Assistant City Attorney
Apply NowCompany: City of Gulfport
Location: Gulfport, MS 39503
Description:
Assistant City Attorney
Department: Legal
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary: $75,126.23 - 91,507.72
Position Overview
Under supervision of the City Attorney and with general direction, this
position of the Assistant City Attorney performs a variety of legal duties
supporting the City Attorney's office (Legal Department), including
drafting resolutions, ordinances, contracts, leases, permits, agreements,
deeds, easements, and other legal documents and instruments as well as
and documents related to legal proceedings and actions; participating in
civil litigation activities, hearings, and trials as well as alternative dispute
and administrative proceedings on behalf of the City and its officials /
employees; and rendering legal opinions and providing advice regarding
legal issues and matters to the City.
Essential Job Functions
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may
include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
Receive and review claims and lawsuits filed against the City,
conduct investigations into the merits of these, and assist the City in
its defense.
Prepare and draft a variety of correspondence, including letters, e-
mails, and memos, and documents associated with litigation,
administrative proceedings, contracts, leases, agreements, deeds,
conveyances, and other matters.
Prepare resolutions, ordinances, and policies.
Participate in court appearances and litigation matters, including
hearings, arbitration proceedings, depositions, and trials.
Attend public meetings; provide legal support and advice to City
officials.
Conduct legal research, provide legal advice and written and
verbal opinions on a variety of legal issues and matters.
Provide written and oral legal opinions as requested by the City
Attorney.
Provide legal advice and handle requests under the Public
Information Act.
Conduct legal research and fact finding including the use of
Assistant City Attorney computer databases and electronic searches for research of cases,
statutes, regulations, and other legal authorities.
Conduct and handle litigation in his/her role as Assistant City
Attorney, to include the pursuit and defense of claims as directed
by the City Attorney at various different levels, including trials,
appeals, and hearings, and conduct pre-trial discovery and
investigations in connection with such litigation as well as submission
of motions, briefs, and other documents to courts and other bodies
relating to requests for relief and communications with court
personnel other attorneys related to such litigation and
proceedings.
Attend meetings, internal hearings, and administrative proceedings
as needed or directed.
Perform other duties related to the judicial system or as otherwise
directed or required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain
and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential
functions of the job can be performed.
Considerable knowledge of municipal, state and federal laws, rules
and regulations.
Thorough knowledge of judicial procedure, rules of civil procedure,
rules of evidence, court rules, and applicable rules of professional
conduct.
Considerable knowledge of specialized or substantive areas of law
relevant to municipal practice, including, without limitation, general
tort law, federal and state civil rights, administrative law,
employment law, and environmental law.
Knowledge of statutes and codes applicable to civil proceedings
and to municipal corporations and municipal officials and
employees in Mississippi.
Knowledge and skill in developing related reports and documents.
Skill in researching and analyzing facts, legal problems and
strategizing with the City Attorney and staff.
Ability to draft, negotiate and interpret contracts, leases, deeds,
conveyances, agreements, and other legal instruments.
Ability to research and interpret municipal, state, and federal laws,
rules and regulations.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in
writing; ability to apply and argue legal authorities in support of
positions.
Ability to maintain effective relationships with other attorneys and
Ability to read and understand legal documents, technical
materials, reports and journals.
Ability to effectively communicate with City officials, attorneys,
citizens, and employees in order to provide information related to
legal issues, sometimes under stressful circumstances.
Ability to effectively, tactfully, and professionally discuss issues and
complaints with the public.
Ability to prepare and prosecute and defend civil cases.
Ability to use multiple pieces of office equipment including:
personal computer, fax, etc.
Ability to work under deadlines and within regulations and
schedules.
Considerable knowledge of city, state, and federal rules, policies,
ordinances, and laws.
Ability to write clearly and utilize legal terminology. Ability to
communicate ideas and concepts, both orally and in writing, to the
court, to other city personnel, the public, and city administrators.
Proficiency in the use of modern computer equipment and
programs, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office, as well as
the ability to use multiple pieces of office equipment including
personal computer, copier, scanner, fax, etc.
Ability to utilize computer based legal research tools.
Ability to work under deadlines and within regulations and
schedules.
Proficiency in the use of internal database programs associated
with the Office of City Attorney.
Education and Experience
Must hold a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. Must
be a member in good standing of the Mississippi Bar. Minimum of three to
five years of increasingly responsible experience as a practicing Attorney,
with experience in civil litigation, and experience in cases before state
and federal courts in Mississippi. Preferably, experience of greater than
ten (10) years in assigned or described areas.
Licenses or Certificates
Proof of a current license to practice law in the State of Mississippi, having
been admitted to practice before the County and Circuit Courts of
Harrison County and the Mississippi Supreme Court/Court of Appeals.
Must possess a valid Mississippi driver's license.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
The physical demands described here are representative of those that
must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential
functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 20 pounds;
visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and
manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic
office equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting
and kneeling to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are
primarily inside an office environment.
