CITY ATTORNEY

Position Summary

The City Attorney serves as the Chief Legal Officer for the City of South Fulton and provides independent, objective, and strategic legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, elected and appointed officials, boards, commissions, and City departments.

The City Attorney is responsible for directing all legal affairs of the City, protecting the City's legal interests, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws, and promoting ethical, transparent, and accountable municipal government.

Consistent with the City Charter and applicable law, the City Attorney exercises independent legal judgment and maintains professional independence in providing legal advice. Although the City Attorney works collaboratively with the City Manager regarding the administration of legal services and operational matters, the City Attorney's client is the City of South Fulton as a municipal corporation, and legal advice shall be based solely upon applicable law, professional ethics, and the best legal interests of the City.

The City Attorney plans, directs, supervises, and evaluates all legal services provided by the City, including litigation management, contract review, legislative drafting, risk management, outside counsel, and legal compliance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The duties listed below are representative of the essential functions of this position and are not intended to be all-inclusive.

Executive Legal Leadership

• Serve as the City's Chief Legal Officer.
• Provide legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, departments, boards, commissions, and authorities.
• Ensure the Office of the City Attorney maintains professional independence in all legal matters.
• Provide objective legal advice without improper influence from elected officials, City administration, employees, contractors, or outside interests.
• Participate in strategic initiatives that support the City's mission and long-term goals.

Governance and Legislative Support

• Attend all regular, special, work session, executive session, and called meetings of the Mayor and City Council.
• Draft and review ordinances, resolutions, policies, contracts, intergovernmental agreements, leases, easements, development agreements, procurement documents, and legislative actions.
• Interpret and advise regarding the City Charter, Code of Ordinances, Georgia Constitution, state statutes, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions.
• Advise City leadership on governance, parliamentary procedures, ethics, and legal risk.

Litigation and Risk Management

• Direct all litigation, administrative proceedings, claims, appeals, investigations, and legal disputes involving the City.
• Develop litigation strategy in consultation with City leadership.
• Select, retain, supervise, and evaluate outside legal counsel.
• Monitor legal expenditures and outside counsel performance.
• Implement strategies to reduce legal exposure and mitigate organizational risk.

Compliance and Regulatory Oversight

Provide legal guidance regarding:

• Georgia Open Meetings Act
• Georgia Open Records Act
• Ethics laws
• Procurement regulations
• Employment and labor law
• Personnel policies
• Public safety operations
• Land use and zoning
• Code enforcement
• Elections
• Economic development
• Municipal finance
• Constitutional law
• Federal and state regulatory compliance

Contracts and Transactions

• Review and approve contracts prior to execution.
• Negotiate complex legal agreements.
• Support bond financing, redevelopment initiatives, grants, public-private partnerships, and major capital projects.
• Develop standardized legal templates and contract documents.

Leadership and Administration

• Lead and manage the City's Legal Department.
• Develop departmental goals, objectives, and performance measures.
• Prepare and administer the departmental operating budget.
• Supervise legal staff and outside legal consultants.
• Implement legal technology, records management, and document retention systems.
• Foster a culture of ethics, collaboration, accountability, and customer service.

Training and Advisory Services

• Conduct legal and ethics training for elected officials, appointed officials, department directors, supervisors, and employees.
• Promote organizational understanding of legal responsibilities and compliance requirements.
• Prepare periodic reports regarding litigation, legal risk, compliance initiatives, and departmental activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.
• Active member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible legal experience.
• At least five (5) years representing a municipality, county, or other governmental entity.
• Minimum of three (3) years of executive or supervisory leadership experience managing attorneys or legal professionals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience serving as a City Attorney, County Attorney, Deputy City Attorney, or Assistant City Attorney.
• Experience advising elected officials.
• Extensive knowledge of Georgia municipal law.
• Experience with municipal finance, procurement, labor and employment law, redevelopment, utilities, zoning, and complex litigation.
• Demonstrated success providing legal counsel in politically sensitive environments while maintaining professional independence and sound legal judgment.
• Membership in the Georgia Municipal Association or the International Municipal Lawyers Association is desirable.

Core Competencies

• Executive Leadership
• Municipal Governance
• Strategic Thinking
• Legal Analysis
• Political Acumen
• Ethical Decision-Making
• Risk Assessment
• Contract Negotiation
• Conflict Resolution
• Public Policy
• Relationship Management
• Communication and Presentation Skills
• Collaboration and Influence
• Sound Judgment
• Confidentiality and Professional Integrity

Performance Expectations

The City Attorney is expected to:

• Provide timely and practical legal advice to City leadership.
• Maintain a comprehensive litigation management system and outside counsel performance metrics.
• Deliver prompt contract review within established service standards.
• Reduce organizational legal risk through proactive legal guidance.
• Maintain full compliance with all applicable legal and ethical requirements.
• Develop an annual Legal Department Strategic Work Plan.
• Prepare an Annual Legal Services Report for the Mayor and City Council.
• Establish measurable departmental goals aligned with the City's Strategic Plan.
• Promote excellence, responsiveness, and accountability in the delivery of legal services.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in an office environment with frequent attendance at evening meetings, public hearings, executive sessions, court proceedings, and community events. Occasional travel is required for court appearances, professional development, conferences, and governmental meetings.

Disclaimer

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications required. Management reserves the right to modify, assign, or remove duties and responsibilities as organizational needs evolve. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.