Principal Assistant City Attorney

POSITION DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS 

SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

Acts as legal advisor to various departments, the City Manager, and the Mayor and Council. Identifies, analyzes, and discusses legal issues associated with city operations. Represents the City of Tucson's interests in legal proceedings, to include administrative hearings as well as litigation in state and federal courts

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:*

General Description of Position

The City Attorney is looking for an attorney to practice in the Civil Division of the Office. The attorneys in the Civil Division are assigned to various practice areas as Office needs may change or arise over time.  Those practice areas could range from administrative law to zoning; and examples include construction of public works; constitutional law; contracts and intergovernmental agreements; economic development; elections; eminent domain; employment law (Title VII, Arizona Civil Rights Act, FLSA, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, etc.); environmental law; municipal finance and taxation; open meetings and public records; procurement; public utilities and telecom; real estate; water law; land use/zoning and more. While the currently anticipated practice areas for this position include real estate and land use, given the range of practice areas within the Civil Division the City Attorney will consider applicants whose prior experience may not include experience in the currently anticipated practice areas of need. The City Attorney may choose to hire more than one candidate from this recruitment.

Position Specific Summary

The Principal Assistant City Attorney position in the Civil Division of the Tucson City Attorney’s Office provides advanced-level legal services and performs advanced-level legal work in assigned areas of practice.  Attorneys at this level work with a high level of autonomy and accountability. Provides guidance and mentoring to lower-level attorney personnel.  

Work is performed in accordance with general policies and established standards of the legal profession and is reviewed by the City Attorney or their designee. This position does not supervise.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responds to legal inquiries from the City’s executive management team and their staff, typically for assigned City departments. Identifies, analyzes and explains legal issues associated with projects and programs of City-wide importance. Performs advanced-level professional and administrative legal work including development of and revisions to the Tucson Code. Consults with client decision makers regarding departmental and major legal issues. Provides legal advice and assistance.

Prepares and reviews materials submitted to the Mayor and Council for its consideration and approval for legal issues. Prepares ordinances or resolutions for consideration by the Mayor and Council. Analyzes legal issues associated with initiatives under consideration by the City Manager or Mayor and Council. Consults with Mayor and Council and City management at public meetings and in executive sessions as needed. Guides and mentors lower-level attorneys.

Reviews and prepares a variety of legal documents including but not limited to contracts, intergovernmental agreements, legal correspondence, notices and position statements.

Litigates complex legal matters (in administrative matters; or in federal or state courts) in assigned area of practice, and/or supports litigation efforts in those matters by performing research, preparing and filing pleadings, making court appearances, etc.

Serves as litigator for the City in State and Federal Courts. Identifies, analyzes, and discusses legal issues associated with projects. Handles legal matters of assigned departments and acts as liaison with departments, the City Manager, and the Mayor and Council.

Performs other duties and tasks as assigned.  Any one position may not include all the duties listed. This position description identifies the responsibilities and tasks typically associated with the performance of the position.

Working Conditions

Mostly office environment

* All duties, responsibilities listed are subject to change.

QUALIFICATIONS:

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
Work Experience:
Five (5) years civil practice

Member in good standing of the State Bar of Arizona

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Government law practice: including a working knowledge of the legal subject matter involved with the department to which assignment will be made.
Experience in the practice of municipal law including the review, negotiation, and drafting of contracts or other primary responsibility for participation in transactional work.
Experience advising executives on employment, discrimination, and labor matters.
Experience drafting position statements for submittal to outside state and federal agencies.
Litigation experience.

Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

Position Title:

Principal Assistant City Attorney

Department Name: 

Department Link: 

NA

Recruiter Name:

Recruiter Email:

NA

FTE%:

FLSA:

Exempt

Position Type:

Regular

 COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

Full Hourly Range: $47.08 - 81.20 USD

The Full Hourly Range reflects the City of Tucson's pay range at the time of posting. The City of Tucson considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The City of Tucson offers a generous benefits package for benefit-eligible positions. The comprehensive, flexible, and affordable coverage is designed to optimize health and well-being, security and future, and peace of mind. Benefits begin with medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and FSA coverage, surpassing your standard 401(k) program by offering a rich pension plan plus optional Roth and pretax deferred compensation savings.

With your well-being in mind, our paid time off program provides new hires with 38 paid days off in the first year of employment, with time off increasing steadily in subsequent years. We offer twelve weeks of paid parental leave, paid tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, off- and on-the-job training, and opportunities to forge connections with peers and the community through employee resource groups and paid volunteer hours.

You can learn more about our benefits at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Employee-Benefit-Snapshot.

POSTING INFORMATION 

Posting Close Date: 

Applicants must submit their completed application by 02-08-2025 at 11:59 p.m. MST

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please see the special application instructions below and follow the directions for applying to this position.

Special Instructions:

An uploaded letter of intent along with your resume is required for this
application. Any application submitted without the required documents will be
considered incomplete.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be evaluated on the
education and work experience in their employment profile.

The most qualified applicants will then be invited to participate in a panel
interview and will be required to provide a legal writing sample composed within
the last 3 years, no larger than 10 pages.

Background Check:  This position has been designated to require a criminal background check. 

CITY OF TUCSON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, veteran status, age, disability, genetic testing, or any other protected status.  If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination, you may file a complaint with the City of Tucson's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Arizona Attorney General's Office of the Civil Rights Division (ACRD).  Click for more information from ACRD about employment discrimination and how to file a complaint with ACRD 

The City of Tucson employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

The City of Tucson is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities or who require religious accommodation; please contact Human Resources at EmployeeLeaves@tucsonaz.gov or 520-791-2619.   

City of Tucson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer. 

Questions? If you need assistance applying for any position, please contact

CCS_HR@tucsonaz.gov