Assistant City Attorney III in Santa Barbara, CA

Government

Santa Barbara, CA

Assistant City Attorney III in Santa Barbara, CA

Law Firm Non Legal Department

7-7 yrs required

No

# Assistant City Attorney III

## Job Summary
The Assistant City Attorney III provides a wide range of professional legal services to all City departments and divisions, City Council and various boards, commissions, and committees. Incumbents in this class have at least 7 years of experience as Assistant City Attorney or in municipal law, and are assigned difficult and complex assignments under minimum direction. This is a flexibly staffed position, normally filled by advancement from Assistant City Attorney II.

## Salary
The salary range for this position is $166, - $202, Annually.

## Essential Functions
- Provide exemplary customer service to all individuals by demonstrating a willingness to be attentive, understanding, responsive, fair, courteous and respectful.
- Perform legal research on a wide variety of municipal legal issues, and prepare opinions on various legal problems for City departments and divisions, the City Council, and various boards, commissions and committees.
- Routine and complex review and drafting of contracts, agreements, deeds, leases, and memorandums of understanding (MOU).
- Draft and review complex and complicated ordinances and resolutions for consideration by City advisory bodies and/or the City Council.
- Assist with litigation duties such as reviewing and/or preparing discovery; prepare legal briefs and/or points and authorities; prepare draft motions; conduct research and prepare memorandums on civil and/or criminal cases involving the City.
- Conduct research and draft opinion memorandums and letters on various municipal legal issues.
- Provide legal advice on public records, open meeting laws, and conflict of interest laws.
- Confer with and render assistance to department heads and division managers in establishing policies by developing and applying legal points and procedures; recommend changes in policies and procedures to meet legal requirements.
- Prosecute misdemeanor violations of City ordinances and criminal appeals; represent the City in civil actions brought by or against the City.
- Attend meetings of the Planning Commission, Rent Review Board and other boards, commissions and committees as may be required; render legal advice as requested.
- Investigate claims and complaints by or against the City, recommend action to be taken.
- Respond to citizen complaints and requests for information.
- Prepare matters for administrative hearings and represent the City in such hearings.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.

## Qualifications
- Possess the equivalent of at least 7 years of experience in the practice of municipal law or related experience, and a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
- Active membership in the California State Bar Association.
- Possess a valid Class C California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City's Vehicle Insurance Policy.
- Knowledge of principles and practices of civil, contract and administrative law, especially as related to local government; principles and practices of municipal law and public administration; pleadings and effective practices and techniques in the presentation of court cases; judicial procedures and rules of evidence; principles, methods and techniques of legal research and investigation; statutory and case law relating to the purchase of goods and services, contracts, labor, land use, environment, traffic and collections proceedings; responsibilities and obligations of public officials and administrative agencies; municipal government organization, structure and functional responsibilities; the Brown Act, the Fair Political Practices Act and other state laws and court cases applicable to municipalities and public bodies; applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, and local codes and ordinances, and labor contracts affecting local government operations; and citywide operations and services, and municipal organization design.
- Ability to prepare sound legal memoranda and other legal documents and instruments; define issues, perform legal research, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and develop sound conclusions and recommendations; present statements of fact, law and argument clearly and logically; exercise sound, independent judgment within general policy guidelines and legal parameters; interpret state and Federal laws, regulations, legislation, and constitutional provisions affecting municipal operations; represent the City effectively in hearings, courts of law and meetings; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; operate personal computer hardware and utilize related word processing, database, and spreadsheet software programs; operate a calculator; prepare clear, concise and competent resolutions, ordinances, contracts, leases, deeds, reports, correspondence and other written materials; exercise effective judgment in policy, personnel, and budgetary matters and adopt appropriate actions that consider the needs and interests of affected parties and long-term impacts upon the City; prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive correspondence, reports and other written materials and make effective oral presentations; maintain confidentiality of sensitive personnel and City information; and work independently.

## Physical and Mental Demands
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and stand. The employee occasionally lifts and carries records and documents weighing less than 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
- Mental Demands: While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret complex data; thoroughly analyze and solve problems; exercise sound judgment in the absence of specific guidelines; use math and mathematical reasoning; establish priorities and work on multiple