DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY

Description

Advises the City Attorney regularly on operational and legal issues involving the City. Assumes operational functions of the City Attorney in his/her absence.

Essential Duties

• Renders legal opinions on various issues, either verbally or in writing, to the Mayor, City Commission, City Manager or department heads, at the direction of the City Attorney.

• Coordinates the management of legal issues with staff, contract law firms, and independent counsel.

• Represents the City in litigation, negotiations, settlements, mediations, and arbitrations.

• Regularly practices in federal and state courts, including appellate courts.

• Supervises the prosecution of cases filed in the Hobbs Municipal Court, or appealed to District Court, to include all violations of the City Charter, City ordinances and New Mexico statutes which are within the jurisdiction of the Hobbs Municipal Court. Coaches, trains, counsels, and instructs staff and Municipal Prosecutor in order to meet established goals and objectives.

• Assumes prosecution of criminal matters whenever the Municipal Prosecutor, by reason of interest or other reason, is disqualified from prosecuting any matter.

• Represents the various City departments in public hearings held before the City Commission or any other administrative body.

• Provides periodic training on evolving legal issues to the various departments.

• Drafts and reviews ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, deeds, leases, franchises, etc. either directly or through subordinate staff.

• Assists City staff to ensure compliance with various state and local laws.

• Reviews information to keep informed of proposed state and federal legislation affecting the City.

• Reviews legislation, rule changes, and appellate cases affecting municipalities.

• Supervises the activities of the Assistant City Attorney(s) and other assigned staff.

• Advises and supports staff in duties and project responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• 
  Knowledge of various aspects of criminal and civil litigation including preparation, pleading, discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal.
• Knowledge of court procedures and applicable court rules, knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of legal issues germane to municipalities in the State of New Mexico.
• Knowledge of state and federal constitutional provisions and the application of the same to municipalities and their processes.
• Knowledge of legal research methods, resources, and techniques.
• Ability to assume executive level responsibility and ability to make appropriate decisions within delegated authority.
• Ability to utilize techniques and practices for effective, efficient, and cost effective management of allocated resources.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet multiple deadlines to ensure attainment of set goals for the department and the City.
• Ability to manage litigation caseload to timely achieve favorable results for the client while adhering to all deadlines and requirements set by the court or tribunal.
• Ability to firmly and impartially supervise, coach, lead, and direct the activities of staff.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing and ability to negotiate in an effective manner to achieve the desired result.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, customers, clients and the public.

• 
  Valid state issued drivers license.
• Current admission to the State Bar of New Mexico.
• Current admission to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.
• Ability to gain admission to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit within six months of hire.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

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 frequently required to sit and talk or hear, stand, walk, use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls and reach with hands or arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the 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.

Work performed primarily in courtroom and office setting.

• The City of Hobbs will provide 80% to 90% Heath Insurance Coverage from Single to Family coverage.
• Employees are eligible for 100% short-term disability coverage provided by the City of Hobbs.
• Employer PERA contributions 14.8% for general, 28.775% for HPD, 30.9% for HFD.
• CDL pay - $6,000 per year (if applicable).
• PTO accruals start at 12 hours per month (144 hours per year) and progressively increase based on years of service to 20 hours per month (240 hours per year) at year 21.
• Bilingual Pay - $1,500 dollar incentive per year upon completion of yearly proficiency test.
• Education Incentive - ($1,000, $4,000, $6,000 dollars - Associates, Bachelor's, Masters; degree must be relevant to position and above the current minimum requirements of the held position).
• Longevity Pay - Begins at the completion of 10 years of service. Gradually increased.
• Retention Incentive - $600 incentive yearly with years 1-9 of completed service
• 13 Paid Holidays.
• Bereavement Leave - 5 days per calendar year per personnel rules guidelines.
• Military Leave - (120 hours per year for general, 183.75 per year for HPD, 360 hours per year for HFD).