Description:

Class Summary: This position is responsible for assisting in planning and directing operations of an assigned department. Responsibilities may include supervising staff; completing complex legal assignments; and defending the City in complex cases.

Typical Class Essential Duties: (These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.)
  • Supervises staff to include: prioritizing and assigning work; coordinating staff training; and supporting personnel procedures.
  • Completes legal assignments for management staff, including: performing comprehensive legal research; preparing legal documents; preparing ordinances; and coordinating completion of real estate projects.
  • Defends the City in complex cases, including: performing discovery; appearing in trials; arguing points of law; and performing related tasks; assists legal staff in completing legal cases.
  • Provides legal advice to assigned areas, including: monitoring police operations for legal risk; informing departments of legislative changes; responding to incidents to provide legal opinions; reviewing contracts and other documents for legal points; and advising boards and commissions on legal issues.
  • Monitors court opinions and changes in laws to develop legal training programs for City departments and/or external agencies.
  • Prepares email, internet, and other legal policies for review by management staff.
  • Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance, including attendance at required meetings.

This job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.

Qualifications:
Training and Experience: Juris Doctor (JD) degree and 10 years of related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Licensing Requirements:
  • Licensed to practice law in Michigan
  • Admission to practice before the Michigan Supreme Court (to be obtained within one year)
  • Admission to practice before the US District Court for Eastern District of Michigan (to be obtained within one year)
  • Admission to practice before the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (to be obtained within one year)
  • Valid State of Michigan Driver's License

Knowledge:
  • Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and statutes;
  • Judicial procedures;
  • Supervisory principles;
  • Policy development principles;
  • Legal research methods.

Skills:
  • Interpreting and applying laws, rules, and regulations;
  • Providing legal advice;
  • Completing complex legal assignments;
  • Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, the general public, and others to exchange or convey information.

Physical Requirements:
Positions in this class typically require: reaching, standing, walking, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.