Job: City Attorney

Job Description

Job Type: Full time, Salaried

Wage: $115,000-$130,000/yr.

Location: Trinidad, CO.

Job Description:

This position is under City Council direction and supervision and provides a wide range of legal services to the City of Trinidad City Council, City Boards & Commissions, and City Departments.

CULTURAL VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

The mission of every employee at the City of Trinidad is to deliver exceptional value and quality of life to all our citizens.  Each employee is measured by the ability to adhere to the city’s core value of Pride which is delivered through Purpose, Respect, Integrity, Dependability and Excellence.  As a City we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity for all citizens and recognize that it is a privilege to serve the citizens of Trinidad, Colorado.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other nonessential or peripheral duties that may be required.  The City of Trinidad retains the right to modify or change the essential duties and additional functions of the job at any time without notice. Examples of duties are not intended to be all-inclusive or restrictive:

• Provides assistance and legal advice to City Council, other Boards & Commissions, and Staff members related to a broad range of advanced legal matters involving municipal law, including but not limited to: construction and other contracts; real property; state and federal constitutional law; zoning and land use; liquor/marijuana licensing; taxation; open records; election law; municipal code interpretation, drafting, and enforcement; governmental liability and immunity; human resources law and enforcement.
• Drafts City ordinances, resolutions, policies, contracts, and other legal documents.
• Confers with staff regarding City-wide and departmental policies and procedures as needed.
• Confers and coordinates with outside counsel regarding litigation on behalf of the City.
• Conducts legal research; provides advice on a variety of legal issues; investigates and monitors claims against the City and initiates or recommends appropriate legal action.
• Advises City Council and staff members of potential problems or concerns and makes recommendations for changes or improvements.
• Provides verbal and written information as requested, including legal opinions. Researches, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authority in the preparation of opinions and briefs.
• Drafts and reviews documents presented to the City by outside entities, such as contracts, leases, land use documents, and intergovernmental agreements.
• Interprets the City charter, code, ordinances, resolutions, and City policies in response to Council direction, staff requests, and citizen inquiries
• Responds to staff regarding CORA inquiries; advises staff on responses to subpoenas.
• Attends all Council meetings, work sessions, planning commission meetings, and other functions as requested by City Council. Council meetings are typically held during evening hours on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
• Prosecutes cases in Municipal Court.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and statutes governing the practice of law in the State of Colorado and the City, including the City Charter and Code, Colorado Revised Statutes, U.S. Code, Code of Federal Regulations, Colorado case law, U.S. and Colorado Constitution, Rules of Procedures for county and district courts, State of Colorado and the district and 10th Circuit Federal Courts
• Skilled in managing situations requiring diplomacy, fairness, firmness, and sound judgment.
• Ability to evaluate controversial situations and present options in a clear and concise manner.
• Knowledge of, and ability to effectively communicate potential or pending changes to state and/or federal laws that may impact the City.
• Skilled in presenting cases to court.
• Ability to identify legal risks to mitigate liability for the City.
• Skilled in conducting legal research and preparing legal pleadings, briefs, and opinions.

SUPERVISION

Received:  Works under the general supervision of City Council.

Exercised:  None.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Required:

• J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. law school and admitted to practice before the Colorado Supreme Court.
• Actively engaged in the practice of law in the State of Colorado for at least two (2) years prior to this appointment.

Preferred:

• Experience in public/municipal sector law.

Other Requirements:

• Must possess a valid current state-issued driver’s license and not be under suspension, revocation or denial nor have any prior alcohol and/or drug-related driving offenses within the last five years. A driving record search will be conducted on all applicants prior to employment and will be subject to observation throughout their employment.
• Successful candidates must pass a background investigation, drug screening, and physical examination in accordance with job duties prior to employment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Duties are generally performed in an office setting with a controlled environment. Work is subject to many interruptions and requires that individuals quickly prioritize job responsibilities and project work in an environment that may involve assisting several people at the same time.

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.