Assistant City Attorney

City of Minneapolis•Minneapolis, MN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Under supervision, provide the City of Minneapolis and its various officials, boards, agencies and departments with professional legal services relating to criminal legal matters, including advice on cases, broad policy level guidance and representation; or relating to criminal prosecution, including advice concerning investigation and development of particular cases, and courtroom representation.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate (J.D.)
Two or more years of relevant legal experience.
Minnesota attorney licensure through the successful bar examination and current active bar membership.
Ability to be licensed in federal court.

Nice To Haves

Resume, Cover Letter and Writing Sample are strongly encouraged.
A sample of legal writing, including but not necessarily limited to an excerpt from a brief or memorandum, along with the required City application. Your sample must not exceed six pages.

Responsibilities

Prepare and try criminal cases of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor, including those of a complex nature. This includes but is not limited to bail hearings, settlement negotiations, treatment courts, contested evidentiary hearings, jury and court trials, sentencing hearings, probation revocation hearings, and a wide variety of other categories of hearings under often stressful conditions requiring attorneys to think quickly on their feet.
Manage an assigned caseload, coordinating court dates and other schedules with judges, defense attorneys, defendants, and witnesses.
Make independent determinations as to what constitutes fair and legal case outcomes, deciding whether to offer incarceration, restorative justice, or another disposition and structuring offers for case resolution.
Work with crime victims to accurately assess their losses, obtain appropriate restitution awards, and vindicate their rights in court.
Review and analyze evidence, including physical evidence, body-worn cameras, squad, transit, and surveillance footage, and jail and 911 tapes.
Direct investigative and support staff as necessary to gather evidence and build a criminal case.
Advise on applying legal requirements to specific data and facts.
Conduct legal research and prepare legal opinions on criminal law issues, including complex ones. This includes using a caselaw database, such as Westlaw, to locate relevant controlling or persuasive cases concerning specific legal issues presented in litigation.
Produce written briefs and memoranda on various criminal law issues, including complex matters, in district court, frequently under very tight deadlines, and occasionally at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Deliver well-thought-out, persuasive oral arguments advancing the case’s legal theories and strengths to judges and juries.
Develop the necessary expertise in various criminal and constitutional law areas, including complex areas.
Draft changes to state statutes and city ordinances as requested.
Confer with and advise Minneapolis Police Departments, other law enforcement partners, and other Minneapolis City departments on legal matters and concerns involving criminal law issues, including complex ones.
Help implement community-based criminal justice and public safety initiatives, reforms, and grant programs.
Assist the criminal deputy and criminal supervising attorneys with projects, policy, and legal research, including a complex nature.
Exhibit critical thinking and problem-solving skills, sometimes with supervision.
Prepare and conduct public presentations and provide training on various criminal law and criminal procedure issues, including complex ones, to other attorneys, city departments, elected officials, and outside partner agencies.
Foster relationships of trust with department heads, city staff, state and judges, partner agencies, other governmental subdivisions, and internal colleagues.
Research and draft briefs and present oral arguments for appeals at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Regularly review new case law and statutes that change how laws are interpreted or enforced and adapt to those changes in making legal decisions.
Review police reports, video evidence, and other available evidence and independently apply the facts to applicable criminal statutes to make charging decisions.
Work on cross-departmental multi-disciplinary work groups, task forces to develop and implement policies.