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Assistant City Attorney or Deputy City Attorney

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Assistant City Attorney or Deputy City Attorney

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Charlottesville (22902), VA

Job Type

Regular Full-Time

Job Number

240100008

Department

City Attorney's Office

Opening Date

02/28/2024

Closing Date

Continuous

Bargaining Unit

N/A

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

General Summary

The City Attorney's Office is seeking candidates to be considered for the position of Assistant City Attorney or Deputy City Attorney who are highly motivated and who strive for success by demonstrating Charlottesville's Core Values of Leadership, Trust, Creativity, Respect, and Excellence.

We offer the opportunity to do interesting, important legal work in a world class city.

We do cutting edge legal work in a supportive environment. Public service offers the chance to improve the quality of life for the over 45,000 people who call Charlottesville home. We embrace the belief that the law is a powerful tool to promote justice. Our active general practice spans the gamut of civil practice. We recently provided legal support for the City’s new form-based zoning ordinance. We have also provided legal support for the implementation of collective bargaining for our police, fire and transit employees. We have an active transactions practice, which recently include two strategic land acquisitions for major city initiatives. Our city is renowned for its rich cultural resources and highly educated and engaged population. Charlottesville “punches above its weight”, and is a wonderful place to live, work and play.

This position may be filled as an Assistant City Attorney or Deputy City Attorney, depending on qualifications:

• The preferred hiring range for this position of Assistant City Attorney is between $86,091.20 to $105,435.20 Annually.

• The preferred hiring range for this position of Deputy City Attorney is between $105,456.00 to $129,147.20 Annually.

  Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time, exempt, position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, and continuing education/training opportunities.

• For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.

• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system which offers both a defined benefit and a defined contribution option. While the City does not participate in VRS, the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

The Assistant City Attorney is responsible for providing professional legal services to City departments, boards and commissions on complex matters, and the ability to independently handle litigation in the City’s General District and Circuit Courts. Primarily and most frequently the work done here is performed as leader or director with broad functional areas and more expertise and strategic focus. Work is completed under the general supervisor of the City Attorney.

The Deputy City Attorney p erforms difficult and complex professional legal services and responsible administrative work in the rendering of legal services to the City; does related work as required. Primarily and most frequently the work done here is performed independently, with diverse functional areas and more specialization and ability to train others.

Some experience in one or more of the following legal areas is helpful, but not required for either position: juvenile or domestic relations/social services, litigation, land use or real estate.

To view a downloadable brochure about our Community, City Government, and the position, please go to: https://www.charlottesville.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11283/Assistant-City-Attorney-or-Deputy-City-Attorney-Brochure-2024?bidId=

Note: This job opportunity is advertised with a closing date of "Continuous." If interested in being considered, an application should be submitted as soon as possible. Applications will be evaluated on a continuous basis. Interviews will be conducted as soon as possible during the recruitment with candidates who are best qualified. Applications may no longer be considered once a candidate to fill the position is identified. This job announcement will close when the position(s) have been filled and may close at any time.

Please include with your online application a cover letter, résumé, writing sample, and three (3) professional references.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

Assistant City Attorney:

• Provides legal advice on a daily basis to officers, departments and agencies of the City's municipal government;

• Represents the City government, its boards, commissions, officials, and employees before state and local courts;

• Independently prepares cases for trail, interviewing and preparing witnesses for trail, examining law and assessing evidence, research and writing briefs, etc.;

• Attends night meetings of boards and commissions of the City, as assigned, and is prepared to render on-the-spot legal advice;

• Drafts ordinances, resolutions, charter revisions, and key legal instruments, as directed by the City Attorney (which may include but is not limited to contracts, deeds, leases, releases, franchises, notes, deeds of trust, easements, partnership agreements, articles of incorporation and bylaws);

• Reviews proposed and new regulations;

• Performs research and drafts legal opinions for review by the City Attorney;

• Provides information and answers inquiries from the general public;

• May conducts title searches, oversees the acquisition of easements, certifies titles and handles closings;

• May pursue the collection of delinquent taxes and other accounts;

• Depending on assignment, may represent the Charlottesville Department of Social Services in proceedings;

• Performs other related work as assigned.

Deputy City Attorney:

• Provides legal advice on a daily basis to officers, departments and agencies of the City's municipal government;

• Provides information and answers inquiries from the general public;

• Represents the City government, its boards, commissions, officials, and employees before federal, state, and local courts;

• Attends night meetings of boards and commissions of the City, as assigned, and is prepared to render on-the-spot legal advice;

• Drafts ordinances, resolutions, charter revisions, proposed legislation, contracts, deeds, leases, releases, franchises and other complicated legal documents on behalf of the City;

• Processes and litigates claims against the City;

• Prepares formal legal opinions for the signature of the City Attorney;

• Drafts ordinances, resolutions, charter revisions, and key legal instruments, as directed by the City Attorney (which may include but is not limited to contracts, deeds, leases, releases, franchises, notes, deeds of trust, easements, partnership agreements, articles of incorporation and bylaws);

• Independently prepares cases for trail, interviewing and preparing witnesses for trail, examining law and assessing evidence, research and writing briefs, etc.;

• May conducts title searches, oversees the acquisition of easements, certifies titles and handles closings;

• May establish procedures to minimize and pursue the collection of delinquent taxes and other accounts;

• Depending on assignment, may represent the Charlottesville Department of Social Services in proceedings;

• Performs related tasks as required.

Education, Experience and Skills

Assistant City Attorney Qualifications:

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an ABA accredited law school.

