Attorney (U) (Vacancy)

Closing Date: 15th July, 2026

Description:

Definition:
The office of Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein is seeking qualified applicants for the position of full-time Assistant City Attorney in the Property Action Team. Under general supervision, is responsible for providing legal work of a civil or criminal nature; performs related duties as required.

The anticipated salary for this position is between $80,000 and $100,000 depending on experience.

Requirements:

• Must have been admitted to the Ohio bar for at least three years and must be in good standing.
• Requires some evening and weekend hours.
• Requires local travel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Litigation experience in civil, housing, or environmental matters.
• Experience appearing in court and conducting hearings.
• Ability to manage a high-volume caseload.
• Familiarity with nuisance law.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Legal principles of criminal and civil law, the Ohio Revised Code, Columbus City Codes, constitutional law, Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, Ohio Rules of Evidence, and Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Legal, court, and judicial procedures, rules, terminology, methods, documents, practices, and objectives.
• Legal research tools and methods.
• Negotiation techniques and methods.
• English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and composition.
• Ability to think creatively and come up with solutions to issues.
• Ability to work effectively with persons from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Litigate nuisance abatement actions in the Franklin County Environmental Court.
• Draft documents for filing in court such as motions, memoranda, and briefs.
• Attend meetings with the Division of Police and other city departments.
• Attend meetings with community groups, sometimes during evenings and on weekends.
• Communicate with residents, neighborhood groups, business and property owners, and public officials regarding quality-of-life issues and problem properties.

About the Property Action Team:
When problem properties undermine public safety, the Columbus City Attorney's Property Action Team steps in to make a difference. We work closely with police, fire, public health, code enforcement and community leaders to identify problem properties and find solutions that improve public safety and strengthen Columbus neighborhoods. Whether it's working with business owners to improve security or taking legal action to hold bad actors accountable, our goal is to do what is best for the neighborhood. We also connect residents to critical services to improve the quality of life in all of our neighborhoods. The majority of our cases begin with a community complaint. So, if you see something, say something. It takes all of us working together to advance safe neighborhoods. The City Attorney's Property Action Team is here to help. For more information, please visit our website: www.columbuscityattorney.org

Unclassified Positions:
A person who has been selected by an appointing authority in accordance with the Columbus City Charter, Section 148(1) is said to have received an unclassified appointment. Those individuals receiving unclassified appointments serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority and may be terminated from employment at any time. Please contact the Civil Service Commission if you would like additional information regarding this process.

Examples of Work:
(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all of the duties that may be performed.)

Prepares cases for trial, subject to review and guidance by more senior attorneys or managing attorneys;

Drafts legal documents, such as ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, and deeds;

Prepares pleadings and briefs;

Analyzes legal problems and drafts opinions;

Confers with administrative officers and representatives and renders informal legal advice;

Performs legal research for assigned cases or projects for more senior attorneys;

Reviews contracts and other documents drafted by others;

Represents the City in administrative hearings;

Represents City agencies in negotiations;

Evaluates claims of or against the City for the purpose of recommending compromise settlements; negotiates settlements.

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