Job Title: Senior Deputy City Attorney

SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Chief Assistant City Attorney or Assistant City Attorney, performs a wide variety of senior professional and legal duties in providing services for City departments, City Council, and various boards and commissions; conducts legal research and prepares opinions, memoranda, contracts, ordinances, and other legal documents; and advises City departments, boards, and commissions.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Senior Deputy City Attorney is the advanced journey level in the Deputy City Attorney class series. Positions at this level are distinguished from other classes within the series by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, independence of action taken, by the amount of time spent performing the duties, and by the nature of the public contact made. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series, including providing technical and functional supervision over assigned personnel. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned areas of responsibility.

• Perform complex legal research and prepare opinions on various legal problems for the City Council, boards and commissions, and City departments; as assigned, may serve as principal legal staff to a City board or commission.
• Provide legal support on highly complex matters involving planning, redevelopment/economic development, financing/service mechanisms and community service districts, environmental utilities, and refuse issues such as rate-setting and taxing, joint power authorities and land acquisition/eminent domain.
• Consults with and provides legal advice to City officials and staff on legal questions pertaining to their respective powers, duties, functions, and obligations in various departments of the City.
• Reviews staff reports and advises staff on complex and controversial legal matters.
• Prepares, drafts, and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases, conveyances and other legal documents and instruments.
• Researches, interprets and applies laws, court decisions, statutes, ordinances and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of legal opinions and briefs.
• Interprets and furnishes information regarding City ordinances, Charter provisions, and State codes.
• Answers complaints; prepares cases for administrative hearings and represents the City in such hearings by studying evidence, interviewing witnesses, and presenting cases in court and in administrative hearings.