• Preference for at least two (2) years of prior experience as a practicing attorney.

• Preference for prior litigation experience handling motions and trials in General District and/or Circuit Courts.

• Must currently be licensed to practice law within the Commonwealth of Virginia, or eligible to be admitted to practice law under the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia Part 1A, Rule 1A:1.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Detailed knowledge of civil litigation and juvenile court procedure and/or real estate, zoning and contracts law; thorough knowledge of municipal law, torts, contracts, civil rights, administrative process and real property; thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, practices and references utilized in legal research; thorough knowledge of legal office procedures and practices; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the court officials, City officials, public officials, and the general public; ability to present complex ideas effectively, orally and written; ability to handle complex trial and appellate litigation; proficient in use of Adobe and Microsoft Office software and applications.

Deputy City Attorney Qualifications:

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an ABA accredited law school.

• Considerable experience in the practice of law required; some of which in municipal work preferred.

• Must currently be licensed to practice law within the Commonwealth of Virginia, or eligible to be admitted to practice law under the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia Part 1A, Rule 1A:1.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Detailed knowledge of civil litigation and juvenile court procedure and/or real estate, zoning and contracts law; Comprehensive knowledge of municipal law, torts, contracts, civil rights, administrative process and real property; thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, practices and references utilized in legal research; thorough knowledge of legal office procedures and practices; ability to plan and supervise the work of other attorneys; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with court officials, City officials, and the general public; ability to present complex ideas effectively, orally and written; ability to handle complex trial and appellate litigation; p roficient in use of Adobe and Microsoft Office software and applications.

Physical Conditions & Additional Information

Standard work environment. Some telework may be allowed. Work contacts may include City employees, officials, and members of the public

SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Updated July 1, 2022

Benefits cited represent those for regular 40-hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.

1. LEAVE:

• Vacation:

• 3.09 hours accrued biweekly -- 0 - <3 years

• 3.85 hours accrued biweekly -- 3 - <5 years

• 4.62 hours accrued biweekly -- 5 - <10 years

• 5.40 hours accrued biweekly -- 10 - <15 years

• 6.16 hours accrued biweekly -- 15 - <20 years

• 6.93 hours accrued biweekly -- 20 - <25 years

• 7.70 hours accrued biweekly -- 25+ years

• Sick:

• 4.62 hours per biweekly pay period, approximately 120 hours a years, no limit on accumulation

• Holidays:

• 14 paid holidays per calendar year (13 observed and 1 floating)

2. INSURANCE:

• Aetna Medical –

• Choose from three options with different premiums and levels of coverage and coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire:

• HMO: $0 premium for employee only coverage

• POS 1: Employee-only premium of $36.28 per biweekly pay

• POS 2: Employee-only premium of $13.02 per biweekly pay

• (Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.)

• Prescription Card ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand, $55 higher cost name brand)

• Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60 lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand)

• Dental (Delta Dental)

• No cost for employee only coverage. Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.

• Diagnosis and Preventive -- 100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care - 80%; Major Dental Care - 50%

• Primary -- $50 deductible, 80/20

• Prosthetic & Complex Restorative -- $50 deductible, 50/50

• $1,500 maximum annual benefit

• $1,000 Orthodontic Benefit

• MetLife Vision Plan: Optional

• Employee only coverage: $2.50 bi-weekly; Dependent coverage also available at differing rates.

• Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay;

• $130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.

• Life:

• Two times annual salary (paid by the City)

• Optional supplemental life available for employee, spouse, dependents (paid by employee)

• AFLAC: Optional

• Cancer/accident/short term disability/intensive care insurance (paid by employee)

• Long Term Disability

• Protection from income loss due to long-term illness or injury (paid by the City)

3. RETIREMENT: The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS. There are certain provisions that must be met and the portability request must be executed within 18 months of vesting in the City's Plan.

• Pension:

• Choose from two options:

• A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee's earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5 year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.

• A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual's account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. (Note that: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees)

• Supplemental:

• Deferred Compensation (457) - employee contribution

4. OTHER BENEFITS:

• Flexible Spending Accounts:

• Health Care Expenses

• Dependent Care Expenses

• Parking/Mass Transit Expenses

• Parking Subsidy of $50 per month

• Wellness Programs:

• Gym Reimbursement Program

• Monthly On-Site Nurse and Annual Flu Shots

• Health Screenings and Fairs, Education Sessions, & Weekly Fitness Classes

• Weight Watchers at Work

• Bike Commuter Program:

• Reimbursement of up to $20 per month for reasonable bike commuting expenses

• Employee Assistance Program:

• A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.

• Tuition Reimbursement Program:

• Up to $1,500 for undergraduate OR Up to $3,000 for graduate level tuition per fiscal year per employee.

  01

  This posting indicated to include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three (3) professional references as an attachment along with your online application. Have you done so?

• Yes

• No

  02

  To be considered, qualifying education and experience, including City of Charlottesville employment, must be clearly documented in the education, work history, and additional information sections of the employment application. Resumes can be attached but should not be used as a substitute for the required information on the application. I understand that an attached resume may not be accepted in place of a completed employment application and that my qualifications should be stated on the employment application itself.

• Yes

• No

  03

  I certify that the information above is true and correct, and I certify that it can be verified with reference to the information in my basic application. I understand that my application may be rejected if the responses to supplemental questions do not match my basic application.

• Yes

• No

  Required Question

Agency

City of Charlottesville

Address

P. O. Box 911 605 East Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902

Phone

(434) 970-3490

Website

http://www.charlottesville.gov/jobs