City Attorney

Closing Date: 12th April, 2025

Description:

The Position:
*Initial recruitment and screening of candidates for this position is being conducted externally by SGR Executive Recruitment**

Position Advertisement: https://www.governmentresource.com/recruitment-employers/open-recruitments/hollywood-fl-city-attorney
Community, Organization, and Position Recruitment Information: https://www.governmentresource.com/home/showpublisheddocument/3651

The City Attorney is responsible for leading the in-house legal department of the City. The City Attorney is a charter officer of the City, responsible for all legal matters related to the City of Hollywood. The City Attorney provides legal advice and direction to the City Commission, City Manager, Department Heads and other officials in the best interest of the City. The City Attorney shall be a full-time government employee and shall not engage in the private practice of law. This position is also responsible for the hiring and supervision of employees and oversight of the office's budget.

The Requirements:
Required:

• J.D. from an A.B.A. accredited college of law
• Licensed to practice as a member in good standing in the Florida Bar Association
• Seven (7) years progressively responsible experience practicing law in the public sector
• Four (4) years experience in a supervisory/management capacity

Preferred:

• Experience representing a City of similar size and diversity
• Experience as a lead attorney reporting to elected officials
• Experience in trials, litigation, land use, zoning, development and redevelopment
• Contracting experience for specialized litigation and City needs
• Experience practicing law in South Florida
• Additional education and/or experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience may be substituted for the above requirements.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Member in good standing in the Florida Bar Association
• Valid Driver's License: With proof of automobile insurance
• Background Check: Must have an acceptable background record
• Driving Abstract: Must have an acceptable driving record

The Examination

• Serves as the Chief Legal Advisor to the City Commission, City Manager, Employees and certain Boards.
• Responsible for legal services for all Departments.
• Assigns, supervises, reviews and provides guidance to both professional and clerical employees in the performance of their duties.
• Provides legal advice and renders legal opinion to City officials in the performance of their duties.
• Prepares and reviews all contracts, leases, easements, agreements, bid documents, resolutions, ordinances, and other legal documents in which the municipality is concerned and shall endorse approval of each.
• When requested to do so by resolution, prosecutes and defends the City on all complaints, suits and controversies in which the City is a party.
• Handles litigation and claims.
• Handles trial preparation, depositions, memos and pleadings.
• Participates in commission, intra-departmental and inter-departmental meetings.
• Reviews collective bargaining proposals and contracts for negotiation and provides advice on the legality of same.
• Prepares annual budget estimates and tracks expenditures.
• Responsible for representing the City in litigation, ordinance and resolution drafting, and advising various boards/committees.
• Effectively presenting cases, deciphering laws, investigating legal data, negotiating settlements and legal disputes and filing appeals.
• Effectively and positively represents the City in delivering and performing work with colleagues and clients, irrespective of gender, race, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, or sexual orientation.
• Establishes and maintains effective and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors and managers.
• Exercises and performs additional duties as the Commission may see fit, provided it is not inconsistent with the Charter.

Additional Information:

• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, county and municipal law, common law and constitutional law affecting City government.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, county and municipal laws.
• Extensive Knowledge of laws relating to cities' rights and privileges.
• Knowledge of judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of trial, appellate and transactional practice.
• Knowledge of administrative practices and procedures of the court system.
• Skill in researching and analyzing day to day problems.
• Skill in communicating effectively orally and in writing.
• Skill in budgeting and office management.
• Knowledge, Skill and Ability in managing a full service office.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, procedures and related information.
• Ability to direct employees including recruiting, training and retaining through personal development and growth using effective supervisory procedures.
• Ability to match deadlines with workload through proper scheduling.
• Ability to prioritize job tasks and manage individual as well as subordinate work and time schedules.
• Ability to logically research and present alternate solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to manage administrative details.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional relationships with work colleagues, supervisors, managers and the public.

Physical Demands:
While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear, use hands, fingers, and stoop and kneel and reach with hands or arms. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to read and work at a computer for extended periods of time. The employee is often required to work extended hours as necessary to prepare and prosecute court and administrative cases and complete other job duties. The work is generally performed in a sedentary environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be required to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Work Environment:

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