Municipal Attorney

Job Title: Municipal Attorney

Salary range: $135,000 - $170,000

Location: Sitka, Alaska

Department: Legal

Hours: Full-Time; Benefitted

Start date: Negotiable

Job Description:

To apply for this position, visit: https://prothman.com/open-recruitments/?jobId=3220

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF JOB

Serves as the City and Borough of Sitka’s (“CBS”) legal counsel and risk manager providing legal advice to the Assembly, Mayor, Administrator, and all departments on legal matters and performing the day-to-day legal work of CBS. The Municipal Attorney is hired by the Assembly. The work is performed under their general direction and supervision. The work is performed independently and based on technical expertise with discretion subject to compliance with the law. The Municipal Attorney directly supervises one administrative support employee in the Legal Department. In the absence of the Municipal Administrator, this position may be required to temporarily fill in and assume full responsibility for the duties of the Administrator.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Oversees and mitigates where possible legal risks to protect CBS’s interest
  • Plans, organizes, and directs the daily operations and strategic planning of the Legal Department; prepares the annual budget for the Legal Department; monitors and approves expenditures to maintain spending within allocated budget
  • Advises and confers with the Assembly, Mayor, Administrator and all departments on all legal matters and in regard to their official duties, responsibilities and legal services needs
  • Attends all Assembly meetings and work sessions of the Assembly as legal advisor
  • Prepares or supervises the preparation of legal documents including, but not limited to, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, agreements, property documents, memorandums of understanding, franchises, court filings, or other legal documents as requested
  • Represents CBS in civil and criminal matters coming before any court or administrative agency
  • Acts as prosecutor in litigation and defends civil matters and violations of municipal ordinances not handled directly by the Police Department or the State of Alaska including some violations and minor offenses
  • Provides legal advice to Assembly when it is convened as quasi-judicial body such as board of equalization, board of adjustment, any other appeal process authorized under the Sitka General Code
  • Hires and supervises the work of outside counsel or legal consultants retained by CBS for various legal matters; works with insurance companies responsible for coverage for any claims or potential claims
  • Prepares or supervises the preparation of formal and informal legal opinions upon request of the Assembly, Mayor, or Municipal Administrator
  • Represents CBS when attending various meetings with different stakeholders where CBS legal rights or exposure are or may be implicated
  • Maintains the confidentiality of privileged matters balanced by the public’s rights regarding Open Meetings Act and Public Records Act
  • Provides legal advice regarding proposed federal and state legislation or regulations effecting CBS
  • Responds to legal inquiries by the public made to the Assembly, Municipal Administrator, departments, and boards/commissions/committees as requested; does not provide direct legal advice to the public
  • Performs other related duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

  • General legal principles, processes, and procedures
  • Administrative agencies and judicial court practices and procedures, at all levels
  • Federal, state, and local statutes, regulations, and procedures regarding municipalities and local governments
  • Opens Meetings Act and Public Records Act
  • Civil and criminal law principles, processes, and procedures

Skills in:

  • Legal research, including electronic research
  • Drafting legal opinions and documents
  • Use of typical administrative and law office software programs
  • Trial/litigation/appellate and administrative law advocacy
  • Organizational skills to manage many complex tasks simultaneously

Ability to:

  • Communicate effectively and succinctly, both orally and in writing, when discussing or explaining complex legal matters in a manner meaningful to non-lawyers
  • Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under pressure of time sensitive deadlines and changing priorities
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Assembly, Mayor, Administration, departments, co-workers, representatives of other governmental agencies, and the public

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Graduation from an accredited law school and;
  • Extensive experience in the practice of law required, both civil and criminal; experience in municipal or governmental law desired

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS

  • Must be a member in good standing of the Alaska Bar Association
  • If not licensed to practice law in Alaska, be eligible to become a member by reciprocity or within 3 months of beginning of employment
  • Maintain membership with the Alaska Municipal Attorneys Association

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Working Conditions:

  • General office environment

Specific Physical Requirements:

  • Sitting or standing for long periods of time
  • Working in front of computer screen for long periods of time
  • Some walking, lifting (up to 15 pounds), bending, and reaching during the work day

General Physical Requirements:

  • Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing which permits the employee to communicate effectively
  • Sufficient vision which permits the employee to review a wide variety of written correspondence, reports, and related material in both electronic and hardcopy form
  • Sufficient manual dexterity which permits the employee to operate a keyboard and produce hand-written materials and notations
  • Sufficient personal mobility which permits the employee to visit various and other work stations and attend a wide variant of meetings within CBS and out of area

BENEFITS 

  • PERS Defined Contribution Retirement
  • SBS Annuities program - 6.13% match
  • Employer Paid Life Insurance (employee and dependents)
  • Medical Dental Vision (90%/10% employer/employee paid) (employee and dependents)
  • Annual Leave & Sick Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Eligible for 457 Retirement Plans
  • Eligible for Supplemental Insurance Plans

The City and Borough of Sitka is an Equal Opportunity Employer