Deputy City Attorney

Essential Functions

• Responsible for providing quality legal services to assigned departments, boards, committees, and commissions, and performing other duties as assigned by the City Attorney.
• Provides legal advice and services to City Council, City Manager, and Staff.
• Reviews documents and provides legal opinions and advice.
• Conducts legal research on municipal issues including real estate, condemnation and contracts, documents results and findings, presents legal advice and information and presents recommendations.
• Prepares, reviews, tracks and analyzes contracts, agreements, policies and other legal documents.
• Represents the City in negotiating legal issues; assures that legal issues are resolved within City policy guidelines and applicable law; assures effective communication of issues with the City Attorney and City principals.
• Recommend changes in policies and procedures in order to meet legal requirements.
• Acts as City Attorney in their absence if assigned.
• Provides final decision making on legal matters affecting policy with possible significant cost impacts.
• Makes professional presentations before boards, commissions, and the City Council.
• Prepares legal instruments for boards and commissions, City Manager and City Council.
• Supports the relationship between the City of Denton and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors and City Staff.

Additional Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
• Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in municipal law and real estate, either in a city legal department or in a private law firm.

OR

• Any combination of related education, experience, certifications and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job

Core Competencies

• Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to form and maintain effective relationships with coworkers and customers.
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.
• Exhibits strong knowledge in a variety of municipal law practice areas, including but not limited to:  purchasing, employment/human resources, economic development, land use and planning, parks and recreation, general aviation, real estate, finance, Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act, and litigation.
• Exhibits interpersonal/human relations skills and the ability to support controversial position and/or negotiation skills.
• Ability to independently perform the full range of general and specialized legal work on a variety of topics, with emphasis in land use.   
• Ability to provide administrative and professional leadership and direction to assigned administrative/clerical support staff.
• Ability to perform duties consistent with Denton’s mission to be a leader among cities. 
• Ability to use word processing software and equipment.

Conditions of Employment

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, or be able to obtain Texas licensure within six months of employment
• Must have a valid Class “C” Driver’s License and valid state required minimum automobile liability insurance prior to employment (must obtain Texas Class “C” driver’s license and state required minimum automobile liability insurance within 30 days of hire per state law)
• Must pass a drug test, driver’s license check, criminal history background check, and social security number verification check
• Must have the ability to present professionally before boards and commissions and the City Council
• Must possess a high degree of interpersonal skill in order to professionally deliver municipal legal services to a public client