Assistant City Attorney

Job Summary

The City of Greenville offers an outstanding opportunity for a qualified attorney to serve as an Assistant City Attorney. The City Attorney’s Office is committed to providing the City of Greenville and its public officials and employees with legal services of the highest quality so that the City’s business is conducted efficiently, effectively, and economically.

This position assists the City Attorney’s Office in providing legal services to the City Manager; City departments, particularly the Police Department; City-appointed boards and commissions, including the Board of Adjustment; and City Council. Duties include identifying potential legal issues with City operations and providing legal guidance; drafting and reviewing ordinances, contracts, and various other legal documents; advising City-appointed boards and commissions; and representing the City in court, including matters regarding the release of custodial law enforcement agency recordings, administrative hearings, and negotiations.

Reporting to the City Attorney, this position will cover a wide variety of legal areas that pertain to municipal government. Special emphasis may be given to candidates with extensive legal experience in advising law enforcement and public safety officials, local government law, transactional work, civil litigation, or any other related legal experience.

Examples of Duties

• Ensure boards and commissions comply with open meetings law.
• Advise departments, particularly the Police Department, on various legal issues.
• Ensure departments comply with public records requests.
• Advise departments on enforcement of City ordinances.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited law school; and
• At least three years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably civil legal practice.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of:
  • 42 U.S.C. § 1983 litigation
  • Laws regarding public records and custodial law enforcement agency recordings.
  • State and local laws and procedures regarding states of emergency.
  • State nuisance abatement laws.

• Experience in drafting and/or reviewing police directives and standard operating procedures.
• Experience in or working knowledge of law enforcement operations, procedures, and technology.

Knowledge of:

• Laws, codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process; municipal law, torts, contracts, civil rights, civil liability, and property law; and the principles, methods, materials, practices, and references utilized in legal research.

Skilled in:

• Legal drafting.
• Talking to others to convey information effectively; reviewing related information, identifying problems, and developing alternative solutions; and choosing the most appropriate action when considering the relative costs and benefits.
• Communicating effectively in writing for the needs of the audience and bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Ability to:

• Understand operations and procedures of City departments.
• Review or check the work product of others to ensure accuracy.
• Conduct research and analyze and evaluate data.
• Handle trial and appellate litigation.
• Prepare and maintain reports and records.
• Train and instruct groups and individuals.
• Effectively organize thoughts and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Operate assigned equipment, including computer equipment and various software packages.
• Work cooperatively with City officials, other employees, and the public.
• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.
• Meet mental and physical demands of the job.
• Perform a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over others.

Special Requirements

• Licensed in good standing to practice law in the State of North Carolina.
• Must possess and maintain a valid, current N.C. Driver’s License that is not revoked, suspended, or subject to limited restoration or conditional operation privileges.

Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer