Description:
The City of Leawood, Kansas seeks an accomplished, collaborative, and forward-thinking legal professional to serve as its next City Attorney.The successful candidate will be a collaborative, creative problem solver who embraces the One Leawood philosophy. The office provides legal advice and guidance to the Governing Body, the City Administrator, City departments, committees, boards, and commissions. The Legal Department also drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other legal documents; assists with legislative matters; issues advisory opinions; and processes claims involving the City, its officers, and employees.
The ideal candidate will:
Lead with Character
- Lead with integrity, humility, and professionalism.
- Build trust through transparency, communication, and accountability.
- Champion the City's values and contribute to a “One Leawood” culture.
- Foster a positive, supportive, and high-performing workplace culture.
- Develop future leaders and invest in employee growth.
- Support succession planning and employee engagement initiatives.
- Collaborate effectively and pragmatically across departments, elected officials, and with regional partners.
- Communicate effectively and build consensus among diverse groups.
- Deliver exceptional service.
- Balance operational excellence with long-term strategic planning.
- Embrace innovation in data, technology, and continuous improvement principles to enhance service delivery.
This is an opportunity to become a trusted legal advisor and a member of the City's executive leadership team while helping one of Kansas' premier communities navigate the increasingly complex legal landscape of local government. The successful candidate will apply sophisticated analysis of Kansas municipal law to advise policymakers and staff to achieve pragmatic solutions to complex issues confronted by municipalities.
Success in the First Year
The next City Attorney will be expected to:
- Develop relationships with the Governing Body, City Administrator, executive leadership, department directors, and Legal Department employees.
- Build a comprehensive understanding of active legal matters, contracts, development issues, litigation, claims, organizational priorities, and emerging risks.
- Evaluate workload, workflows, technology, outside counsel relationships, knowledge management, and opportunities for greater consistency and efficiency.
- Create mechanisms for identifying legislative, regulatory, technological, and legal developments before they directly affect municipal operations.
- Support professional development, knowledge sharing, succession planning, and a strong culture within the Legal Department.
- Continue fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and engagement.
Qualifications & Experience:
Required: Candidates must hold a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, be a practicing attorney licensed in the State of Kansas, and have at least ten (10) years of progressively responsible legal experience. Candidates must reside in Johnson County, Kansas, within one year of hire and possess a valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record.
Preferred: Twelve (12) or more years of progressively responsible legal experience, including substantial experience in local government, public-sector law, municipal representation, or legal matters directly applicable to a full-service municipal organization.
Highly desirable experience includes:
- Advising elected or appointed governing bodies;
- Municipal or local government law;
- Contracts and transactional work;
- Land use, planning, zoning, or development;
- Employment and personnel matters;
- Public records and open meetings;
- Litigation and risk management;
- Supervising attorneys or professional staff;
- Working directly with executive leadership; and
- Managing outside counsel.
- Previous experience as a City Attorney, Deputy City Attorney, Assistant City Attorney, County Counselor, public-sector general counsel, or municipal law practitioner.