Assistant Attorney II

SALARY:
Negotiable depending on qualifications and experience

Is responsible for assisting and providing oral and written legal advice, recommendations, and opinions to Department Directors, City staff, and committees on matters affecting City operations. Shall be responsible for drafting and reviewing contracts, real estate documents, resolutions, ordinances, and other written documents involving the City; performs legal research and preparing legal opinions, advises City officials and may represent the City in administrative proceedings.

Advises City Departments in reference to legal questions which include duties in representing the City before various local and state departments and other governmental subdivisions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Collaborates with City staff and community stakeholders to engage in proactive problem solving for neighborhood quality of life issues.

• Represents the City in administrative hearings.

• Performs a variety of professional legal work involving real estate, land use, eminent domain, labor and employment, civil service, health care, business transactions, regulatory compliance, and/or municipal law.
• Provides legal advice to City officials, departments, boards, commissions, and management personnel regarding contracts, leases, settlement negotiations, litigation cases, and/or other legal matters.
• Makes professional presentations before staff, boards and commissions, and the City Council, trains city employees in legal matters.
• Serves as a representative of the City Attorney's Office; attends and participates in City Council, board, and commission meetings; provides legal support and makes recommendations regarding City projects.
• Performs legal research and monitors case law, administrative regulations, Federal, State, and local statutes.
• Drafts resolutions, ordinances, policies, procedures, contracts, and real estate documents; prepares litigation documents including briefs, pleadings, and discovery responses and requests.
• Liaises and confers with outside legal counsel and/or other external parties regarding legal transactions or other activities involving the City.
• Represents the City in civil and criminal matters before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies, state and federal agencies, mediators, and arbitrators, including acting as a prosecutor in municipal court.
• Drafts and negotiates purchasing contracts on behalf of all City departments.
• Interacts with citizens and other governmental entities regarding various legal issues and matters.
• Prepares and maintains legal correspondence, memoranda, staff/litigation reports, and other types of departmental documentation.

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of substantive laws applicable to Texas local governments.
• Knowledge of the City of Laredo Charter, Code, and administrative policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of relevant court procedures and rules of evidence.

Skill and Abilities:

• Skills in effective law office organization.
• Ability to communicate and present analysis and information both orally and in writing in a clear and effective manner.
• Ability to conduct thorough and accurate legal and factual research relevant to the job assignment.
• Ability to analyze and problem solve timely on legal issues relevant to the job assignment.
  Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, schedule…