City Attorney II

Description

The City of Roanoke is seeking an Assistant City Attorney II to provide legal services to various City departments, boards and commissions, and advising groups on legal matters as well as attend meetings of boards and commissions of the City and render legal advice to these clients. The successful candidate will provide legal services to city departments, agencies, City Council, and related entities in a wide variety of practice areas particular to local government. Depending on the experience of the candidates and the ongoing operational needs of the office, successful candidates may provide legal services in one or more of the following areas: litigation, including workers' compensation law, tort law, and civil rights litigation; zoning and land use law; code enforcement; utilities; telecommunications; and administrative law. The successful applicant will also be required to review and draft contracts, ordinances, resolutions, deeds, leases, releases and other complex legal documents on behalf of the City. The City of Roanoke is a self-insured entity. Therefore, the assistant city attorney will also be expected to defend the City in court including preparing cases for court at both the trial and appellate levels. Transactional experience in complex contracting matters would be a plus. Candidates with strong problem-solving and communication skills, a positive attitude, and a keen attention to detail are encouraged to apply. Applications should explicitly highlight relevant experience.

Applicants should possess excellent communications skills to deal effectively with public officials and the general public. Virginia State Bar membership is required. One to five years of local government law experience is preferred. Law degree from an accredited law school; five to ten years of related experience and/or training in the practice of law; preferably municipal law; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
The position is anticipated to be filled as Assistant City , which requires at least 5 years’ relevant legal experience. The position may be underfilled as Assistant City Attorney I if the selected candidate does not possess at least 5 years’ relevant legal experience. The position may be overfilled as Assistant City Attorney III if the selected candidate possesses at least 10 years’ relevant legal experience.

Please attach your resume, law school transcript and a writing sample to your application.

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer.

To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.

This is an exempt position.

Examples of Duties

SUMMARY
Provides legal services to various City departments, boards and commissions, advising groups on legal matters. Attends meetings of boards and commissions of the City and renders legal advice to these clients.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Attends City Council meetings to assist the City Attorney when necessary

Attends meetings of boards and commissions of the City and renders on-the-spot legal advice

Drafts ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, leases, releases, franchises and other complex legal documents on behalf of the City

Processes and litigates claims against the City

Prepares cases for trial, interviewing witnesses, examining law and evidence

Represents the City in complex trial and appellate litigation
Handle all aspects of business matters, including development, leasing, land use, zoning, eminent domain, government and grant compliance, procurement, and construction issues; negotiate, draft, and interpret related contracts and agreements; and manage associated litigation, including real estate, contract, tax, collection, and bankruptcy matters.

Prepares formal legal opinions for the signature of the City Attorney

Prepares for and negotiates with third parties on behalf of clients

Conducts title searches, certifies titles and handles closings

Research and renders advice on complex legal issues on a daily basis to all officers, departments and agencies of the City

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervises clerical staff. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Law degree from an accredited law school; five to ten years related experience and/or training in the practice of law; preferably municipal law; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental Information

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints orally or in writing. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics.

REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Eligibility to practice law in the state of Virginia.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.

Overview of Benefits for Full-Time Employees:

Paid leave is time off from work available for use by an employee upon approval by supervisor. The first 24 consecutive leave hours for any illness must be charged to paid leave with additional time charged to extended illness leave. Paid leave for employees of the city shall accrue as follows:

Years of Service Hours Per Month Fire 24-hr shift Employees
0 - 4 12 19.75
5 - 9 14 22.75
10- 14 16 25.50
15 - 19 17 26.75
20 - 24 18 28.75
25 + 20 32

Extended Illness Leave: shall accrue at the rate of six (6) hours per month. Fire suppression employees shall accrue extended illness leave at nine (9) hours per month.
Funeral Leave: for family, up to three consecutive days.
Military Leave: Twenty-one work days per Federal fiscal year.
Holidays: The City provides 96 hours of annual paid holiday time.

Mental Health & Well-Being Leave: Employees receive 24 hours (Fire Suppression receives 34 hours) of Mental Health & Well-Being Leave upon hire. Certification of mental health diagnosis is not required and leave will not be paid out upon separation.

Shared Leave Bank (effective 1/1/2023): Voluntary membership for full-time Employees who will be out for an extended period of time and has exhausted all other forms of leave. Members are required to provide 8 hours of their Extended Illness per fiscal year and at least 8 hours per assessment. Assessments will be limimted to 4 times per fiscal year (max of 40 hours per fiscal year).

Health Insurance: Four coverage types are available: Employee only, Employee + 1 Child, Employee + Spouse and Family. Coverage is available through payroll deduction.

