Closing Date: 10th June, 2026
Description:
About This Position:The City of Phoenix Law Department encompasses a team of dedicated and highly qualified attorneys addressing the wide variety of legal needs of City departments providing services to the community. This department is comprised of two divisions, the City Attorney's Office, which represents the City in civil matters, and the City Prosecutor's Office, which handles the prosecution of misdemeanor crimes committed in Phoenix. Assistant City Attorneys in the Civil Division work in one of six sections: Public Safety, Litigation, Transportation, Human Resources, City Services, and Community Development.
Currently, the Community Development section is seeking a qualified Assistant City Attorney IV to provide legal services to the Public Works Department. The Public Works Department manages essential city services, including facilities and fleet management, trash and recycling collection, and enforcement of solid waste regulations, including hazardous waste disposal and illegal dumping prohibitions. The Public Works Department is advancing environmental sustainability through its Zero Waste initiative, expanding recycling, composting, and circular economy efforts to divert from landfills approximately 50% of waste by 2030 and 90% of waste by 2050.
Assistant City Attorney IVs review, negotiate, and draft contracts and participate in other transactional work; provide client support; engage in government law practice; and handle all legal matters of the assigned client department. They are expected to perform difficult professional and administrative legal work, including revisions to the Phoenix City Code, and to consult with client decision makers regarding relevant legal issues. These attorneys may also be required to staff public meetings and represent the City during administrative hearings or court proceedings. Assistant City Attorneys report to an Assistant Chief Counsel and generally work independently in performing their duties. All attorneys in the Law Department are assigned and may be reassigned based on the best interests of the City, as determined by the City Attorney.
This position is eligible for up to four days a week of remote work, with one in-office day for meeting with the Civil Division section, implemented at the discretion of the City Attorney. Attorneys are expected to meet the needs of their clients and the Department, including any court obligations, city council or city management meetings, or other in-office obligations.
The opportunity to underfill as an Assistant City Attorney III (NC) may be considered. The Attorney Ill underfill will be candidates who require additional experience to meet the qualifications of the Attorney IV classification. Candidates will be non-competitively promoted to the Attorney IV classification once they possess sufficient experience.
Ideal Candidate:
- Experience with a Public Works organization, solid waste management, and facility/fleet operations.
- High professional and ethical standing in the legal community.
- Skills in conflict resolution and creativity in alternative problem-solving techniques.
- Understanding of municipal law, including open meetings, public records, and conflicts.
- Background in the procurement of services and goods, including facilities maintenance, vehicle purchase/repair/parts/equipment, and information technology (software/hardware), as well as defending contractual awards and enforcing contractual obligations.
- Experience in the review, negotiation, and drafting of intergovernmental agreements and development agreements, with strong grasp of real estate, insurance, and liability issues.
- Willingness to work extended hours, with a flexible schedule.
Salary:
Assistant City Attorney Ill
Pay Range: $110,219.20 - $154,294.40 annually
Hiring Range: $110,219.20 - $139,900.80 annually
Assistant City Attorney IV
Pay Range: $126,734.40 - $177,444.80 annually
Hiring Range:$126,734.40 - $168,272.00 annually
Pay Range Explanation:
- Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
- Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
- The City contributes 9% of salary into 457/401(a) plans with no matching required. $4,200/annual car allowance and $1,440/annual cell phone allowance.
- Promotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade increase.
- Demotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade decrease.
- Lateral transfers occur when there is no change to the last two digits of the pay grade.
- When there is a change in the first digit of the pay grade, there may also be a change to your classification or unit.
The pay grade and classification/unit of your current position may be found by looking up your job title on the job description page. (https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/hr/careers/job-descriptions.html)
Benefits:
A comprehensive Middle Manager benefits package is offered which includes:
- Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information (https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/hrsite/documents/talent-acquisition/Pension%20Information.pdf)
- 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
- Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans
- Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan
- Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
- Dental, vision, and life insurance options
- Employer paid long-term disability
- Free Bus/light rail pass
- Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
- Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days
- Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period
- Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi (https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/hrsite/documents/talent-acquisition/Pension%20Information.pdf)
Minimum Qualifications:
Assistant City Attorney III
- Three years of experience as a practicing attorney, including the review, negotiation, and drafting of contracts or participation in other transactional work; client contact; experience in litigation, pleading, and motion-practice; some experience with government law practice.
- Some knowledge of the legal subject matter involved with the department to which assignment will be made.
- Four years of experience as a practicing civil or criminal attorney.
- Experience in the practice of municipal law; the review, negotiation, and drafting of contracts or other primary responsibility for participation in transactional work.
- Experience with significant client contact; primary responsibility for civil litigation, and pleading and motion-practice.
- One year of government law practice; and a working knowledge of the legal subject matter involved with the department to which assignment will be made.
- Graduation from an accredited school of law.
- Juris Doctor from an accredited school of law and admission to the State Bar of Arizona (or from a state with Arizona bar reciprocity). Please include your Arizona State Bar license number on resume or cover letter.
- Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
- Working evenings, weekends, and holidays may be required.
- All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
- Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
- For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions, click here. (https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/hrsite/benefit-category/009.pdf)
- The City job description can be found here. (https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/hrsite/jobdesc/10140.pdf)
Preferred Qualifications:
