances) throughout work shift in office areas. Occasional pushing/pulling force up to 10 pounds opening doors, drawers, and moving materials. Requires mental acuity to ensure thorough mental analysis of situations in a fast-paced environment. Ability to operate a motor vehicle for transportation to off-site meetings and events.
HAZARDS
Contact with dissatisfied or abusive or potentially dangerous individuals. Driving a vehicle during adverse weather conditions.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The City of Lakewood is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages, supports, and celebrates respect, empowerment, diversity, and inclusion for all. We welcome your contributions!
Salary : $11,652 - $14,780