ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY I

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, with minimum supervision, performs professional legal work advising city agencies, officials, and employees. The work is both litigation and transactional in nature, to include reviewing and drafting a myriad of legal documents and performing legal research and drafting. The work also includes litigation in both state and federal courts as well as administrative proceedings. Reports to the City Attorney.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Litigate cases in state and federal court involving a myriad of civil cases including but not limited to employment litigation, personal injury cases, and constitutional claims. Responsibilities may also include appellate practice. May provide direct litigation of cases on behalf of the city, including collection of delinquent taxes and accounts, enforcement of building and zoning codes, and condemnation proceedings; develop a thorough understanding of various city departments and programs, and their legal and administrative obligations; may manage cases being litigated by outside counsel, including cases in which representation is provided through the city’s liability insurance carrier. Advises city attorney, departments, senior staff, boards, commissions, and agencies on local, state, and federal laws and regulations; provides formal or informal opinions to various city departments or agencies; and prepares presentations for City Council meetings; represents city departments in court and before boards; drafts and reviews contracts; trains inspectors for trial presentations. Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs. Knowledge of Job Has thorough knowledge of Virginia law pertaining to the operations, authorities and responsibilities of municipal government. Has thorough knowledge of the principles and procedures of civil law, especially as related to municipal government. Has thorough knowledge of motions practice and discovery process. Has considerable knowledge of statutory provisions applying to rules or order. Has considerable knowledge of legal research and investigation methodology, judicial procedure, and rules of evidence. Has general knowledge of the current literature, trends and developments in the field of municipal law. Is skilled in legal writing. Is able to interpret and apply laws and court decisions, and to use legal source material in technical research. Is able to effectively express ideas orally and in writing. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments. Quality of Work Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all City departments and divisions, co-workers and the general public. Quantity of Work Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions." Dependability Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas. Attendance Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time–off requests. Initiative and Enthusiasm Maintains an enthusiastic, self‑reliant and self‑starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction. Judgment Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and research problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment. Cooperation Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons and departments within the city. Relationships with Others Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the public to maintain good will toward the city and project a good city image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons to maintain good will within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, city Attorney, professionals and the public. Coordination of Work Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time‑management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events. Safety and Housekeeping Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace. Planning Plans, directs and uses information effectively in order to enhance activities and production of the department. Knows and understands the expectations of the city regarding the activities of the city manager and works to see that these expectations are met. Designs and formulates ways, means and timing to achieve the goals and objectives of the City Council. Within the constraints of city policy, formulates the appropriate strategy and tactics for achieving city objectives. Organizing Organizes work and that of subordinate staff well. Ensures that staff members know what results are expected of them and that they are regularly and appropriately informed of all city and department matters affecting them and/or of concern to them. Leading: Provides Leading Provides a work environment which encourages clear and open communications. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of the principles of effective leadership and how such principles are to be applied. Provides adequate feedback to staff so that they know whether their performance levels are satisfactory. Commends and rewards employees for outstanding performance yet does not hesitate to take disciplinary action when necessary. Exercises enthusiasm in influencing and guiding others toward the achievement of department goals and objectives. Controlling Provides a work environment which is orderly and controlled. Coordinates, audits and controls manpower and financial resources efficiently and effectively. Coordinates, audits and controls the utilization of materials and equipment efficiently and effectively. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of city standards, methods and procedures. Delegating Assigns additional duties to staff as necessary and/or appropriate in order to meet department goals, enhance staff abilities, build confidence on the job and assist staff members in personal growth. Has confidence in staff to meet new or additional expectations. Decision Making Uses discretion and judgment in developing and implementing courses of action affecting the department. When a particular policy, procedure or strategy does not appear to be achieving the desired result, moves decisively and definitively to develop and implement alternatives. Creativity Regularly seeks new and improved methodologies, policies and procedures for enhancing the effectiveness of the department. Employs imagination and creativity in the application of duties and responsibilities. Is not averse to change. Human Relations Strives to develop and maintain good rapport with all staff members. Listens to and considers suggestions and complaints and responds appropriately. Maintains the respect and loyalty of staff. Policy Implementation Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of city policies regarding the department and city function. Adheres to those policies in the discharge of duties and responsibilities and ensures the same from subordinate staff. Policy Formulation Keeps abreast of changes in operating philosophies and policies of the city and continually reviews division policies in order to ensure that any changes in city philosophy or practice are appropriately incorporated. Also understands the relationship between operating policies and practices and department morale and performance. Works to see that established policies enhance the same.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Requires a Juris Doctorate degree with 2 to 3 years of litigation experience, with experience drafting and responding to discovery and motions practice. Interest and willingness to handle all types of litigation ranging from code enforcement to administrative hearings. Handle cases in all courts in the City of Portsmouth.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check. A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record. Licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia or has completed the information necessary to obtain reciprocity. Eligible for membership in the Virginia Bar Association. Physical Requirements Must be physically able to operate tools such as pens, pencils, telephone and standard office equipment. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force to move objects. The job is rated for sedentary work. Data Conception Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things. Interpersonal Communication Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors. Language Ability Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, letters and memos, contracts, deeds, ordinances, medical charts, laboratory records, accident reports, legal briefs, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, pleadings, legal briefs, opinions, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence. Intelligence Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems; to deal with nonverbal symbolism in its most difficult phases; to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables; to comprehend the most abstruse classes of concepts. Verbal Aptitude Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal, engineering, medical and tax terminology. Numerical Aptitude Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and interpret graphs. Form/Spatial Aptitude Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape. Motor Coordination Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment. Manual Dexterity Requires the ability to handle items such as office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Color Discrimination Does require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. Interpersonal Temperament Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress. Physical Communication Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via a telephone. The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations. This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification. FLSA Status: Exempt EEO Cat: 2 #J-18808-Ljbffr City-of-Portsmouth,-Nh