Closing Date: 16th May, 2024
Description:
Introduction:This position is part of the City Attorney's Office and responsible for providing comprehensive legal services and representation to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and City Departments, specifically on matters involving litigation against the City. The position will be physically located at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center. The job title and classification will ultimately be determined by the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate.
Overview:
The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation's largest banks and technology companies.
Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the litigation team of attorneys and work closely with the litigation lead attorney.
- Litigate, monitor, and manage pending moderate to complex litigation throughout the City to occasionally include cases assigned to outside counsel.
- Represent the City in pending litigation, administrative board hearings and appeals in federal and state courts.
- Prepare pleadings, statements, memoranda, briefs; draft and negotiate settlements and other legal documents; efficiently and effectively manage discovery, including depositions.
- Appear and zealously defend the City in court as required, including at hearings, mediations, arbitrations, and trials.
- Conduct direct settlement negotiations with opposing attorneys.
- Stay current on all relevant law, document management tools, and litigation and trial-related technology.
- Partner as needed with other attorneys in hearings, trial preparation and during trial.
- Identify and research issues within the complex operational, business, policy, and legal framework of the City.
- Actively analyze matters, provide accurate, timely and sound legal advice and opinions, verbally and in writing, to other attorneys and City staff.
- Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws specific to municipalities
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Strong litigation, and collaboration skills.
- Considerable knowledge of constitutional, federal, state, and local laws affecting municipal government.
- Litigation experience with federal and state courts.
- Experience litigating before administrative and quasi-judicial boards and commissions.
- Ability to work collaboratively with others; analyze issues from a legal, policy, and practical perspective; and provide clear advice and counsel.
- Ability to master new material quickly, manage a diverse legal portfolio, and handle a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to think creatively to solve problems.
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
- In-depth knowledge of local rules, judicial procedures, and rules of evidence.
- Ability to prepare and try moderately complex civil cases.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, colleagues, the public, elected and appointed officials, and stakeholders.
Preferred Qualification:
- Minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience as a practicing attorney for Assistant City Attorney I; minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience as a practicing attorney for Assistant City Attorney II.
- Less relevant experience for each position may be considered if experience includes significant concentration in municipal law.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Doctorate Degree (Professional)
- And
- Graduation from an ABA accredited law school and license to practice law in North Carolina, or eligible for licensure by comity.