Description

Job Summary

The Assistant City Attorney provides professional legal services to support the City Attorney in representing the legal interests of the City of Pflugerville. This position regularly collaborates with City leadership, department directors, staff, and boards and commissions to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws while advancing the City’s strategic objectives.   This position performs a broad range of municipal legal work, including prosecution in Municipal Court, legal research, drafting ordinances and contracts, advising City departments, and assisting with litigation matters. Working under the direction of the City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney exercises independent professional judgment in managing assigned legal matters while consulting with the City Attorney on significant legal, policy, or risk-related issues. The role requires sound legal analysis, strong written and oral advocacy skills, and the ability to provide practical legal guidance that supports City operations in a growing and dynamic environment. Equally important, the Assistant City Attorney must embody and actively support the City’s PFIRST core values—Positive, Forward-thinking, Integrity, Resilience, Service, and Teamwork. The ideal candidate understands that municipal law is not practiced in isolation, but in partnership with leadership, departments, boards, commissions, and the community. This role requires a collaborative professional who values transparency, ethical decision-making, accountability, and respectful engagement, and a culture where doing what is right for the organization and the public is paramount.

Essential Job Functions and Other Important Duties

• Represent the City as Municipal Prosecutor in Municipal Court proceedings, including pretrial matters, trials, hearings, plea negotiations, and related case management functions. 
• Draft complaints, motions, pleadings, and other legal documents necessary for court proceedings and provide legal assistance to Municipal Court personnel. 
• Respond to open records requests and open meetings issues under the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open
• Meetings Act, including preparation of Attorney General opinion requests when assigned.
• Provide legal advice to police officers, code enforcement officers, animal control officers, and other City officials regarding enforcement actions and legal procedures. 
• Conduct legal research and prepare written legal opinions, memoranda, and analyses on municipal law matters, including open government, employment law, purchasing, land use, economic development, real estate, and finance. 
• Draft, review, and revise ordinances, resolutions, contracts, interlocal agreements, development-related agreements, and other legal instruments to ensure compliance with applicable laws and City policies.
• Provide legal advice and presentations to City Council, boards, commissions, department directors, and staff as assigned by the City Attorney. 
• Assist in representing the City in litigation, administrative proceedings, and regulatory matters; coordinate with outside counsel as directed by the City Attorney.
• Respond to citizen inquiries related to municipal court procedures, City ordinances, and enforcement matters in a professional and constructive manner. 
• Assist in reviewing and recommending revisions to City policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance.
• Manage assigned matters independently, including meeting court-imposed deadlines and other time-sensitive obligations, while consulting with the City Attorney regarding significant legal risks or policy implications. 
• Provide training to City staff, boards, and commissions on legal topics including open government, ethics, risk management, and regulatory compliance as assigned.
• Attend City Council meetings, work sessions, and board or commission meetings as assigned to provide legal guidance.
• Be accessible to address urgent legal issues or emergencies as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the City Attorney.

Requirements

Job Qualifications

Formal Education: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
Relatable Work Experience: Minimum of (2) years of professional legal experience in municipal law.
Required Qualifications: 
Licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Texas 
Ability to independently perform a broad range of municipal legal work with emphasis in criminal law and open government 
Strong written and oral advocacy skills.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Training, Licenses, and Certifications: Membership in good standing with the State Bar of Texas. Valid Texas Driver’s License.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience advising public entities, elected officials, or local governments.
Experience in prosecution.

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, applicants are permitted to substitute two years of related full-time experience for one year of higher education or one year of related higher education for two years of experience in order to meet the minimum requirements of the job. One year of full-time experience is define as 30 or more hours worked per week for 12 months. One year of higher education is defined as 30 credit hours completed at an accredited college or university.
 
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed & Environmental Factors and Other Physical Requirements

Knowledge of municipal laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, and government regulations. Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and discretion in handling legal matters while recognizing when to elevate issues to the City Attorney.
Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal audiences.
Ability to present and defend legal positions in public meetings, including potentially controversial matters.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across all City departments and with external stakeholders.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive matters with integrity.
Subject to sitting and standing to perform essential functions in an office environment.
Visual acuity, speech, and hearing; hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate office equipment.
Regularly scheduled for a 5-day, 40-hour workweek, Monday through Friday, required to work extended hours and attend night meetings and conferences.
Safe operation of passenger vehicles.
Verbal and written communication.
Frequent verbal and written communication required.