Summary: The Assistant City Attorney II works independently on complex municipal legal matters with minimal supervision. The position handles litigation (bench trials, jury trials, and appellate work), transactional work, and legal counsel for elected officials, department heads, and boards and commissions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Litigation
Represents the City in civil litigation through all stages, including discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal
Represents the City before state and federal administrative agencies, boards, and commissions
Evaluates claims, develops case strategy, and negotiates settlements
Advisory & Transactional
Advises the City Council, Mayor, and department heads on legal issues, policy implications, and risk, both orally and in writing
Drafts and reviews contracts, leases, deeds, easements, resolutions, ordinances, and other legal instruments
Monitors state and federal legislation affecting municipal operations and advises leadership on impacts
Attends Council meetings and serves as legal resource; attends board and commission meetings as assigned
Collaboration & Department Operations
Serves as legal advisor on interdepartmental projects
Maintains cross-training and collaboration within the Legal Department to ensure continuity of service
Responds to public inquiries regarding City ordinances and applicable law; refers inquiries to appropriate departments as needed
Serves as lead worker on assigned litigation matters
Regular and predictable attendance is required. Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school
Minimum five (5) years of experience as a practicing attorney
License to practice law in the State of Iowa in both state and federal court (if not currently admitted in federal court, must obtain admission within six months of hire)
Municipal law experience preferred
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Command of Iowa municipal law, including home rule authority, public meetings and records law, and intergovernmental agreements
Proficiency in civil litigation procedure, rules of evidence, and trial advocacy
Ability to analyze complex legal issues and communicate conclusions clearly to non-legal audiences
Sound judgment in balancing legal and policy considerations to advance City objectives
Skill in negotiation, settlement evaluation, and dispute resolution
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Standard office environment. Requires the ability to sit for extended periods, use standard office equipment, and communicate effectively in person and by phone. Occasional travel to courthouses, off-site meetings, and community events.
Supervisory Responsibilities
None. Serves as lead worker on assigned litigation teams.
Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school
Minimum five (5) years of experience as a practicing attorney
License to practice law in the State of Iowa in both state and federal court (if not currently admitted in federal court, must obtain admission within six months of hire)
Thank you for your interest in employment with the City of Council Bluffs! The City of Council Bluffs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages all qualified applicants to apply for current open positions.
If you are interested in a position, you must submit an application for that position. Each application is specific to each posted position. Please keep in mind that each position will have its own application deadline. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline has passed.
At the close of the application period, applications will be reviewed and applicants will be notified of their status for that specific position. All notifications will be delivered via email so be sure to check this regularly as not to miss any updates regarding the position you applied for. Applicants will be notified whether they are moving on in the process or not. Please allow up to 1 week from the application deadline for the application review process to be carried out.
Once you have submitted an application, your information will be saved in your Applicant Profile. You can then use this saved information to apply for additional open positions. It is the responsibility of the ap...plicant to make sure their information is up to date. Some information from previous applications will populate when you apply for a new job opening. Please review this information carefully and update any outdated information at that time. The Applicant Profile can be found under the Employment Opportunities tab. This is also where you would go to continue working on a saved application. Applicants will instantly see a message indicating their application has successfully been submitted. Applicants will also receive an email message stating that their application has been received.
Please take note of the following as you are filling out your application:
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