Description

Purpose:
Under the direction of the City Attorney, this position provides legal services to and on behalf of the City.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Legal Advice: With minimal or no supervision, provides advanced level legal advice to elected officials and senior and executive management on highly complex issues that may have high political/ financial impact. May assist other attorneys on other assignments.
• Legal Research: With minimal or no supervision, performs research on complex legal issues with a high level of political or financial impact. May assist other attorneys on other assignments.
• Legal Writing: With minimal or no supervision, prepares legal documents on complex legal matters. May assist other attorneys on other assignments.
• Legal Advocacy: With minimal or no supervision, acts as a lead representative of the City in complex internal and external legal matters that have significant political/financial impact. May assist other attorneys on other assignments.
   

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

• Supervision: May supervise other attorneys or staff on an acting or interim basis.
• Leadership: Provides substantial mentoring and training to lower-level attorneys on legal issues and legal skills. May lead project teams or cross-Divisional work teams.
   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
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.

• Knowledge of substantive laws applicable to Texas local governments.
• Knowledge of the City of Austin Charter, Code, and administrative policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of relevant court procedures and rules of evidence.
• Ability to communicate and present analysis and information both orally and in writing in a clear and effective manner.
• Ability to conduct thorough and accurate legal and factual research relevant to the job assignment.
• Ability to analyze and problem solve in a timely fashion on legal issues relevant to the job assignment.
• Proficiency in use of Departmental computer systems and technology
• Effective law office organizational skills.
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, schedule interruptions, and shifting time deadlines.
• Ability to conform to Departmental administrative procedures and requirements.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited school of law.
• Current active membership in good standing of the State Bar of Texas.
• Twelve (12) full years of active practice as a licensed attorney.
   

Preferred Qualications: 

• Experience working with bond counsel in all phases of municipal bond transactions, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, refundings, lease-purchase financings, and tax increment financings.
• Experience reviewing bond documents, resolutions, official statements, continuing disclosure agreements, and closing documents.
• Experience advising clients on federal tax law issues related to tax-exempt and taxable municipal bonds, including private business use and post-issuance compliance.
• Experience advising clients on complex finance and real estate transactions.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex contracts, ordinances, resolutions, policies, and agreements.
• Experience in representing the City in complex negotiations and stakeholder meetings with multiple parties.
• Experience with handling pre-litigation disputes, claims, and resolutions, and monitoring and assisting with litigation cases.
   

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• License to practice law issued by the State Bar of Texas.