Assistant city attorney

Salary Range: Range starts at $134,177- $167,722 DOE, with the ability to increase with performance and experience. The City Attorney’s Office handles a wide variety of legal issues that affect municipal government with a team of five attorneys, two paralegals, and two part-time law clerks.

Job Summary:

The Assistant City Attorney serves as in-house counsel to the City and its elected officials, departments, boards, commissions, and agencies. The Assistant City Attorney practices in a wide range of legal fields, focusing on local government, land use, state and federal constitutional law, contracts, real property, housing, transportation, employment, civil litigation, and water law.

Typical Duties:

• Prepare and review legal opinions, ordinances, contracts, plats, and other legal documents and advise the City’s elected officials, departments, boards, commissions, and agencies on legal questions and policy formation.
• May be assigned to advise specific City departments such as planning, police, human resources, recreation, transportation, housing, recreation, or economic development.
• May represent the City in litigation, including drafting and reviewing pleadings and appearing in court or before administrative agencies.
• Research legal questions and evaluate the impact of applicable law on City policies, procedures, and programs.
• Develop and present educational seminars for officials and staff regarding legal issues.
• May advise on risk management principles and claim processing.
• Attend City Council, Board and Commission meetings, and weekly department meetings as assigned.
• As directed by the City Attorney, manage work plan for law clerks.
• May assist with negotiations and drafting or review of legal documents involving real property rights, open space, and water rights.
• Review staff reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. from accredited law school
• Member in good standing of the Utah State Bar (or the ability to become one within a reasonable time on a case-by-case basis)
• 6 years of legal experience (employment as a full-time paid judicial clerk in a court of record or appellate court may be credited as full-time legal employment)
• Organize and analyze facts, evidence, and precedents, and effectively present such material orally and in writing

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of municipal experience or private practice experience applicable to municipal law
• Familiarity with or interest in land use
• Ability to serve as back-up for the City’s misdemeanor prosecutor

Working Conditions:

Considerable exposure to stressful situations. Work is performed primarily in an office setting. May require small amounts of travel to and from meeting and court proceedings. Occasional non-traditional working hours which may include evening and weekend meetings.