Police Legal Advisor
About The Position
This role provides comprehensive legal counsel and advice on criminal law to the police department. The advisor collaborates with various city offices on case status, contracts, and ordinances, and summarizes the department's position on claims against the city. They also confer with the City Prosecutor on legal opinions affecting officers' testimony and procedures. The position involves training officers on legal matters like search and seizure and use of force, and providing in-service training on legal liability. On-the-spot legal advice is offered to officers via phone or at scenes. The advisor participates in association meetings, provides information to command staff, conducts forfeiture litigation, and stays updated on relevant court decisions. Responsibilities include publishing monthly law bulletins, preparing legal documents, and ensuring proper grammar and punctuation in written materials for court presentations.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
- Admission to the Tennessee Bar.
- Experience in criminal law and litigation.
- Knowledge of search and seizure, use of force, interrogation, powers of arrest, and current case law.
- Ability to provide legal advice and training.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in legal research and writing.
- Ability to travel to various courts.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with law enforcement agencies.
- Familiarity with municipal law and contract drafting.
- Experience in forfeiture litigation.
Responsibilities
- Provide a wide range of legal counsel and advice on criminal law to the department.
- Collaborate with the City Attorney and City Court Clerks’ office regarding the status of individual cases, contracts, ordinances, and other legal matters affecting police officers.
- Compile and summarize the Memphis Police Department’s (MPD) position in response to claims against the city based on actions of department employees.
- Confer with the City Prosecutor to obtain concurrence of legal opinions pertaining to matters affecting police officers’ testimony and/or procedures.
- Attend advanced officer and recruit training to advise on matters such as search and seizure, use of force, interrogation, powers of arrest, proper identification, and current case law.
- Provide in-service training programs concerning legal liability for both sworn and civilian members of the department.
- Provide on-the-spot legal advice to police officers on the telephone or at the scene as needed.
- Attend and participate in Police Legal Advisor association meetings.
- Provide relevant information to Police command staff during staff meetings.
- Travel to various courts to conduct forfeiture litigation or to appear in opposition to subpoenas.
- Keep abreast of U.S. Supreme Court, 6th Circuit Court, and Tennessee Court decisions which might affect MPD operations, practices, and policies.
- Publish monthly law bulletins on issues related to criminal law.
- Prepare written documents, such as motions, pleadings, arguments, ordinances, and contracts.
- Ensure that documents are organized using proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar to present cases in courts.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
