Assistant City Attorney

A Government Entity

  • La Crosse, WI
  • 3 Years
  • Full Time
  • 00569
  • 90,251 / Yearly
  • Not Specified

Description:

A Government Entity is currently accepting applications for the full-time position of ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY within the Legal Department. The purpose of this position is to assist the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney in advising City Officials and employees acting on behalf of the City, researching legal issues, prosecuting municipal ordinance violations, and handling litigation involving the City. The confidential work is performed under the direction of the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney.

Requirements: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, license to practice law in the State of Wisconsin, and a member in good standing of the Wisconsin Bar Association. Minimum of three years' experience as an attorney with one year of leadership experience. Admission to practice law in federal courts. Excellent leadership, communication, persuasion, and problem-solving skills. Works well under pressure and adaptable to change. Candidate must be proficient in software for internet, legal research, spreadsheet, and word processing. Ability to obtain Notary Public Commission.

Annual salary for this exempt position is $90,251.20 to $103,355.20 commensurate with qualifications.

Benefits: The City offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical insurance, voluntary dental and vision plan, Wisconsin Retirement Plan, flexible spending account, deferred compensation, Roth IRA, life insurance, income continuation insurance, paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, and a variety of wellness initiatives. Benefit perks: low medical plan premium costs having a $400 deductible, participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System with a 6.9% employer contribution, 10 paid holidays, ability to earn sick days and vacation time available as of date of hire.

Selected candidate is subject to a background check and post-offer/pre-employment drug screen. Applications accepted until position is filled, with an initial review date of March 15th, 2024. To be considered, submit an employment application, resume and cover letter.
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Purpose of Position:
The purpose of this position is to assist the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney in advising City officials and employees acting on behalf of the City, researching legal issues, prosecuting municipal ordinance violations, and handling litigation involving the City. The confidential work is performed under the direction of the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
  • Acts on behalf of the City Attorney during the absence or incapacity of both the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney.
  • Assists the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney in implementing long-term goals, objectives and direction of the department and the City.
  • Drafts and reviews a variety of documents as requested or required by law, including resolutions, ordinances, deeds, contracts, requests for proposals, MOUs, department procedures, notices, correspondence, opinions, waivers, claims, petitions, and charges.
  • Responds and assists the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney, elected and appointed officials, department heads, City staff and various boards and commissions. Researches and renders oral and written advice, opinions and strategies to solve complex problems. Performs legal analysis and advisory functions for the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney, Mayor, Common Council, and department heads on various proposals presented to and/or developed by the City.
  • Attends and provides information at meetings of boards and commissions as assigned.
  • Reviews and interprets federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Reviews municipal code and recommends changes for compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.
  • Assists in the development and implementation of forms, policies, and procedures to standardize government operations and ensure the City is proceeding lawfully.
  • Monitors and advises governing bodies acting in a quasi-judicial capacity to do so in a meaningful way that ensures due process and develops an adequate evidentiary record.
  • Negotiates and administers contracts and agreements as assigned.
  • Responds to media inquiries and conducts other media and public relations as assigned.
  • Maintains a current knowledge of laws and regulations affecting municipalities. Maintains professional development and skills by attending seminars and training programs, reading trade and professional journals and publications. Maintains license to practice law and membership in good standing in the Wisconsin Bar Association, including completing continuing legal education.
  • Leads multi-departmental Neighborhood Services Team. Obtains and analyzes information from multiple City departments and directs departments and other entities regarding nuisance abatement. Provides education and training to City staff as needed. Reports activities and progress of the Neighborhood Services Team to City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney.
  • Prosecutes municipal ordinance citations, including OWI and other traffic violations, offenses to property and persons, and building and housing code violations. Attends pretrials, responds to motions, negotiates with attorneys and defendants, prepares witnesses, and represents the City at hearings and trials. Coordinates and directs ordinance violation prosecution with other City departments. Exercises prosecutorial discretion.
  • Prepares and files legal pleadings, briefs, discovery requests and responses, jury instructions, jury verdicts, settlements, releases, court orders, and other litigation documents for state and federal courts and various state agencies. Investigates, interviews, and prepares witnesses for depositions and testimony. Negotiates and mediates on behalf of the City. Represents the City at hearings and trials.
  • Research and issues legal opinions under Wis. Stat. sec. 62.09(12) as assigned.
  • Assists in the examination of tax and assessment rolls and other tax proceedings and advises regarding the same, under Wis. Stat. sec. 62.09(12).
  • Assists in debt collection as assigned.
  • Creates, interprets, updates, and applies a variety of policies and processes related to the City as a whole and for individual departments and operations as assigned.
  • Maintains confidential information, attorney-client privilege, and attorney work product. Confidential information includes proprietary, medical, and personal identifying information.
  • Receives complaints, comments, and inquiries from the public regarding projects, services, policies and activities. Resolves problems or delegates for resolution.

Additional Tasks and Responsibilities
While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the unit, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may also be performed by other unit members.
  • Opens, maintains, closes, and archives case files. Creates and files correspondence, memoranda, legal documents, forms, notes, and other records in the Legal Department case management system.
  • Preserves and maintains records for the Legal Department consistent with public records law.
  • Prepares routine correspondence.
  • Prepares, proofreads, photocopies and scans documents, and schedules meetings.
  • Prepares subpoenas for witnesses.
  • Maintains regular attendance, works extra hours as assigned, including nights and weekends.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions
Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, and license to practice law in the State of Wisconsin. Member in good standing of the Wisconsin Bar Association. Minimum of three years experience as an attorney, with one year leadership experience. Admission to practice law in the federal courts. Excellent leadership, communication, persuasion, and problem-solving skills. Work well under pressure and adaptable to change. Candidate must be proficient in software for internet, legal research, spreadsheet, and word processing. Ability to obtain Notary Public Commission.

Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions
  • Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication
  • Ability to analyze and categorize data, facts, and information in order to determine their relationship with reference to established criteria/standards. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, and assemble. Ability to classify, compute and tabulate data.
  • Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents including laws and regulations, court documents, case law, treatises, contracts and agreements, resolutions and ordinances, policies and procedures, non-routine correspondence, insurance policies and endorsements, publications, and manuals.
  • Ability to advise and provide interpretation to others how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations and problems.
  • Ability to logically articulate opinions and advice on a variety of municipal related legal issues.
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing with elected officials, committee and board members, City department heads, City staff, other governmental officials, judges, attorneys, witnesses, business and corporate representatives, media, and the public.
  • Ability to manage