Assistant Attorney

The purpose of this classification is to provide legal services for the City of East Point and its management staff and to protect and defend the City from possible litigation, to include interpretation of laws and regulations, provision of legal advice, preparation and review of legal documentation, management of legal matters and litigation, and other legal support as required.

• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals as directed by the City Attorney.
• Coordinates daily work activities: organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; confers with assigned staff, assists with complex/problem situations, and provides technical expertise.
• Interprets, explains, applies, and ensures compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Consults with City Attorney, City Administrator, Deputy City Administrator, Mayor, City Council, department managers, outside counsel, and other officials to review operations/activities, review/resolve problems, receive advice/direction, and provide recommendations.
• Conducts legal research to identify current law and changes in law, to locate case authorities or other law, to identify precedents, or to locate other information: conducts research using law books, electronic data sources, Internet sites, hardcopy materials, or other sources.
• Provides legal opinions, counsel, and advice on various matters to City Administration, Mayor, City Council, City Attorney, department managers, division heads, boards, committees, employees, or other City representatives in their official capacities.
• Drafts, reviews, and/or prepares a variety of legal documentation: drafts ordinances, resolutions, and amendments to effect directives and orders of City Council; researches and recommends modifications to City ordinances based on new laws and case holdings; drafts legislative updates regarding newly enacted state laws and opinions; reviews, interprets, and approves all City contracts; negotiates contracts, franchises, and agreements with business and governmental entities;
  
  drafts and files real property deeds, easements, and other real estate documentation; calls bonds and represents the City in actions against contractors and subcontractors involving City construction projects.
• Represents the City of East Point and its officials, boards, and committees in all aspects of litigation in state/federal courts and with administrative agencies. Oversees litigation cases involving the City of East Point: investigates merits of and possibility of success for potential claims or actions against the City, its officials, and/or its employees; determines legal strategies to obtain favorable resolution of cases;
  
  proposes and considers settlements; drafts legal documentation and represents the City in court; monitors status of cases and provides status reports to City management.
• Reviews and responds to citizen complaints, Open Records Act requests, and other communications from the public.
• Assists in directing operations and activities of the Legal Division: provides direction and supervision to legal staff; makes budgetary recommendations; assists in monitoring division expenditures to ensure compliance with approved budget.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, performance evaluations, legal opinions, annual reports, open record request responses, ordinances, policies, amendments, resolutions, code amendments, contracts, agreements, litigation documents, pleadings, legal advertisements, legal documents, or other documents as directed by the City Attorney.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, job applications, invoices, budget reports, alcoholic beverage license applications, open records requests, draft correspondence, contracts, agreements, deeds, meeting minutes, official records, insurance forms, zoning maps, newspaper advertisements/notices, newsletters, legislative updates, laws, regulations, ordinances, policies, procedures, periodicals, journals, legal books, manuals, directories, research materials, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Operates a personal computer, general office equipment, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, legal research, e-mail, Internet, or other computer programs.
• Communicates with City Attorney, City Administration, Mayor, City Council, City officials, other departments, employees, attorneys, outside counsel, judges, court personnel, vendors, developers, contractors, state/federal agencies, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work…