Closing Date: 13th September, 2024
Description:
Overview:A City Office in Massachusetts provides legal services to the Mayor, City Council and City departments regarding their official capacities within City government. The City of Boston Law Department operates under the sole authority of the Corporation Counsel. The Corporation Counsel has supervisory authority over all City attorneys and legal affairs and is responsible for all litigation to which the City of Boston is a party.
Under the direction of the Corporation Counsel and the supervision of the General Counsel for ISD, the City of Boston seeks an Assistant Corporation Counsel to serve the City of Boston's Inspectional Services Department (ISD).
The Assistant Corporation Counsel I for ISD will provide legal counsel on a variety of matters involving procurement, contracts, open meeting law, public records law, and litigation. The Assistant Corporation Counsel will also represent the City in matters involving ISD before federal and state courts and administrative agencies.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as in-house counsel and assist with the Department's enforcement litigation.
- Enforce the State Sanitary Code, State Building Code, City of Boston Zoning Code, and City ordinances in the Housing Court and Superior Court.
- Represent ISD in evidentiary hearings on requests for preliminary injunction, receivership petitions, and contempt actions.
- Assigned to the Boston Zoning Board of Appeal to serve as the Executive Secretary to the Board.
- Serve as legal counsel to the Board and provide guidance and training on developments in zoning and other applicable laws, including affordable housing policy and retail marijuana regulations.
- Oversee the administrative functioning of the Board to ensure compliance with the Open Meeting Law, the Boston Zoning Enabling Act, the Public Records Law, and City ordinances.
- Assist with discovery and review of dispositive motions in appeals of Board decisions to the Superior Court and Land Court.
- Responsible for all stages of litigation, including, hearings in state and federal courts, both at the trial and appellate levels.
- Perform legal research and render opinions to City officials.
- Responsible for ordinance drafting, litigation, advice on municipal law matters, negotiation, procurement, public records law, and other assignments.
- Respond promptly and appropriately to requests for assistance on additional projects.
- Perform related work as required.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor required.
- Licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with no disciplinary record. At least 1-5 years of experience in a law firm or governmental legal office.
- Experience and interest in Land Use and zoning law preferred.
- Receptive to new ideas and responsive to changing conditions and departmental needs.
- Ability to work independently, exercise good judgment, and focus on details as required by the job.
- Highly motivated self-starter, committed to public service.
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, oral, and written communication skills.
- Strong legal research and writing skills.
