Senior Counseling Attorney

Agency Summary

The Office of Corporation Counsel (OCC) provides legal services to the City and County through its three main divisions. First, OCC represents the City, County agencies, and City-County employees in litigation, handling a diverse docket that ranges from tort and contract matters to constitutional law. Second, through its counseling division, OCC provides legal advice to City and County agencies, officials, and oversight bodies to ensure that public entities remain compliant with the law and standards of ethical conduct, to safeguard public funds, and to promote the efficient functioning of local government for Marion County taxpayers. OCC’s third division is the Office of the City Prosecutor, which is responsible for enforcing City-County ordinances. OCC also oversees the Office of Equal Opportunity, which administers the City’s human rights ordinance, protecting against discrimination in employment and other contexts. In exercising these crucial legal functions, OCC cultivates a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment that prioritizes the needs of our clients and the residents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Job Summary

The holder of this position will be a senior attorney with responsibility for handling a wide range of general legal matters on behalf of City-County agencies. The primary responsibility of a Senior Counseling Attorney is to represent the City-County and related agencies in general legal matters. The City-County is involved in a diverse array of matters requiring sound legal advice and guidance, including in the areas of contracts, real estate, employment, land use, tax, environmental law, public safety, legal drafting and administrative and regulatory matters. This position will provide immediate experience in all facets of client service and representation. This role representing our public agency clients includes preparing and reviewing contracts, leases, and other transactional documents; representing City-County clients at Board and Commission meetings; researching and answering general legal questions and providing advisory opinions; and drafting ordinances, reviewing legislation and handling other legislative matters. Senior counseling attorneys should expect to have immediate responsibility for handling a diverse and challenging workload. The position holder will serve as an assistant corporation counsel within OCC’s counseling division.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

Responsibilities

• Senior counseling attorneys will take responsibility for more complex and sensitive legal issues, and may provide review and guidance to other attorneys with difficult matters.
• Keeping clients, including senior agency staff and elected officials, fully informed on matters affecting their agencies.
• Advising clients and colleagues in the Office of Corporation Counsel on compliance with law and the avoidance of future litigation risk.
• Preparing advisory opinions and memos on general legal matters, at the request of the Corporation Counsel or client agencies.
• Representing City-County agencies in Board or Commission meetings or similar settings.
• In conjunction with the Litigation section, providing advice to client agencies with regard to litigation strategy and settlement negotiations.
• Keeping apprised of relevant legal developments at the state and federal level.
• Performing other duties as assigned by the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, or the Corporation Counsel.

Skills Required

Strong independent judgment. Successful senior counseling attorneys must be willing to take individual responsibility for weighty matters that affect the lives and livelihoods of others. While support from other staff and department leadership is available, senior attorneys must have the confidence and good judgment to make decisions independently in a variety of settings.

In-depth knowledge of counseling practice. Senior attorneys, unlike more junior front-line attorneys, are expected to be proficient in all aspects of the counseling practice including advising, drafting, researching, as well as knowledge of the substantive ordinances, statutes, regulations, and laws pertaining to their clients.

Analytical ability and intellectual curiosity. This position faces a wide variety of legal issues and fact patterns. While Counseling attorneys are encouraged to develop areas of expertise over time, the position requires rapidly digesting new information, integrating it into an existing body of knowledge, and adeptly using legal research tools to acquire mastery of all the issues raised by each matter as it arises. Counseling attorneys will also be called upon to determine alternative legal and administrative approaches to solving problems.

Proficiency at legal writing and other written communication. Counseling attorneys must be particularly adept at working with and informally communicating with clients and other City-County leaders and staff. This position will also require more formal work product like preparation of contracts, leases, ordinances and resolutions, and formal advisory opinions.

Oral communications skills. This includes providing advice in meetings and conferences, communicating in a clear and concise manner, as well as explaining complex legal issues to non-lawyers. Counseling attorneys must be adept at improvising and thinking on the spot and be able to adapt their tone and messaging to the needs of different audiences in different settings.

Zealous advocacy. Many of the general legal matters handled by this position will be important, both operationally and financially. Position holders must keep in mind that their client is ultimately the public and must treat their work with the attention and seriousness that it deserves.

Time management skills. Counseling attorneys will be responsible for considerable caseloads. Success in the position requires efficiency, strong time management, and the ability to prioritize the most pressing or important tasks.

Ethics and professionalism. Holders of this position are public servants, and so are their clients. All attorneys at the Office of Corporation Counsel are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and responsible advocacy.

Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Valid license to practice law in Indiana.
• Proficiency in legal research tools, including Westlaw.
• At least three (3) years’ experience in the practice of law as a licensed attorney (may include a judicial clerkship), OR at least two (2) years’ experience as a Counseling attorney with the Office of Corporation Counsel.
• Subject-matter expertise or significant work experience in one or more areas of Counseling practice: contracts, real estate, employment, tax, land use, environmental law, public safety, legal drafting, and/or administrative and regulatory matters.

Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications

• Five (5) or more years’ experience as a practicing attorney in Indiana.
• Significant professional experience (as an attorney or non-attorney) in local government, law enforcement, or administrative procedure.
• Substantial experience working with and advising clients in a legal capacity.

Work is performed in a standard office environment. May occasionally travel to outside locations for meetings. May be required to attend off-hours meetings and work occasional late hours as necessary. Opportunities for scheduled remote work may be available at the discretion of the attorney’s supervisors.