Assistant City Attorney I
Apply NowCompany: City of Gaithersburg, MD
Location: Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Description:
Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Gaithersburg, MD
Job Type: Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: FY2025-00927
Department: Office of the City Attorney
Division: Legal Services (1111)
Opening Date: 07/11/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
Description
The City of Gaithersburg is accepting applications for an Assistant City Attorney I in the The Assistant City Attorney I performs highly responsible administrative and professional work acting in concert with the City Attorney and other Office of the City Attorney staff as a legal advisor and counselor for the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and other administrative officials and staff on all matters relating to their official duties.
The Assistant City Attorney I performs a full range of legal work as an assistant legal advisor for the City in accordance with the highest standards and practices of the legal profession, with an emphasis on preparing and reviewing legal documents, including but not limited to, contracts, amendments, licenses, easements, and memorandums of understanding. The ideal candidate should be able to exercise considerable independent expertise and judgment as a legal authority, handle highly confidential and sensitive information, and utilize best practices regarding customer service and public relations techniques in responding to inquiries, complaints, and requests.
Starting salary for this position is negotiable within the target hiring range ($100,000 to $110,000) and will be offered at a level consistent with the relevant experience and qualifications of the candidate. We provide comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, long-term care, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, health and wellness programs, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, training and professional growth opportunities, and excellent work/life balance.
Job Functions
What you will do with us:
Key responsibilities are highlighted above; please to view the complete classification description for the Assistant City Attorney I position. The classification description indicates the full salary range established for a position in Grade 116 in the City's FY 2025 Schedule of Salary Ranges.
Qualifications
What you will need to be considered:
Additional Information
Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:
Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is strongly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are received or all hiring decisions have been made.
Established business hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a full-time salaried position requiring a minimum of 40 hours in a standard workweek; candidate will be expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position, including working and attending meetings outside of established business hours. The position can accommodate some remote work (at the discretion of the City Attorney). Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.
The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.
For more information about the position, please contact Deputy City Attorney Frank Johnson at or [redacted]. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at or [redacted].
This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.
The City of Gaithersburg offers its full-time employees a broad range of benefits to enhance their personal and professional lives. Employees are eligible on their first day of employment (unless otherwise specified). We provide employees with competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and an environment that supports a healthy work/life balance.
HEALTH BENEFITS
(pdf)
01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and may be used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information ("see resume" is not acceptable) may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and certify that your responses can be verified from information included within your application?
02
Tell us how your professional and personal background qualifies you to be a strong candidate for this position given your knowledge of the City of Gaithersburg and your assessment of its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. (Do not exceed 300 words.)
03
Describe your career goals for the next five years; specifically include areas for professional growth that you would like to focus on during that time. (Do not exceed 300 words.)
04
This position requires representation of parties in administrative hearings and appeals of administrative hearings to Circuit Court. Describe your experience in handling administrative hearings and litigation. (Do not exceed 300 words.)
05
Collaboration and development of strong working relationships both internally and externally are important components of this position. Describe a situation where you have worked with diverse or competing groups to develop and implement a program or resolve an issue. (Do not exceed 300 words.)
06
How did you first learn about this employment opportunity?
Required Question
Location : Gaithersburg, MD
Job Type: Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: FY2025-00927
Department: Office of the City Attorney
Division: Legal Services (1111)
Opening Date: 07/11/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt
Description
The City of Gaithersburg is accepting applications for an Assistant City Attorney I in the The Assistant City Attorney I performs highly responsible administrative and professional work acting in concert with the City Attorney and other Office of the City Attorney staff as a legal advisor and counselor for the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and other administrative officials and staff on all matters relating to their official duties.
The Assistant City Attorney I performs a full range of legal work as an assistant legal advisor for the City in accordance with the highest standards and practices of the legal profession, with an emphasis on preparing and reviewing legal documents, including but not limited to, contracts, amendments, licenses, easements, and memorandums of understanding. The ideal candidate should be able to exercise considerable independent expertise and judgment as a legal authority, handle highly confidential and sensitive information, and utilize best practices regarding customer service and public relations techniques in responding to inquiries, complaints, and requests.
Starting salary for this position is negotiable within the target hiring range ($100,000 to $110,000) and will be offered at a level consistent with the relevant experience and qualifications of the candidate. We provide comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, long-term care, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, health and wellness programs, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, training and professional growth opportunities, and excellent work/life balance.
Job Functions
What you will do with us:
- Represent the City in municipal infraction cases and administrative hearings and appeals.
- Attend meetings of and provide legal advice to City boards, committees, and commissions.
- Advise the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and all City departments in reference to legal questions.
- Render oral and written legal opinions and provide legal advice on a variety of issues.
- Prepare, review, revise and approve legal documents including court papers, ordinances, resolutions, policies, contracts, leases, deeds, easements, franchise agreements, memorandums of understanding, licenses, and other legal instruments and documents.
- Review the legality and/or sufficiency of contracts, bonds, bids, leases, insurance, and claims.
- Organize, interpret, and apply legal principles and knowledge to complex legal problems.
- Assist in the development, implementation, and enforcement of City and department policies, procedures, regulations, programs, and initiatives.
- Analyze legislation including proposed state and federal legislation affecting the City.
