Deputy City Attorney - Litigator

Position Description

The Tacoma City Attorney’s Office is seeking an experienced attorney with an interest in public sector law to join our tort litigation team. This is an appointive position reporting to the City Attorney. As a Deputy City Attorney, this position will be responsible for defending civil actions against the City of Tacoma, its various departments and employees.

The successful candidate will be part of a team of four attorneys, two paralegals and a legal assistant responsible for assisting with pre-litigation claims, evaluating cases, developing case strategies, preparing cases for trial, appearing in court, preparing and filing briefs and pleadings on time both in trial court and the courts of appeal, building relationships with City departments and divisions, managing outside counsel, negotiating settlement agreements, and communicating with elected and appointed officials. This is a litigation position involving tort claims, claims under the Public Records Act, employment disputes, civil rights claims and other claims against the City and its officials.

These claims span from relatively minor matters to intensely litigated cases involving severe injuries, death and/or matters of public importance.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Juris Doctorate

Minimum Experience*

• 
  Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

• 4 years of litigation experience
• Experience as in-house counsel, e.g., Assistant Attorney General, or municipal attorney, or experience in insurance defense or other government-related law practice
  

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage litigation in state and federal court.
• Ability to effectively represent elected and high-profile clients in prominent matters
• Demonstrated proficiency in research, writing, and communication skills. Effectively complete complex assignments independently and a wide variety of tasks simultaneously.
• Comfort with novel legal issues and emerging areas of law.
• Ability to show commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity in alignment with the City of Tacoma's Anti-Racist Society and Equity and Empowerment Initiatives.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume, cover letter, and a legal writing sample that is less than 10 pages, which can be an excerpt from a larger sample, by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the NEOGOV system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.