Assistant City Attorney II - Municipal Affairs

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Nature of Work

The purpose of this job is to provide a full range of legal services on issues and projects of importance to the City. Depending on assigned area(s), this job may involve litigation, municipal affairs, and/or ordinance enforcement. Position will have increased autonomy, depth of knowledge, and gain special areas of expertise from that of Assistant City Attorney I. Position will also provide support and guidance of Assistant City Attorney I in everyday duties and responsibilities. 

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. The Department of Law is divided into three Divisions representing three primary areas of service to the City: Municipal Affairs, Civil Litigation, and Ordinance Enforcement. Although attorneys may be assigned work in more than one service area, not all attorneys will perform all of these duties.  

THIS POSITION IS IN THE MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS DIVISION: 

• Provides non-litigation legal services, with significant support and supervision, to the Mayor, the City Manager, the City Commission, and all departments within the City of Grand Rapids on a broad range of municipal topics, including but not limited to: planning & zoning, real estate, contract drafting and negotiation, ordinance drafting, Home Rule City Act, governmental immunity, revenue bond act, tax increment financing, bidding and procurement, compliance with various code provisions, etc.
• Advises and provides counsel to City boards and commissions relative to the Open Meetings Act. Freedom of Information Act, and parliamentary procedure, including providing assistance in the underlying substantive area of law and process improvements
• Assumes responsibility for providing legal services and advice regarding major projects for department heads, the City Manager and the City Commission
• Coordinates and reviews outside counsel work product on municipal projects
• Provides non-litigation legal services to the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD), including transactional work, legal training, legal advice on projects of significance to the GRPD, as well as legal advice on discrete legal issues
• Manages FOIA requests, including processing requests, coordinating with City Staff regarding records, and communicating with the public, ensuring timely responses, and handling appeals

• Juris Doctorate

• At least three (3) to six (6) years of experience as a licensed attorney

• Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan, or licensed in another state with the ability to become licensed within a reasonable time 

• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment
• Legal terminology and court rules and procedures
• Principles and practices of basic bookkeeping
• Principles, methods, materials and practices of legal research, including use of electronic research methods
• Various State and Federal law, common law and State and Federal regulations
• Applicable court procedure and rules of evidence
• Local government structure and operation, city policies and procedures, and the City's relationships to other public jurisdictions

• Interpersonal skills necessary to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships
• Performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature
• Performing basic mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and ratios
• Preparing and presenting complex legal matters
• Verbal and written communication
• Investigation and research
• Negotiation and dispute resolution
• Risk assessment and management
• Organization and time management

• Meet schedules and deadlines of the work
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions
• Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files
• Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries
• Identify, preserve, collate and analyze legal, complex or voluminous documents
• Understand complex legal issues and identify areas for investigation
• Conduct research on complex problems and prepare opinions