- Receive and respond to public inquiries related to municipal legal matters.
- Assume the duties of the City Attorney or Deputy City Attorney in their absence.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Key responsibilities are highlighted above; please to view the complete classification description for the Assistant City Attorney I position. The classification description indicates the full salary range established for a position in Grade 116 in the City's FY 2025 Schedule of Salary Ranges.
Qualifications
What you will need to be considered:
- Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor Degree.
- Possession of a Maryland State license as a practicing attorney.
- Admission to the Maryland Bar.
- Minimum of one year of professional experience as an attorney (at least three years of experience preferred); experience pertaining to the public sector and governmental law also preferred.
- Possession of a United States District Court for the District of Maryland license preferred.
- Valid driver's license.
- Thorough knowledge of statutory, constitutional, and common law of the State of Maryland, especially as these apply to City government.
- Thorough knowledge of local legislation pertaining to the City, and administrative law including governmental regulations in their enforcement.
- Skill in clear, concise, and effective verbal and written communication.
- Ability to organize, interpret, and apply legal principles and knowledge in order to solve complex legal issues, develop litigation strategies, prepare/draft any necessary legal instruments, and provide legal advice, counsel, or representation as needed.
- Ability to efficiently and effectively manage a variety of projects/issues simultaneously and to adapt to changing needs and priorities.
- Or any acceptable combination of education, training, and/or experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Additional Information
Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:
- A complete online application
- Concise responses to the supplemental questions (included as part of the application)
- Letter of interest (attached to the online application)
- Current Resume (attached to the online application)
Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is strongly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are received or all hiring decisions have been made.
Established business hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is a full-time salaried position requiring a minimum of 40 hours in a standard workweek; candidate will be expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position, including working and attending meetings outside of established business hours. The position can accommodate some remote work (at the discretion of the City Attorney). Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.
The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.
For more information about the position, please contact Deputy City Attorney Frank Johnson at or [redacted]. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at or [redacted].
This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.
The City of Gaithersburg offers its full-time employees a broad range of benefits to enhance their personal and professional lives. Employees are eligible on their first day of employment (unless otherwise specified). We provide employees with competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and an environment that supports a healthy work/life balance.
HEALTH BENEFITS
- Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage - employer pays 85% of premium in each tier
- Multi-tiered coverage options (single, single + spouse, single + child, single + children, family)
- Retirement Health Savings contribution (for non-participants in medical or dental plans)
- CIGNA HealthCare Open Access Plan
- Prescription Drug Plan
- Wellness Initiatives
- Sun Life Indemnity Plan
- Use a dentist of choice or participating dentist for increased savings
- Basic or Enhanced Plans offered
- National Vision Administrators
- Use a provider of choice or participating provider for increased savings
- Eligible for immediate enrollment in all plans upon hire
- 401A - Employer contribution equivalent to 8% of employee's annual base salary; fully vested after 5 years
- 401K - Employer 3% matching contribution on the first 5% of employee's annual base salary contributed by the employee; fully vested after 5 years
- 401A Supplemental - Additional 5% employer contribution to eligible employees in the Public Works and Police Departments who have physically demanding jobs on a consistent basis; fully vested after 10 years
- 457-deferred compensation plan and Roth IRA (employee contributions only)
- Vacation (12 - 24 days accrued annually; accrual rate based on years of service)
- Sick Leave (13 days accrued annually; unlimited accrual)
- Personal Leave (28 hours granted annually)
- Holidays (11 holidays observed each year)
- Long-Term Care Insurance (employer paid for base plan coverage); buy-up and spouse coverage available (employee paid)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans
- Employer paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
- Long-Term Disability & Workers' Compensation Insurance
- Multilingual Stipend ($2,080 per year for eligible employees, paid biweekly)
- Housing Stipend (Up to $3,600 per year for eligible employees)
- Tuition Assistance (Up to $5,250 per year eligible after 1 year of service)
- Healthy Lifestyle Incentives
- Employee Assistance Program
- First-Time Homebuyer Assistance
- Ongoing Training/Personal Development Programs
- Credit Union
- Recreation & Leisure Opportunities & Discounts
- Direct Deposit (required)
(pdf)
01
Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and may be used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information ("see resume" is not acceptable) may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and certify that your responses can be verified from information included within your application?
- Yes
- No
02
Tell us how your professional and personal background qualifies you to be a strong candidate for this position given your knowledge of the City of Gaithersburg and your assessment of its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. (Do not exceed 300 words.)
03
Describe your career goals for the next five years; specifically include areas for professional growth that you would like to focus on during that time. (Do not exceed 300 words.)
04
This position requires representation of parties in administrative hearings and appeals of administrative hearings to Circuit Court. Describe your experience in handling administrative hearings and litigation. (Do not exceed 300 words.)
05
Collaboration and development of strong working relationships both internally and externally are important components of this position. Describe a situation where you have worked with diverse or competing groups to develop and implement a program or resolve an issue. (Do not exceed 300 words.)
06
How did you first learn about this employment opportunity?
- City of Gaithersburg Website
- Job Interest Card Notification
- Indeed
- Daily Record
- GovernmentJobs.com
- Other Website
- Social Media
- Friend or Relative
- I am currently a City employee
- Other
Required Question