Additionally, the city offers the following three Aetna Health Plan Options:

PPO 750 – Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; lower deductible and out-of-pocket maximums than other medical plans; and has higher employee premiums. This is comparable to the current insurance program.
PPO/HRA 1500 – Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; has higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum than the PPO 300 plan; has lower employee premiums than the PPO 300 plan; and the employer makes contributions to an account through a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). The City of Roanoke contributes $500 for employee only coverage and $1,000 for all other tiers. Contributions are pro-rated dependent upon enrollment date.
PPO/HDHP-HSA – Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; has higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum than other medical plans; has lower employee premiums; and both the employer and the employee make contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for medical expenses which apply to the deductible. The City of Roanoke contributes towards the Health Savings Account (HSA), $1,600 for employee only coverage and $3,100 for all other tiers. Contributions are pro-rated dependent upon enrollment date.

Optum RX (Pharmaceutical Benefits Manager) - Manages pharmacy benefits, processes employee pharmacy claims and answers employee pharmacy benefit questions.

Aetna Health Plan 2026 Monthly Rates
PPO 750
Employee Only: $81.94
Employee + Child: $306.26
Employee + Spouse: $718.38
Family: $785.44

PPO/HRA 1500
Employee Only: $53.06
Employee + Child: $260.06
Employee + Spouse: $660.64
Family: $669.94

PPO/HDHP-HSA
Employee Only: $25.10
Employee + Child: $195.72
Employee + Spouse $547.88
Family: $550.56

Dental Insurance: Four coverage types are available: Family, Employee and Spouse, Employee and Child, and Employee only. Coverage is available through payroll deduction.

Delta Dental 2026 Monthly Rates
Employee: $2.80
Employee/Child: $18.88
Employee/Spouse: $18.88
Family: $49.36

Life Insurance: Paid by the City at no cost to employees. Coverage is equal to the annual salary rounded to the next highest thousand and then doubled. For an accidental death, the coverage would be twice this amount.

Optional Life Insurance: Paid by the employee. Various amounts of coverage, including family members, available through payroll deduction.

Long Term Disability Insurance: Designed to provide a monthly benefit to assist employees with bills and maintaining a standard of living when disabled as a result of a covered sickness or injury. Coverage is available through payroll deduction. Annual cost is your annual salary multiplied by .00255. This amount is half of the total premium and the City pays the other half.

Retirement: Employees contribute 5% of salary and choose between participating in a traditional defined benefit plan or a hybrid program. Employees vest in the employer component of either plan upon completing five (5) years of service.

Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Normal retirement after 55th birthday, and when combination of age and creditable service equals 85; or, 65th birthday if completed at least five years of creditable service. For sworn officers in Police and Fire/EMS, normal retirement after 50th birthday, and when combination of age and service equals 75; or, 65th birthday or older with 5 years of creditable service. An annual retirement benefit equals 2.0% of salary (based on an average of the highest five years) times the number of creditable years with a maximum of 63%. Early retirement options are available and reductions may apply based on age and service.

Hybrid Program: Provides the characteristics of the traditional pension plan with that of a deferred compensation plan. The pension plan provides an annual benefit equaling 1% of salary (based on an average of the highest five years) times the number of creditable years with a maximum of 63%. The deferred compensation component provides for the employee contribution to be deposited in an account directed by the member. The combination of the two components is structured to provide approximately the same actuarial benefit as the Defined Benefit Pension Plan. International City Management Association - Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC) provides the third party administration of this deferred compensation plan for participating employees.

Sheriff's Department Employees are covered b the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Previous service covered by VRS may be portable to the Roanoke Retirement System.

Retirement Health Savings Plan: All employees contribute 1% of salary to a 401(h) health savings account. Employees vest in the City match of 1% upon completing five (5) years of service. International City Management Association - Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC) provides the third party administration of this plan for participating employees.
Deferred Compensation: Employees may voluntarily contribute salary deferred dollars into a City Sponsored 457 Plan. International City Management Association - Empower provides the third party administration of this deferred compensation plan for participating employees.

Flexible Spending Account: Allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars from their pay checks to pay for child care and/or medical and dental expenses not covered by the City's health care or dental plans. You may also set aside pre-tax dollars to cover certain transit or parking expenses. Keep in mind only transit or parking expenses may be rolled over from year to year.

Virginia College Savings Plan: Two plans to choose from at a reduced application fee, Virginia Prepaid Education Program and the Virginia Education Savings Trust.

Employee Health Services: The City employee health services provides medical care for employees, retirees, and eligible spouses.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services available to assist employees facing life challenges.

Pay Days: Direct deposit is required for all new employees. Paid bi-weekly, 26 pay periods per year.

Vision Insurance: Paid by the Employee. Includes annual routine eye exam, discounts on eyeglass frames, eyeglass lenses and contact lenses.
CEC 2026 Monthly Rates
Employee: $6.68
Employee/Spouse: $12.69
Employee/Child(ren): $13.36
Family: $19.71

Voluntary Benefits: Critical Illness, Accident Insurance and Hospital Indemnity Insurance is offered by The Hartford. CHUBB offers Cancer Advocacy, Life Insurance and Long-Term Care. Identity Protection if offered through LegalShield and IDShield. Personal loans are offered through Purchasing Power and Kashable. Pet Insurance is offered through PetPartners. All voluntary benefits may be payroll deducted.