Assistant City Attorney

Nature of Work This is a professional position, involving primarily civil law practice.
Under the administrative direction of the City Attorney, represents and advises the City on legal matters pertaining to municipal government and other related duties, including misdemeanor prosecution, civil litigation and self-insurance matters.
Environmental Factors Work is performed in a standard office environment.
Physical Factors Light physical demands; mostly desk work.
Frequent to constant use of a personal computer.
Work Situation Factors Position involves competing demands, performing multiple tasks, working to deadlines, occasional work beyond normal business hours, and responding to customer issues.
Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services.
Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policies.
First consideration may be given to current City of Las Cruces employees who fully meet the minimum requirements.
Meeting or exceeding the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the process.
This position is graded at RX30.
Duties and Responsibilities Responsibilities will vary depending on assignment, but may include code development or revision, preparation of ordinances and resolutions, researching and drafting legal opinions, consultation with departments on legal issues and problems, handling of litigation from inception to conclusion.
Work involves a high degree of complexity and is performed independently, requires the application of an advanced level of knowledge and skill.
May involve specialization or a primary focus such as: land-use planning, environmental law, public utilities, right of way acquisitions, intergovernmental agreements, commercial real estate transactions, and drafting leases, ordinances, civil pleadings and contracts.
May include representing the City on a variety of issues of high complexity, including civil litigation, particularly in Municipal Court or District Court.
May involve legal research and research of present City codes and ordinances, issuing City code interpretations; researching and drafting legal opinions; present, discuss and advocate on various matters before City Council.
Work is performed in accordance with general policies and the established standards and practices of the legal profession; it is reviewed by a higher level attorney through examination of plans proposed and evaluation of the results of completed assignments.
Meets with City staff, citizens and private attorneys to achieve conflict resolution and assists the City Attorney in other matters as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications Juris Doctor Degree AND three year's experience in a civil law practice; at least one year of public law experience preferred.
A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.
Licenses/Certification(s) Must be a member of the New Mexico State Bar Association, licensed to practice law in the state of New Mexico, and remain active with all New Mexico Bar annual requirements.
Valid driver's license may be required or preferred.
If applicable, position requires an acceptable driving record in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of: State of New Mexico criminal and civil statutes, rules, case law, administrative orders, policies and procedures, and applicable Federal rules and regulations; Federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations affecting planning, water and land use, public utilities, community development and leases; legal precedents and court decisions impacting municipal government; court procedures, rules of evidence, protocols and strategies; legal research methods, techniques, sources, databases and other research tools; legal case management procedures and techniques; principles and protocols for the evidentiary gathering of information, documents, financial records and other data that may be used in court and legal hearings; City Attorney's protocols and strategies of negotiation and litigation; principles of the development, refinement and presentation of legal strategies; City ordinances, codes, policies, resolutions, and agreements; business and personal computers, and technical software applications.
Ability to: Analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence and precedents and to present such materials in a clear and logical form, both verbally and in writing; present oral and written information in a clear and concise manner; effectively present cases in court; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with public officials, outside agencies, City staff, and other participants in the justice process.
Skills in: Researching and identifying precedence in case law; negotiating agreements; litigating cases in a legal hearing and courtroom setting; reviewing and assessing legal issues and documents; effectively assessing, interpreting and applying criminal and civil laws to information, evidence and other data compiled; utilizing and evaluating electronic legal research and on-line systems; assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands; interpreting technical instructions and analyzing complex variables.
To view a summary of benefits offered by the City of Las Cruces,