Attorney III - Tort bei City of Jacksonville, FL

About the Department

Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four (4) weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!!!

The Office of General Counsel is actively seeking an Attorney III - Tort.

Did you know as a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have twelve (12) paid holidays and a personal leave day as well? In addition to health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance and flexible spending plans are also available. City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after ten (10) years of public service and on-time payments.

The position reports directly to the General Counsel or a supervising Attorney IV. The primary purpose of this position is to mentor less seasoned attorneys and to provide legal services that are of the utmost difficult and complex level to their respective clients. Work is performed under the direction of the General Counsel or supervising Assistant General Counsel IV as designated by the General Counsel and is reviewed through conferences, inspection of documents and evaluation of results obtained. 

Position Duties

• Schedules, assigns, monitors, reviews, mentors and evaluates the work of assigned staff.
• Performs sophisticated legal research and prepares opinions on various legal issues.
• Interprets and applies legal principles and precedents in resolving complex legal issues.
• Negotiates, prepares, drafts, revises and approves contracts, deeds, leases, resolutions, ordinances and other legal documents.
• Reviews documents and renders opinions as to their legal validity and/or acceptability.
• Investigates claims and complaints by or against the Consolidated Government and recommends action to be taken.
• Prepares for and tries state and federal cases for damages, declaratory and injunctive or other relief and other suits, administrative proceedings and hearings which includes taking depositions, preparing pleadings, motions, memoranda, written discovery, briefs and trial and appellate materials.
• Prepares proposed legislation and makes recommendations to repeal, amend or revise existing laws.
• Advises clients on legal matters.
• Represents the Office of General Counsel (OGC) in cases, hearings and at various internal board hearings and appeals.
• Attends meetings of the City Council, boards, agencies and OGC clients.
• Assigns responsibility, takes corrective action, demonstrates leadership and evaluates, develops and motivates employees.
• Supervises with facts, focuses on results, provides clear direction, and encourages innovation. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence, City Ordinances and Charter provisions relating to the authority and functions of Consolidated Government, established precedents and sources of legal reference applicable to county and municipal activities.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal principles and precedents in resolving complex legal issues.
• Ability to effectively communicate and express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to conduct research on complex legal issues and prepare significant and high priority legal opinions.
• Ability to gain knowledge of municipal, county, state and federal case law, statutory and regulatory law as it relates to City government and other OGC clients.
• Ability to prepare and try civil law cases before county, state and federal courts, administrative bodies and arbitrators. 
• Ability to analyze and prepare civil law cases, ordinances, contracts and other legal documents.
• Ability to schedule, assign, monitor, review and evaluate the work of subordinates.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Other Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Possession of a Florida license to practice law.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law.
• Professional legal experience in government is preferred.
• Admissions and memberships in other organizations or to practice before courts may be required depending upon the respective practice group.

A FULLY COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. Apply at www.jacksonville.gov. Work history is required for all employment/volunteer work in which qualifications are being based. When meeting/basing qualifications on education, a copy of your college transcript, with your social blackout, is required with your application. U.S. transcripts do not need to be official, but must state your name, the school’s name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred. Transcripts outside the U.S. must be converted to U.S. standards.

The application system works best with Google Chrome or Edge with Chromium web browsers. Please try to apply using one of these browsers. To ensure you receive email notifications, be sure to make “[email protected]” a trusted sender. You may also track the status of your application and see notifications by logging into your account. For further information regarding the application process. please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the website.

Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and the family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for post-secondary educational requirements, in employment and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

If claiming veteran's preference, you must attach a DD-214 (Member Form-4 copy) or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs listing military status, dates of service and character of discharge. You must also attach the Veterans Preference Certification Form and if applicable, the additional forms as noted here: http://www.coj.net/departments/employee-services/veterans-preference.

If a candidate believes he or she was not afforded the veteran’s preference, he or she may file a written complaint, within sixty (60) calendar days upon receipt of notification of the hiring decision, requesting an investigation to:

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs

Attention: Veterans’ Preference Coordinator

11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K  

Largo, FL 33778-1630 

Email: [email protected]