Description

Summary:  

This position is part of the City Attorney’s Office and responsible for providing comprehensive legal services and representation to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and City Departments, specifically on matters involving litigation against the City. The position will be physically located at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center. The job title and classification will ultimately be determined by the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate.

Major Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Serve as legal counsel to the Finance Department, Risk Division.
• Provide advice and counsel to management and Finance/Risk professionals in all departments on all aspects of day-to-day employment-related matters, including but not limited to hiring and termination, discrimination, retaliation, compensation, benefits, leaves of absence, and employee investigations.
• Collaborate with the litigation team of attorneys and work closely with the litigation supervising attorney.
• Litigate, monitor, and manage pending moderate to complex litigation throughout the City to occasionally include cases assigned to outside counsel.
• Represent the City in pending litigation, administrative board hearings and appeals in federal and state courts.
• Prepare pleadings, statements, memoranda, briefs; draft and negotiate settlements and other legal documents; efficiently and effectively manage discovery, including depositions.
• Appear and zealously defend the City in court as required, including at hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and trials.
• Conduct direct settlement negotiations with opposing attorneys.
• Stay abreast of all relevant law, document management tools, and litigation and trial-related technology.
• Partner as needed with other attorneys in hearings, trial preparation and during trial.
• Identify and research issues within the complex operational, business, policy, and legal framework of the City.
• Actively analyze matters, provide accurate, timely and sound legal advice and opinions, verbally and in writing, to other attorneys and City staff.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws specific to municipalities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of constitutional, federal, state, and local laws affecting municipal government employers.
• Comfortable interfacing with and providing counsel to City executives and Finance/Risk professionals.
• Ability to prepare and litigate cases and possess prior litigation experience with federal and state courts.
• Knowledge of local rules, civil procedures, and rules of evidence.
• Ability to master new material quickly, manage diverse legal portfolio and handle fast-paced environment.
• Experience litigating before administrative and quasi-judicial boards and commissions.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others; analyze issues from a legal, policy, and practical perspective; and provide clear advice and counsel.
• Ability to think creatively, work independently and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to prepare and try moderately complex civil cases.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, colleagues, the public, elected and appointed officials, and stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent problem-solving, research and writing skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships across all levels of the organization.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school and current license to practice law in North Carolina.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience as a practicing attorney for Assistant City Attorney II.