Assistant City Attorney

Department:

City Attorney

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Hiring Salary:

$86,555- $129,832

Welcome, ‘ist das Leben schön!’ (Life is good!) At the City of New Braunfels, we seek out people ready to serve the community, plan for the future, and preserve our well-renowned natural beauty. Our five Core Values serve as a cornerstone of our work: Integrity, Service, Visionary Leadership, Stewardship of Resources, and Cultural Heritage. Do our values speak to you?

What we’re looking for: Under general supervision and direction of the City Attorney assists in handling municipal court prosecution, open records matters, and provides counsel and direction in all aspects of legal representation for the City of New Braunfels.

Benefits & Total Rewards:

Our City team members are our most valuable asset! We offer Total Rewards when you join our team.

• Competitive medical, dental and vision insurance
• 2:1 match on retirement contribution
• Paid volunteer time off – 16 hours per year
• Vacation accrual starts at date of hire – up to 120 hours annually your first year
• Get paid to stay – longevity pay on top of your regular pay after one full year
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Bilingual pay offered
• Keep learning – professional and personal development training available

The responsibilities you’ll be trusted with:

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Serves as the Municipal Court Prosecutor and represents the City and its departments in all Municipal Court matters. Prosecutor responsibilities include discovery production, and review intake complaints and evidence packets from Code Enforcement, Animal Welfare, and Building Divisions, as well as reviewing all citizen complaints for legal sufficiency to prosecute.
• Serves as the attorney in responding to requests made under the Public Information Act, including drafting all briefs to the Attorney General, and is responsible for all other required correspondence and deadlines under the Act.
• Handles duces tecum subpoenas for the City; Provides legal guidance to all city departments to gather records. Reviews documents for any confidential information, and prepares motions to quash, requests for in-camera review and protective orders. Represents the City on these types of motions in County or District Courts.
• Meets with citizens, other public officials, attorneys and the general public to discuss and negotiate resolution of municipal court cases.
• Performs legal research; drafts and reviews ordinances, letters, memoranda, contracts, leases, easements, correspondence, deeds, resolutions, affidavits, liens, releases, and other legal documents.
• Stays informed of new and/or updated laws, court decisions, and regulations in consultation with the City Attorney.
• Provides legal advice, both verbally and in writing, to City employees and Departments; makes determinations of application and legality of ordinances, policies, procedures, regulations and practices.
• Attends court hearings, administrative hearings, settlement conferences, City Council meetings, City board, commission, and committee meetings, and special meetings as directed by the City Attorney.
• Must project a positive and professional image of the City by providing accurate, timely and accessible information; attend meetings, including public meetings.
• Will be required to provide staff trainings to city departments on open records laws and to the police department on law enforcement subject matters.
• Exhibits a positive attitude and takes pride in public service.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter most for this role:

Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctorate Degree is required.
• Must be a licensed practicing attorney in Texas.
• Must have a minimum of 2 years prosecutorial or criminal defense experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and in Federal Court.

Required Knowledge of:

• Working knowledge of municipal law, local government, or state government law.
• City organization, operations, policies and procedures.
• City, county, state and Federal laws, regulations, codes and ordinances.
• Current legislative, political, and economic trends in state and Federal governmental activities.
• Principles and practices of administrative and legal management including personnel rules/policies.
• Correct English grammar, composition, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.

Required Skill in:

• Interpreting, understanding and applying laws and regulations, City policies and procedures, and applicable Federal and state rules and regulations.
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established legal and procedural guidelines.
• Maintaining confidentiality as appropriate for the situation.
• Collecting data, preparing reports, and effectively presenting statistical and conceptual information.
• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with City employees and Departments; law enforcement; local, state and regional agencies; and the general public.
• Communicating clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing; preparing and presenting clear and concise documents and correspondence.
• Maintaining cooperative working relationships with elected officials, employees, vendors, contractors, and the general public.
• Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands; effective time management and resource utilization.
• Operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of business software involving word processing, spreadsheets and report generation.
• State and Federal rules of procedure and evidence.

Your Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an office environment subject to sitting, standing, bending, and reaching for extended periods of time; and must be able to safely pull, push, lift, and carry items weighing up to forty (40) pounds.
• Long hours required reviewing videos and documents on a computer screen.
• Must be able to work irregular hours including evenings.
• Will be required to work immediately before, during or immediately after an emergency or disaster.
• NOTE: This position is designated safety and/or security sensitive.

The City of New Braunfels is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, order of protection status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law.