Associate Attorney I or II, or Senior Attorney

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County•Athens, GA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this job is to assist the Athens-Clarke County Attorney in providing advisory, transactional, and litigation related legal services to the Unified Government. Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, preparing and presenting cases for trial; preparing briefs, motions, contracts, deeds, resolutions, and ordinances; providing legal counsel to various departments and boards; assisting clients with responses to Open Records Act requests; drafting ordinances and resolutions; and performing additional tasks as assigned.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate with at least six years of experience as a practicing attorney in three practice areas required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Must be a member of the Georgia State Bar and obtain a minimum of 12 hours of accredited continuing education annually.
Must possess a valid driver's license.
Juris Doctorate with at least four years of experience as a practicing attorney in three practice areas required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Must be a member of the Georgia State Bar and obtain a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education annually.
Juris Doctorate with at least two years of experience as a practicing attorney in two practice areas required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Must be a member of the State Bar of Georgia and comply with all Continuing Legal Education requirements.
Knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of the Unified Government and the operations and functions of the Office of the Attorney.
Knowledge of legal practices, policies, and procedures as necessary in the completion of daily responsibilities.
Knowledge of the development and administration of operations and staff plans and objectives for the expedience and effectiveness of the specific duties of the position.
Knowledge of all applicable laws, ordinances, policies, standards, and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the job.
Knowledge of resources for keeping informed of any changes in policy, methods, operations, and budgetary and equipment needs, etc. as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
Knowledge of and proficient with computers.
Knowledge of federal and state laws relevant to local government and rules of court.
Ability to deal effectively with organizational, management, human relations and technical subjects.
Ability to negotiate and mediate.
Ability to develop and administer policies, procedures, plans, and activities and to monitor the performance of subordinates against measured, established goals.
Ability to develop and implement long-term goals for the department in order to promote effectiveness and efficiency.
Ability to effectively communicate and interact with subordinates, management, employees, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the Unified Government as they relate to the Office of the Attorney.
Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear, and effective manner.
Ability to use independent judgment and discretion in managing subordinates including the handling of emergency situations, determining and deciding upon procedures to be implemented, setting priorities, maintaining standards, and resolving problems.
Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.
Ability to handle the required mathematical and statistical calculations.
Ability to read, understand, and interpret federal and state laws, local ordinances and codes, tax maps and digests, plats, case law, legal handbooks, financial reports, real estate appraisals, and other materials.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in preparing and presenting court cases.
Ability to use standard word processing and/or data base management software programs in performing administrative duties.
Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including standard office equipment, a computer terminal, and a printer.
Must be able to use body members to work, move, or carry objects or materials.
This position requires: walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, seeing, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally.
Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for sedentary work.
Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.
Requires the ability to hear, speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to co-workers or assistants.
Requires the ability to read a variety of legal and administrative documents and informational documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures.
Requires the ability to prepare legal motions and briefs, memorandums, legal opinions, ordinances, resolutions, deeds, contracts, audit letters, policy proposals, legal advertisements, and other documents using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
Requires the ability to speak to groups of people with poise, voice control, and confidence.
Requires the ability to learn and understand complex principles and techniques; to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation; and to make independent judgment in the absence of management.
Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow oral and written instructions.
Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of administrative, technical, or professional languages including legal, accounting, and real estate terminology.
Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide; to utilize and determine percentages and decimals; and to perform special computations such as discount, interest, and proportion.
Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with office equipment.
Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using computers and office equipment.
Requires the ability to use the keyboard, lift, bend, push, and pull objects or materials using body parts as the position necessitates.
Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as computers and office equipment.
Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating the other hand with different activities.
Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
May require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
Must be adaptable to performing under moderate stress when confronted with an emergency.
Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (Talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words). (Hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
Must be able to communicate via telephone.

Nice To Haves

Supervisory experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepares cases for trial, participates in motion practice, prepares briefs and memoranda, tries cases, and makes oral arguments in various courts and administrative tribunals on behalf of the Unified Government.
Negotiates settlements and consent orders in cases.
Reviews ordinances for the Unified Government.
Provides legal counsel to the Unified Government’s departments; duties include rendering oral opinions, providing legal advice on government policies and procedures, preparing and reviewing deeds and contracts, conducting title searches, researching case law, and conducting other legal services as requested.
Prepares legal advertisements and invitations to bid as required by local, state, and federal laws and ordinances.
Conducts legal research by reviewing case law, legal opinions, codes, and statutes.
Reads legal journals and case law to maintain knowledge of the legal profession.
Performs other related duties as required.
Negotiates settlements and consent orders in Municipal Court cases.
Prepares documentation to assist in the orderly administration of cases involving ordinances of the Unified Government.