SENIOR DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under direction, provides legal counsel for the City on a wide variety of legal matters requiring significant and broad expertise; conducts legal research and prepares a variety of legal documents; may function as project lead on selected legal projects; assists more experienced City attorneys on larger projects or as needed; and advises City Departments, City Council, and City Boards and Commissions on legal matters. In comparison to the Deputy City Attorney, this level is assigned more difficult and complex legal work and is expected to work with greater independence.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Serves as the representative for the City Attorney’s Office with the Planning Commission and Planning Department regarding legal actions; attends meetings and provides legal advice during meetings; researches and prepares proposed ordinances, resolutions, and other legislation.
• Advises City Departments, City Council, and City Boards and Commissions on a variety of legal matters including the legal implications of any action, inaction, or decision.
• Represents the City in assigned litigation cases; handles all aspects of assigned cases/claims including discovery, motion, and trial practices.
• Investigates claims by or against the City and recommends action to be taken; assists in or prepares cases for hearings; represents the municipality in hearings; prepares cases for trial; tries cases in court as necessary.
• Prepares, reviews, and examines contracts, agreements, briefs, bid protests, dispute resolutions, change orders, delay claims, ordinances and other legal documents for City departments; represents the City’s interest in contract negotiation and carries out goals of such contracts.
• Assists in administering City programs such as the Mobilehome Rent Control program by researching, drafting, and reviewing related documents; serves as liaison with the public and City Council; attends hearings and provides legal advice during hearings.
• Assists in legislative development for the City including researching, reviewing, and preparing proposed ordinances, resolutions, policies, and other legislation.
• Prepares cases for administrative hearings and proceedings.
• Performs legal research and provides legal opinions for special projects for the Office of the City Attorney as assigned.
• Responds to citizen inquires regarding all types of legal issues including those concerning City business.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of law.
• Performs related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles, practices, and procedures of civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law.
• General and public contract law.
• Methods and techniques of legal research.
• Duties, powers, and limitations of a city government.
• Legal principles and developments. Appellate practices.
• Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Legal precedents and court decisions impacting assigned litigation area.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Public relations.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Ability to:

• Define legal issues, collect and analyze information, and recommend action.
• Properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations and policies.
• Read, understand, interpret, apply and explain codes, regulations and other written materials.
• Prepare clear and concise legal documents, including but not limited to, briefs, ordinances, resolutions, correspondence and supporting documents.
• Conduct research on legal problems and prepare sound legal opinion.
• Negotiate with other parties.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting software applications.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a Juris Doctorate degree.

Experience: Three years of experience at a level comparable to a Deputy City Attorney with the City.

License or Certificate - Active membership in the State Bar of California.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein 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 job functions.

Environment: Standard office setting. CONTINUOUS working indoors, dust from paperwork. Work schedule is 9/80 with alternating Fridays off in a biweekly period. Work environment is both formal and informal, team oriented, having variable tasks, pace, and pressure. Work is performed indoors in office and in meeting rooms.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. CONTINUOUS sitting and upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity; light to moderate finger pressure to manipulate keyboard, equipment controls, and office equipment; pinch grasp to manipulate writing utensils. FREQUENT side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending, stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting at waist; moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials; lifting objects weighing up to 20 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 yards. OCCASIONAL squatting, kneeling, and reaching above and at shoulder height; moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20-35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Date: April 2003
Johnson & Associates