Deputy City Attorney

The preferred hiring amount for this position is between $110,768.76 - $138,754.14Annually.Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 13 paid holidays plus one floating holiday, vacation and sick leave, health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities. This position is also eligible for the following benefits:

• Up to 80 hours of discretionary administrative leave per calendar year
• Choice of retirement plan:
  • Defined Benefit Pension Plan:Provides a monthly benefit upon retirement, calculated using a defined formula based on earnings history, years of service, and age. The plan includes a 5-year vesting period and requires an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
  • Defined Contribution 401a Plan:Employer makes fixed contributions to an individual account, which are invested, and returns are credited to the account. The account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. Vesting occurs at 33% after one year, 67% after two years, and 100% after three years of service. No salary contribution is required.
• Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan

• Serves as legal advisor to an assigned portfolio of City agencies, departments, and boards; providing legal review and guidance.
• Depending on assignment, provides legal review and counsel on land use and zoning applications, site plans, Building Code and permits, zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan amendments, proffer agreements, zoning interpretations, and development proposals. Assists with due diligence and legal issues related to property or easement acquisition, title reviews/searches, land disposition, and infrastructure development.
• Depending on assignment, may represent the Charlottesville Department of Social Services in proceedings.
• Conducts legal research and prepares formal and informal opinions and memoranda on federal, state, and local laws affecting City operations.
• Drafts, reviews, and/or negotiates a wide range of legal documents including but not limited to ordinances, resolutions, contracts, easements, deeds, leases, grant agreements, MOUs, and other instruments.
• Prepares formal legal opinions for the signature of the City Attorney.
• Monitors, reviews, and analyzes proposed and passed legislation from sessions of the General Assembly.
• Represents the City government, its boards, commissions, officials, and employees before federal, state, and local courts.
• Defends civil litigation brought against the City and its officials, agencies, departments, and employees by evaluating claims, circumstances, legal issues, and relevant materials; determining and drafting appropriate responsive pleadings, performing research, drafting briefs, documents, and legal memorandum; preparing and presenting arguments, as well as preparing/interviewing witnesses and presenting evidence; conducting negotiations; handling appellate procedures.
• Performs trial duties, including completing discovery; scheduling and taking depositions; attending the trial settlement conference; preparing exhibits; conferring with witnesses; preparing documentation, jury instructions and exhibits; handling voir dire; making post-trial motions and other related duties.
• Supports city staff with statutory interpretations, regulatory enforcement, and/or public records requests in accordance with FOIA. Reviews and responds to subpoena duces tecum requests and other legal inquiries. Provides information and answers inquiries from the public.
• Attends meetings of boards and commissions as assigned, including those held after-hours, and provides real-time legal guidance.
• May have responsibility for establishing procedures to minimize and pursue the collection of delinquent taxes and other accounts.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
• Regular and reliable attendance.

• Collaborates with other attorneys to support the City’s legal needs and strategic initiatives.
• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

• Graduation from accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate ANDat least 4 years of experience in the practice of law.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

• Prior experience in the practice of municipal law or advising a public agency in the assigned portfolio of focus.

• Licensed to practice law in Commonwealth of Virginia (or eligible to be admitted to practice law under the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia Part 1A, Rule 1A:1.)
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

• Comprehensive knowledge of municipal, state, and federal laws, torts, contracts, civil rights, administrative process, and real property.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, practices, and references utilized in legal research.
• Knowledge of civil litigation and juvenile court procedure and/or real estate, land use, zoning, and contracts law.
• Thorough knowledge of legal office procedures and practices.

• Advanced: ability to read and understand complex books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents.

• Advanced: ability to research and prepare legal documents with proper documentation, reporting, record keeping and compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Ability to tailor writing to specific audiences and explain complex thoughts and ideas in writing.

• Intermediate: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.

• Advanced: recommendations regarding policy development and implementation are made and/or recommended. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, City administration, and the public. Contact may involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. Evaluates customer satisfaction, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction. Provide oral and written presentations in public.

• Requires Limited Direction: normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Special projects are managed with little oversight and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance reviewed periodically.

• Basic: uses standard technical skills appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities. Demonstrated skill in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and statistical databases to enter data, maintain records and generate reports; uses of computer technology for legal research.

• No budgetary/fiscal responsibilities.

• No responsibility for direction or supervision of others.

• Time pressure.
• Frequent change of tasks.
• Working closely with others as part of a team.
• Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Constant interruptions and requests for service.
• Must work effectively with sensitive and confidential materials and issues.
• May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
• May be required to work additional hours outside of normal schedule, including weekends and/or nights.

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Must be able to frequently remain in a stationary position.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Must occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Must constantly position self to maintain files in file cabinet.
• Ability to observe at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.

• Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.