Department: Legal
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary: $75,126.23 - 91,507.72
Position Overview
Under supervision of the City Attorney and with general direction, this
position of the Assistant City Attorney performs a variety of legal duties
supporting the City Attorney's office (Legal Department), including
drafting resolutions, ordinances, contracts, leases, permits, agreements,
deeds, easements, and other legal documents and instruments as well as
and documents related to legal proceedings and actions; participating in
civil litigation activities, hearings, and trials as well as alternative dispute
and administrative proceedings on behalf of the City and its officials /
employees; and rendering legal opinions and providing advice regarding
legal issues and matters to the City.
Essential Job Functions
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may
include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
Receive and review claims and lawsuits filed against the City,
conduct investigations into the merits of these, and assist the City in
its defense.
Prepare and draft a variety of correspondence, including letters, e-
mails, and memos, and documents associated with litigation,
administrative proceedings, contracts, leases, agreements, deeds,
conveyances, and other matters.
Prepare resolutions, ordinances, and policies.
Participate in court appearances and litigation matters, including
hearings, arbitration proceedings, depositions, and trials.
Attend public meetings; provide legal support and advice to City
officials.
Conduct legal research, provide legal advice and written and
verbal opinions on a variety of legal issues and matters.
Provide written and oral legal opinions as requested by the City
Attorney.
Provide legal advice and handle requests under the Public
Information Act.
Conduct legal research and fact finding including the use of
Assistant City Attorney computer databases and electronic searches for research of cases,
statutes, regulations, and other legal authorities.
Conduct and handle litigation in his/her role as Assistant City
Attorney, to include the pursuit and defense of claims as directed
by the City Attorney at various different levels, including trials,
appeals, and hearings, and conduct pre-trial discovery and
investigations in connection with such litigation as well as submission
of motions, briefs, and other documents to courts and other bodies
relating to requests for relief and communications with court
personnel other attorneys related to such litigation and
proceedings.
Attend meetings, internal hearings, and administrative proceedings
as needed or directed.
Perform other duties related to the judicial system or as otherwise
directed or required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain
and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential
functions of the job can be performed.
Considerable knowledge of municipal, state and federal laws, rules
and regulations.
Thorough knowledge of judicial procedure, rules of civil procedure,
rules of evidence, court rules, and applicable rules of professional
conduct.
Considerable knowledge of specialized or substantive areas of law
relevant to municipal practice, including, without limitation, general
tort law, federal and state civil rights, administrative law,
employment law, and environmental law.
Knowledge of statutes and codes applicable to civil proceedings
and to municipal corporations and municipal officials and
employees in Mississippi.
Knowledge and skill in developing related reports and documents.
Skill in researching and analyzing facts, legal problems and
strategizing with the City Attorney and staff.
Ability to draft, negotiate and interpret contracts, leases, deeds,
conveyances, agreements, and other legal instruments.
Ability to research and interpret municipal, state, and federal laws,
rules and regulations.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in
writing; ability to apply and argue legal authorities in support of
positions.
Ability to maintain effective relationships with other attorneys and
Ability to read and understand legal documents, technical
materials, reports and journals.
Ability to effectively communicate with City officials, attorneys,
citizens, and employees in order to provide information related to
legal issues, sometimes under stressful circumstances.
Ability to effectively, tactfully, and professionally discuss issues and
complaints with the public.
Ability to prepare and prosecute and defend civil cases.
Ability to use multiple pieces of office equipment including:
personal computer, fax, etc.
Ability to work under deadlines and within regulations and
schedules.
Considerable knowledge of city, state, and federal rules, policies,
ordinances, and laws.
Ability to write clearly and utilize legal terminology. Ability to
communicate ideas and concepts, both orally and in writing, to the
court, to other city personnel, the public, and city administrators.
Proficiency in the use of modern computer equipment and
programs, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office, as well as
the ability to use multiple pieces of office equipment including
personal computer, copier, scanner, fax, etc.
Ability to utilize computer based legal research tools.
Ability to work under deadlines and within regulations and
schedules.
Proficiency in the use of internal database programs associated
with the Office of City Attorney.
Education and Experience
Must hold a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. Must
be a member in good standing of the Mississippi Bar. Minimum of three to
five years of increasingly responsible experience as a practicing Attorney,
with experience in civil litigation, and experience in cases before state
and federal courts in Mississippi. Preferably, experience of greater than
ten (10) years in assigned or described areas.
Licenses or Certificates
Proof of a current license to practice law in the State of Mississippi, having
been admitted to practice before the County and Circuit Courts of
Harrison County and the Mississippi Supreme Court/Court of Appeals.
Must possess a valid Mississippi driver's license.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
The physical demands described here are representative of those that
must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential
functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 20 pounds;
visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and
manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic
office equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting
and kneeling to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are
primarily inside an office environment.