Description:

Job Summary:
This is highly responsible, professional legal work providing legal analysis and advice to the City Attorney, City Commissioners, the City's Administrative Staff and various City boards, and committees. Responsibilities will vary depending on the departments to which the attorney is assigned and depending on the needs of the office and skills of the candidate. General direction is received from the City Attorney; however, the employee is expected to exercise considerable initiative and independent professional judgment in developing the technical aspects of the job. Candidate is expected to be a self-starter and will be provided with training opportunities for the various disciplines in the office.

Essential Functions (Without Accommodations):

Able to read, write, speak and understand English in order to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to co-workers, City officials and the general public accurately and concisely.
Able to see and hear well enough to perform the duties of this job description.
Able to work at least a forty (40) hour work week and evenings when assigned.
Computer literate.
Able to move about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another. City Hall is a fully ADA compliant facility.
Able to use equipment and/or materials as specified in this job description.
Able to use legal research resources in researching appropriate responses to legal questions.

Environment:

The Legal Department/City Attorney's Office is comprised of 4 attorneys, a paralegal and a legal assistant. There are occasions when outside counsel is retained. The successful candidate would also need to coordinate with outside counsel as appropriate and deemed necessary by the City Attorney. Work deals with regularly making decisions that could lead to major community or organizational consequences if an employee fails to make the appropriate decision at the time. Key West is a very small community of approximately 29,000 permanent residents. The community is very in tune and connected with local government. While the City Attorney's Office does not provide legal advice to the general public, it is necessary at times to meet with various groups or individuals regarding legal issues on items of interest to the community, at the direction of the City Attorney.
All applicants must also fully understand and appreciate the extraordinarily high cost of living in Key West and Monroe County and either already have housing or a solid plan to secure same.
The City of Key West has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The City of Key West does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, or military service in employment or the provision of services. Empleador de Igualdad de Oportunidades: El Ciudad de Cayo Hueso no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, género, religión, edad, discapacidad o servicio militar en el empleo o la prestación de servicios.
Veterans Preference according to Florida State Statute 295.07: Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of the servicemembers and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment by the state and are encouraged to apply for the positions being filled. Preferencia de Veteranos de acuerdo con el Estatuto del Estado de Florida 295.07: Ciertos miembros del servicio y veteranos, y los cónyuges y familiares de los miembros del servicio y veteranos, reciben preferencia y prioridad en el empleo por parte del estado y se les alienta a solicitar los puestos que se están llenando.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.

Duties/Tasks/Jobs:

Draft resolutions, ordinances, contracts, restrictive covenants, easements, and other legal documents, as determined by the City Attorney.
Review legal documents and instruments for assigned City departments to assure completeness of information and conformance to applicable laws, rules, precedents, and procedures.
Research complex legal issues of concern to the City Attorney, City Commission, City departments, boards and constitutional officers.
Conduct legal research, analyze, and summarize information on statutes, legal decisions, opinions, rulings, codes, and ordinances.
Advise City Commissioners, City Administration, City Boards, and staff on legal issues.
Counsel on a regular, recurring basis the Department Heads and staff of the departments to which the attorney has been assigned.
Coordinate with other local, county, state, or federal agencies to collaborate on legal issues.
Attend meetings of the City Commission, boards, and other governmental agencies, as assigned by the City Attorney.
Represent the city at county, circuit, and district court, administrative hearings, public hearings, and closed sessions.
Represent the city in legal matters, including the bringing and defending of suits and negotiating settlements.
Represent the city before various local and state departments and other governmental entities.
Provide legal counsel for management, and policy-making of advisory boards in the conduct of their duties.
Independently prepare pleadings, discovery documents, motions, briefs, and other legal documents in matters involving litigation and of substantial importance; obtain and evaluate expert testimony; participate in settlement negotiations and serve as trial counsel for the City when needed.
Assist in the coordination, conduct and supervision of litigation cases involving assigned departments.
Examine and analyze complaints and evidence of alleged or suspected violations of laws or regulations in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and City of Key West Code.
Supervise and coordinate assignments of subordinate employees including determining work procedures and deadlines.
Respond to or advise staff on responses to public records requests.

Required Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities/ Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
Law Degree or equivalent doctoral degree required.

Special Qualifications:
Admission to the Florida Bar. Prior experience working for a government entity preferred. May substitute relevant experience prior to bar admission.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Considerable knowledge of local, state, and Federal statutory law.
Ability to communicate effectively and concisely with the public, and before various city boards during public and televised meetings.
Thorough knowledge and skill in statutory interpretation and legal analysis.
Considerable knowledge of the sources and availability of current legal decisions, opinions, rulings, and statutes.
Ability to conduct thorough legal research and draft various legal documents.
Ability to analyze issues and recommend solutions in assigned fields of law in keeping with the priorities of the City Attorney, City Commission, and its boards.
Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete under time constraints.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to organize and prepare cases for litigation, as necessary.
Ability to conduct trials, appeals, hearings, and proceedings, when required.
Ability to effectively provide legal advice to city elected officials, department heads and staff in multiple areas.
Ability to maintain positive working relationships with all levels of Administration and staff, local municipalities, and other governmental agencies to successfully meet the goals and objectives of the city and commitment to public service.