Deputy City Attorney - Land Use and Transactional Law at City of Charlottesville, VA

About the Department

The assignment for this Deputy City Attorney focuses on land use and transactional law, including advising City departments, agencies, and boards on matters related to land use, real estate, transactional work, and general municipal law. This role will also address legal issues related to procurement, public works, and utilities. The Deputy City Attorney works under the general direction of the City Attorney and collaborates with other attorneys in the City Attorney's Office to support the City’s legal needs.

To learn more about the Charlottesville City Attorney's Office, please visit: https://www.charlottesville.gov/172/City-Attorney

The preferred hiring range for this position is between $110,768.76 - $138,754.14 Annually. 

• The incumbent will receive 80 hours of discretionary leave per calendar year. 

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.

Performs difficult professional and responsible administrative work in the rendering of legal services, counsel, representation, and regular guidance to assigned portfolio of City agencies, departments, boards, and/or commissions. Prepares legal documents and represents the City in civil litigation.

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 may no longer be considered once a reasonable number of applications has been received or once a candidate to fill the position is identified. Applications may be evaluated on a continuous basis and interviews may be conducted as soon as possible during the recruitment. This job announcement may close at any time after 7 calendar days.

Position Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description.  The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Serves as legal advisor to an assigned portfolio of City agencies, departments, and boards; providing legal review and guidance.
• Depending on assignment, provides legal review and counsel on land use and zoning applications, site plans, Building Code and permits, zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan amendments, proffer agreements, zoning interpretations, and development proposals. Assists with due diligence and legal issues related to property or easement acquisition, title reviews/searches, land disposition, and infrastructure development.
• Depending on assignment, may represent the Charlottesville Department of Social Services in proceedings.
• Conducts legal research and prepares formal and informal opinions and memoranda on federal, state, and local laws affecting City operations.
• Drafts, reviews, and/or negotiates a wide range of legal documents including but not limited to ordinances, resolutions, contracts, easements, deeds, leases, grant agreements, MOUs, and other instruments.
• Prepares formal legal opinions for the signature of the City Attorney.
• Monitors, reviews, and analyses proposed and passed legislation from sessions of the General Assembly.
• Represents the City government, its boards, commissions, officials, and employees before federal, state, and local courts.
• Defends civil litigation brought against the City and its officials, agencies, departments, and employees by evaluating claims, circumstances, legal issues, and relevant materials; determining and drafting appropriate responsive pleadings, performing research, drafting briefs, documents, and legal memorandum; preparing and presenting arguments, as well as preparing/interviewing witnesses and presenting evidence; conducting negotiations; handling appellate procedures.
• Performs trial duties, including completing discovery; scheduling and taking depositions; attending the trial settlement conference; preparing exhibits; conferring with witnesses; preparing documentation, jury instructions and exhibits; handling voir dire; making post-trial motions and other related duties.
• Supports city staff with statutory interpretations, regulatory enforcement, and/or public records requests in accordance with FOIA. Reviews and responds to subpoena duces tecum requests and other legal inquiries. Provides information and answers inquiries from the public.
• Attends meetings of boards and commissions as assigned, including those held after-hours, and provides real-time legal guidance.
• May have responsibility for establishing procedures to minimize and pursue the collection of delinquent taxes and other accounts.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time. 
• Regular and reliable attendance.

Other Duties

• Collaborates with other attorneys to support the City’s legal needs and strategic initiatives.
• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate AND at least 4 years of experience in the practice of law.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

 
Preferred:

• Prior experience in the practice of municipal law or advising a public agency in the assigned portfolio of focus.
• Prior litigation experience handling motions and trials in General District and/or Circuit Courts.

Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:

• Licensed to practice law in 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.)
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

 
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
 Job Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of municipal, state, and federal laws, torts, contracts, civil rights, administrative process, and real property.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, practices, and references utilized in legal research.
• Knowledge of civil litigation and juvenile court procedure and/or real estate, land use, zoning, and contracts law.
• Thorough knowledge of legal office procedures and practices.

Reading

• Advanced: ability to read and understand complex books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents.

Writing

• Advanced: ability to research and prepare legal documents with proper documentation, reporting, record keeping and compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.  Ability to tailor writing to specific audiences and explain complex thoughts and ideas in writing.

Math

• Intermediate: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.

Communication Skills

• Advanced:  recommendations regarding policy development and implementation are made and/or recommended.   Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, City administration, and the public. Contact may involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations.  Evaluates customer satisfaction, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction. Provide oral and written presentations in public.

Independence and Decision-Making

• Requires Limited Direction: normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Special projects are managed with little oversight and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance reviewed periodically.

Technical Skills

• Basic: uses standard technical skills appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities.   Demonstrated skill in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and statistical databases to enter data, maintain records and generate reports; uses of computer technology for legal research.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• No budgetary/fiscal responsibilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No responsibility for direction or supervision of others.

Other Characteristics

• Time pressure.
• Frequent change of tasks.
• Working closely with others as part of a team.
• Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Constant interruptions and requests for service.
• Must work effectively with sensitive and confidential materials and issues.
• May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
• May be required to work additional hours outside of normal schedule, including weekends and/or nights.

Other Qualifications

Physical Demands:

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Must be able to frequently remain in a stationary position.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.  Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Must occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Must constantly position self to maintain files in file cabinet.
• Ability to observe at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.  

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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