Description
City of Mission Job Description
Job Title: City Attorney Classification: Exempt-Professional
Department: Executive Division: Legal
Supervisor: City Manager Effective: 01/16/2025
JOB SUMMARY
The City Attorney is responsible for the performance of administrative duties required to provide legal advice to the city government. Serves as in-house counsel, providing legal counsel in all matters pertaining to the business of the City and represents the City in actions brought by or against the City or against City officials in their official capacity. In addition, coordinate all outside legal counsel as may be hired by Mayor and City Council and/or our insurance provider. Duties require the exercise of extensive independent judgment as the ultimate legal authority for the City and include the interpretation, evaluation and implementation of policy for subordinates, resolution of conflicts within the city government and the exercise of broad legal coordination. Serves as the principle legal advisor of and counsel for, the City of Mission and all officers and departments thereof in all litigation. Work is performed under the general direction of the Mayor and City Council and coordinated with the City Manager.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
- A Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.
- Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible related work experiences as Assistant or Deputy Attorney or Attorney; municipal experience preferred.
- Must be a member of the State Bar of Texas and ability to maintain it as a condition of continued employment.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant will be subject to a complete background investigation. Incomplete, inaccurate and/or failure to report information will cause the applicant rejection from consideration.
- Applicant must take and pass a drug, physical, and pre-placement screening administered by the City of Mission doctor at the City’s expense.
- Applicant must have a current valid class “C” driver license from the department of Public Safety with no more than two (2) moving traffic violations within the past two (2) years.
SKILL ABILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Knowledgeable in organizations, duties, powers, limitations and authority of City government.
- Knowledgeable in Texas Statutes and principals of administration and constitutional law.
- Knowledgeable in Methods of legal research.
- Knowledgeable in purposes and functions of governmental agencies, boards, commissions and other governmental bodies.
- Primary duty requires the exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance involving comparing and evaluating possible courses of action and making a decision after the various possibilities are considered.
- Assists in recommending, interpreting and implementing policies and procedures.
- Arbitrates questionable items within the limits of general policies.
- Ability to work independently toward general results. Must originate, plan, adapt, invent, and continue to accomplish tasks.
- Ability to work with a number of diversified and unrelated, intangible facts and elements. Usually no precedent is available. Planning requires consideration of the city’s overall policies, rules and objectives. Job requires the interpretation of data as a basis for making decision.
- Ability to meet deadlines.
- Ability to interact with outside companies or agencies.
- Ability to evaluate facts and interpret the law in individual cases, and perform legal research.
- Ability to analyze and apply legal principals, facts and precedents to legal problems.
- Ability to present laws, facts and arguments clearly and logically in written and oral form.
- Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
- Involves duties that affect serious or controversial matters that could greatly affect future organizational climate and work flow. The duties of this nature are highly significant and frequent. Duties deal with well-established policies and procedures. Demands quick, independent judgment to meet unexpected and/or serious developments. Decisions frequently affect entire organization.
- Ability to work with data of an extremely confidential nature. Any disclosure of this information could have a serious effect upon the internal or external relationships of the organization in relation to agencies, the community or the state, and could possibly affect the future.
- Responsible for high factual accuracy, or the exercise of sound judgment. Thoroughness and reliability are essential because of the detailed nature of the work. Mistakes may cause considerable financial loss and loss in prestige by the City in its dealings with others.
EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS
General office and safety equipment/materials to include but not limited to the following:
- Personal Computer, Keyboard, Printer
- Mouse, Fax machine, Copy machine
- Telephone, Cell phone
- 10 key calculator, Computer software, CD’s
- Stapler, rulers, pens, pencils, highlighters
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
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Implements the explicit policies enacted by the City Council.
Attends and makes presentations at City Council meetings.
Acts as legal advisor to the City Council, City boards and senior City staff.
Acts as City’s primary legal counsel.
Assists in recommending, interpreting and implementing policies and procedures.
Arbitrates questionable items within the limits of general policies.
Reviews, prepares, or assists in the preparation of all agendas, ordinances, resolutions, agreements and contracts, leases, legal opinions, deeds, liens, subpoenas, city policies, and all other City related matters, by reading various documents, entering data into the computer, attending meetings with staff, council and others, writing letters, conducting legal research and negotiations and using dispute resolutions techniques, and approves the form of such instruments.
Responds to open record requests and seeks opinions from the Texas Attorney General on any denials.
Responsible for oversight to City litigation docket and debt collection procedures.
Attends and participates in various meetings, by conducting presentations, participating in discussions and writing documents.
Drafts legislation pertaining to municipalities and monitors state and federal legislative activity.
Reviews property Title Search reports to ensure 100% ownership and clear of liens or judgments and generates title opinions for the Community Development Housing Assistance Program.
Leads and coordinates the condemnation process in relation to any properties secured through eminent domain for public projects.
Monitors and controls performance of the department in conformance with objectives, plans, schedules, and budgets.
Provides proactive legal counsel on issues pertaining to personnel policies and procedures and provides counsel in all compliance employment matters such as but not limited to EEOC, FLSA and FMLA requirements.
Represents the City, as legal counsel, in all actions brought by or against the City or against City officials for actions performed in their official capacity.
Attends City Council meetings and conferences for the purpose of learning policies underlying official action, and gives advice on legal questions involved, including advice as to alternative legal and administrative approaches to the solution of major City problems.
Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.
Oversees prosecution staff and ensures consistent application of municipal ordinances and Class C misdemeanor laws.
Ensures compliance with state and federal laws related to municipal governance, including the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) and the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA).
Coordinates with risk management personnel on liability claims, property damage, workers’ compensation matters, and insurance coverage issues.
Advises departments on strategies to minimize legal exposure and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
Advises on procurement procedures, competitive bidding requirements, professional service procurements, grant-funded projects, and compliance with Texas Local Government Code and other purchasing statutes.
Provides legal review for grant agreements and compliance requirements with state/federal agencies (FEMA, HUD, EPA, DOT, TCEQ, etc.).
Selects, manages, and evaluates outside legal counsel for specialized matters such as bond counsel, labor law, environmental cases, or complex litigation.
Provides training and guidance to elected officials and staff on ethics laws, conflicts of interest, and statutory compliance requirements.
Reviews easements, dedications, rights-of-way, annexations, and development incentives for legal sufficiency.
Provide legal advice to the City Manager and coordinate with the City Manager on operational legal matters.
All other duties as assigned by Mayor & City Council.
NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Attend City functions/business and other events when necessary.
- Some duties require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely.
- Assists and represents the City Manager and City Council by performing related work activities as needed.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
MANUAL DEXTERITY
Both fine and gross hand manipulation are required to perform essential job functions. Gross hand manipulation is utilized to grip a series of files and reposition a key board to different computer stations and transport binders, books, storage boxes, chairs, and boxes of paper to storage or printing areas. Fine finger dexterity is required to hand write notes, fill out forms, type reports, letters, and memos, input data in computer, and document information needed for day to day tasks.
Requirements
A Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school. Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible related work experience as Assistant or Deputy Attorney or Attorney; municipal experience preferred.
