Supervising Assistant Corporation Counsel (Tax Appeals)

Jersey City, City of•Jersey City, NJ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Jersey City Department of Law is seeking an experienced attorney for a senior leadership position with primary responsibility for supervising the Department’s property tax functions. The position reports directly to the Corporation Counsel and works with the Corporation Counsel and First Assistant Corporation Counsel to help manage the Law Department. It supervises attorneys and staff handling property tax appeals, review of tax exemptions and financial agreements, and related property tax matters. The successful candidate will be an experienced litigator and manager who can oversee complex, high-impact matters and a high-volume tax appeal docket; develop litigation and valuation strategies; mentor junior attorneys; and provide practical legal advice to senior City officials and departments. The role represents the City in property tax proceedings and works with the Tax Assessor, appraisal experts, and other professionals to evaluate valuations, analyze appraisal evidence, prepare expert testimony, and negotiate and recommend fair and equitable resolutions. It also advises City officials on litigation status, legal risks, assessment and exemption issues, and proposed courses of action. The position requires a Juris Doctor from an American Bar Association-accredited law school and admission to the New Jersey Bar. Ten or more years of legal practice is preferred. Employees must eventually pass and qualify for this Civil Service title and are subject to NJ First Act residency requirements. Telework is limited to a pre-approved scheduled day per week, with an additional unscheduled day potentially available subject to approval and operational needs; employees keep their normal work hours while teleworking.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
Admission to the New Jersey Bar.
Must eventually pass and qualify for this Civil Service title.
Must comply with NJ First Act residency requirements.

Nice To Haves

Ten or more years in the practice of law.
Experience as a litigator and manager, including supervising complex property tax matters and a high-volume tax appeal docket.

Responsibilities

Supervise and manage the Law Department’s property tax team, including attorneys, supervisors, and support staff.
Assign matters, manage attorney workloads, establish priorities, monitor deadlines, and ensure timely and effective handling of matters.
Develop and oversee strategy in significant tax litigation before the Tax Court of New Jersey and the Hudson County Board of Taxation, including assessment appeals, municipal appeals seeking assessment increases, and exemption disputes.
Review and provide substantive guidance on pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery, legal memoranda, appraisal reports, settlement recommendations, and other significant attorney work product.
Supervise matters through pre-suit assessment, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, settlement, and appeal.
Represent the City in property tax proceedings before the Hudson County Board of Taxation, the Tax Court of New Jersey, the Superior Court of New Jersey, appellate courts, administrative hearings, and other legal proceedings.
Work with the Tax Assessor, appraisal experts, and other professionals to evaluate property valuations, analyze appraisal evidence, prepare expert testimony, and negotiate and recommend resolutions of tax appeals.
Advise the Corporation Counsel, Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, and senior City officials on property tax litigation status, legal risks, assessment and exemption issues, and proposed courses of action.
Recruit, mentor, and develop attorneys and supervisors; provide feedback; and promote high standards of legal analysis, writing, advocacy, professionalism, and case management.
Collaborate with external counsel, appraisal experts, and consultants as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.