Assistant City Attorney

The City of Salinas is accepting applications for Assistant City Attorney. The ideal candidate will possess substantial experience in independently handling a variety of municipal matters involving land use and environmental law, public finance, code enforcement, and government contracts. This recruitment is open until filled and may close at any time. Click

here

for a brochure.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

All applicants must provide proof of active membership in the State Bar of California at the time of application

and respond to the supplemental questionnaire.

Applications are incomplete without the required document and questionnaire response.Summary of Duties

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To provide a wide range of professional legal services to all City departments, the City Council and various boards and commissions, as well as legal tasks involving a wide variety of municipal legal subjects with general instruction or assistance from City Attorney.

Distinguishing Characteristics

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This is the advanced journey level of the legal series. This class may be distinguished from the next lower class of Senior Deputy City Attorney by the level of independent judgment exercised and the difficulty and complexity of work performed. In addition, this position is expected to provide expert advice and assistance to less experienced attorneys on complex legal problems.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

Receives general direction from the City Attorney. May exercise technical or functional supervision over professional attorneys and clerical staff.

Performs legal research and prepares written and oral opinions on various legal problems for City departments, the City Council, and various boards and commissionsProvides legal updates and training to staff and commissionsConfers with and renders assistance to department heads in establishing departmental policies by applying legal points and procedures; recommends changes in policies and procedures in order to meet legal requirementsPrepares, drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments, and offers opinions as to legal acceptability when presented to the City for consideration by an outside agent or agencyBrings litigation on behalf of the City and defends litigation brought against the CityInvestigates claims and complaints against the City and takes or recommends appropriate actionAssists in or prepares cases for hearings and trials and represents the City in such hearingsRepresents the City Attorney at various City Council and board and commission meetings and in court when necessaryProsecutes for civil and criminal remedies to enforce city ordinances, abates public nuisances, recovers damages to City property, condemns property for public purposes and other mattersAssists in the supervision of the clerical staff and subordinate professionalsPerforms related duties as assignedKnowledge of:Legal principles and practices, including civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law and proceduresMethods of legal researchJudicial procedures and rules of evidenceOrdinances, statutes, and court decisions relating to municipal corporationsOrganization, duties, powers, limitations, authority, and operating procedures of a City Attorney’s OfficeOrganizations and public agencies in Monterey CountyAbility to:Analyze a wide variety of legal issuesConduct research on legal problems and prepare sound legal opinionsCommunicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writingAnalyze or prepare a wide variety of legal documentsPrepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly and logicallyPerform legal work requiring the use of independent judgmentWork independently in the absence of supervisionEstablish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of workAssist in the supervision and training of subordinate clerical and professional staffExperience:

Six (6) years of professional legal experience.

Municipal experience providing full-time legal services for governmental agencies including municipal or county counsel, special district counsel or private law firm providing legal support to local government clients is highly desirable.Licenses and Certifications:

A valid State of California Driver’s License. Active membership in the State Bar of California. Employee must complete AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.Physical Demands and Working Conditions

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Physical, mental and emotional stamina to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position; manual dexterity sufficient to write, use telephone, computer, business machines and related equipment up to six (6) hours per day; vision sufficient to read printed materials, visual display terminals; hearing sufficient to conduct in person and telephone conversations; speaking ability in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in a normal conversational distance, on the telephone and in addressing groups; physical agility to push/pull, squat, twist, turn, bend, stoop and reach overhead; physical mobility sufficient to move about the work environment, physical strength to lift up to 20 lbs.; physical stamina sufficient to sit for prolonged periods of time; mental acuity to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, make valid judgments and decisions.Business office working environment subject to sitting at a desk for long periods of time, bending, crouching, or kneeling at files, pushing/pulling of file drawers and supplies, reaching in all directions and prolonged periods of time working at a computer terminal.The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills which may be required.For questions, please contact Patricia Peñaloza, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at (831) 758-7416 or

patricia.penaloza@ci.salinas.ca.us#J-18808-Ljbffr