Assistant City Attorney I

City of Pasadena • Pasadena, TX

13d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction, the Assistant City Attorney I provides legal services on behalf of the City of Pasadena. This role involves advising City staff and elected/appointed officials on all areas of municipal law, assisting department heads in ensuring laws and ordinances are faithfully performed, and negotiating, drafting, and reviewing various legal documents such as contracts, real estate documents, and agreements. The position also entails drafting legislation, code provisions, regulations, ordinances, amendments, resolutions, and guidelines or policies. Responsibilities include researching and interpreting laws, attending public meetings, prosecuting and defending the City in legal proceedings, responding to public and media inquiries, handling debt and fee recoveries, and enforcing ordinances related to public health and safety. The role requires representing the City in courts and administrative hearings, supporting emergency disaster plans, communicating official plans and policies, compiling legal data, and counseling departments on federal and state regulated funds and grants. Additionally, it involves providing legal support for capital improvement projects, property management, real estate transactions, eminent domain, acquisitions of rights-of-way and easements, and enforcing residential deed restrictions. The position requires staying updated on federal and state laws affecting cities and advising officials of changes. The Assistant City Attorney I must maintain all necessary licenses and certifications, work the assigned schedule, and comply with timekeeping and attendance policies. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited school of law.
• Valid Class 'C' Texas Driver's License.
• Member in good standing of the State Bar of Texas.
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, statutes, and court decisions relating to municipal corporations, including the Public Information Act, Local Government Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Texas Penal Code, procurement laws, etc.
• Knowledge of the City resolutions and charter provisions relating to the authority and functions of the City departments.
• Knowledge of the judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of established precedents and source of legal reference applicable to City activities.
• Ability to analyze and prepare variety of legal documents.
• Ability to conduct research on legal problems and to prepare legal opinions.
• Strong ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with associates, City Officials, and the general public.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Ability to perform other duties as assigned.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
• Previous experience in municipal law and with Class C misdemeanors.

Responsibilities

• Provides legal services on behalf of the City of Pasadena.
• Advises City staff and elected and appointed City Officials in all areas of municipal law.
• Assists Department Heads to see that all laws and ordinances are faithfully performed.
• Negotiates, drafts, and reviews contracts, real estate documents, and agreements.
• Drafts legislation, code provisions, regulations, ordinances, amendments, resolutions, and guidelines or policies.
• Researches and interprets relevant laws, rulings, and regulations for City Officials and staff.
• Attends public meetings of City Council, boards and commissions and advises and addresses members in executive sessions or makes public presentations.
• Prosecutes on behalf of and defends the City in legal proceedings and advocates for the City in a wide variety of settings, including negotiations, dispute resolutions, mediations, trials, hearings, and administrative processes.
• Timely and appropriately responds to inquiries from the general public and media about public information and municipal regulations and procedures.
• Handles recoveries and collection of debts and fees owed the City.
• Follows matters threatening health, safety, and welfare of citizens and local neighborhoods, drafts ordinances to address such concerns, and prosecutes in municipal court for related violations.
• Represents the City in courts and administrative hearings if necessary, including preparation of legal briefs, development of strategy, arguments and testimony for pretrial, trial, and appellate matters and/or hearings (claims, lawsuits, mediations, arbitrations, settlements, expunctions, etc.) and legal counsel for proceedings before various other agencies or boards including TCEQ, EPA, FCC, Civil Service, Building and Standards, Planning and Human Resources (employee discipline & appeals, etc.).
• Supports preparations of emergency disaster plans procedures and forms, attends planning meetings, and may be called to serve in the emergency operations center in a state of emergency.
• Communicates official plans, policies and procedures to City staff.
• Compiles data, statistics or other information related to legal work done.
• Counsels City departments on the administration of federal and state regulated funds and grants, such as disaster recovery funds, FEMA, CDBG, HUD, TIRZ, etc.
• Provides legal support in capital improvement projects, property management, real estate transactions and eminent domain proceedings.
• Assists in acquisitions of rights-of-way and easements required for various City projects.
• Enforces residential deed restrictions to preserve neighborhoods and provides assistance to Neighborhood Network and Code Enforcement Divisions.
• Maintains knowledge of Federal and State law, court decisions affecting cities, as well as the City Charter and City Code provisions; advises City Officials and Department Directors of such changes to laws affecting City operations.
• Must have and maintain, without interruption, all necessary licenses, certifications, clearances, and/or job requirements.
• Works the assigned schedule and complies with City timekeeping and attendance policy.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employee-only medical insurance starts as low as $15 per month.
• The most expensive Employee & Family plan is less than $350 per month.
• City has its own medical clinic staffed with a M.D. and two medical assistants.
• Employees and their covered dependents over the age of 5 can visit the clinic FREE OF CHARGE.
• Employees and their covered dependents also have access to Virtual Visits with a medical professional FREE OF CHARGE.
• College tuition reimbursement of up to $3,500 per year.
• City will match retirement contributions by 200%.
• Vacation accumulation based on years of service (two weeks to six weeks per year).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level