Job Description

City Attorney Assistant

The purpose of this position is to provide assistance to the City Attorney's office by serving under the Direction of the City Attorney as an in-house counsel for the City and State of Utah for misdemeanor offenses in Saratoga Springs. Performs professional duties as required to expedite the efficient and effective litigation of criminal and civil cases.

This position is the first-line supervisor of assigned positions, which may include Assistant City Attorney(s) I, Legal Assistant(s), Law Clerk(s), and Intern(s).

Works under the specific direction of higher-level Assistant City Attorney(s) and the general direction of the City Attorney. All employees are also under the general supervision of the City Manager.

Job Responsibilities

• Provides legal memoranda, opinions, and advice on government law and criminal prosecutions matters including but not limited to criminal law, evidentiary law, litigation, contracts, land use, real estate, government records, open meetings, civil rights, employment, telecommunications, personal injury, environmental, water, bankruptcy, and municipal bonds
• Drafts and reviews highly technical contracts, leases, and agreements
• Assists with the representation of the City and assigned departments in civil and criminal litigation in state and federal trial courts
• Attends meetings of the Planning Commission, City Council, Library Board, Development Review Committee, and other various City departments, boards, and commissions, which are often held during evening hours
• Maintains knowledge and skill levels in current case law and legislation
• Assists and fills-in for City Attorney when needed and as assigned with civil and criminal responsibilities
• Provides adequate office coverage onsite at City hall as directed by City Attorney
• Screens potential criminal prosecutions from law enforcement agencies
• Evaluates evidence and reviews case reports
• Determines charges and pursuit of prosecution
• Prosecutes misdemeanors in justice and district courts
• Monitors case progress to ensure efficient and effective processing and litigation
• Prepares and tries civil and criminal litigation
• Interviews victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officers
• Recommends appropriate criminal charges to be brought against accused persons or organizations
• Prepares for court by performing tasks such as legal research, drafting motions and briefs, gathering and analyzing evidence, and preparing jury instructions
• Attends and participates in motions, pleas, arraignments, pretrials, hearings, and sentencing
• Negotiates plea offerings and settlements of criminal and civil cases
• Drafts legal materials and documents such as motions, Informations, subpoenas, and arrest and search warrants
• Prepares memoranda, motions, writs, subpoenas, and other legal documents
• Submits regular reports, written or verbal, to apprise city attorney of status of assigned matters and cases
• Follows established policies and procedures
• Provides legal advice to city departments and law enforcement
• Prepares and conducts legal topic training for police officers, city employees, appointed officials, and elected officials
• Assists in the development of administrative procedures for department heads and elected officials
• Advises, counsels, and consults with various city departments and agencies of the City
• Acts as 2nd Chair in criminal and civil proceedings and 1st Chair as assigned
• Performs other duties as needed or directed

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• A Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited law school
• A minimum of four (4) years of experience in municipal government law or a closely related field

Special Qualifications & Certifications:

• Admission and Active Status with the Utah State Bar Association
• Mandatory continuing legal education (CLE) as required by Utah State Bar Association
• Must possess a valid Utah driver's license

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Communicate in a concise and effective manner
• Excellent writing skills including correct use of English language and vocabulary
• General knowledge of municipal government operations
• Knowledge of litigation procedures including but not limited to Rules of Evidence, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Appellate Procedure, and Utah Administrative Rules
• Knowledge of civil, criminal, evidentiary, and government law including but not limited to civil and criminal, the Utah Criminal Code, Utah Traffic Code, litigation, contract law, land use law, real estate law, government records, open meetings law, civil rights, employment law, telecommunications law, personal injury law, water law, environmental law, bankruptcy, and municipal bonds
• Skills in litigation and trial advocacy
• Skills in conducting legal research
• Skills in legal writing including but not limited to legal briefs and memoranda
• Skills in analytical problem solving
• Skills in decision making under adversarial circumstances
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Skills in document composition
• Arrive to work, court, and meetings on time
• Communicate with others including opposing counsel, judges, defendants, and plaintiffs in a polite, courteous, and respectful manner
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with all levels of City personnel, vendors, and the public in all situations while maintaining a professional, pleasant, and courteous demeanor
• Exercise considerable judgment skills in information handling and privacy of records
• Work with considerable independence within established policies and procedures
• Development and utilization of key performance indicators
• Retention of files, records, and reports
• Coordinating and prioritizing multiple tasks efficiently
• Utilize Microsoft Office programs, Adobe, and other specialized software systems and demonstrate overall excellent computer skills
• Ability to type at least 40 words per minute
• Exercise sound and good judgment at all times

Working Conditions

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus
• Regularly sits at a desk or table to operate a computer and related equipment and to type, read, proofread, interpret, and apply information obtained therefrom
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry items weighing up to 30 pounds
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or move carts of items weighing up to 100 pounds
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office
• Work may periodically require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl
• This position has exposure to stressful situations as a result of human behavior
• Work is often performed under deadlines and time constraints which may require alterations in the normal work schedule
• This position requires the employee to drive City vehicles

Compensation and Benefits Wage Range: The full Salary range is as follows, please note hiring will normally occur at the minimum of the range and will not exceed the midpoint.

Minimum - $103,673/yr. Midpoint - $124,408/yr. Maximum - $145,143/yr.

Benefits The City offers a competitive benefits package including several health insurance options (one of which has a $0.00 employee premium payroll deduction with Wellness program participation), dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurances, an EAP (including mental health short-term counseling services) for the whole family, a free Teledoc program for the whole family, monetary incentives for wellness program participation, and a HSA (health savings account) with an Employer match. The City also offers the employee the option to elect to add on Vision, Accident, Hospital, Critical Illness, additional Life Insurance coverage and FSAs (flexible spending accounts).

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