Assistant City Attorney II

City of Council Bluffs

Assistant City Attorney II

Department: Legal
Supervisor: City Attorney
Location: City Hall
FLSA Status: Exempt
Prepared Date: May 2025
Union: Non-Union
Civil Service Status: Non-Civil Service
Pay Grade: 32
Pay: $107,218.80 - $136840.73 annually

Posting Start : 05/16/2025

Posting End : 06/16/2025
 

The City of Council Bluffs is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Summary: An employee in this class is assigned to work independently on complex cases and legal work in the department. Such employee routinely represents the City in litigation, including trials to the Court, jury trials, and appeals to a higher Court and must do so in an organized and timely manner. Such employee works with minimal supervision, consulting with the City Attorney as the need arises.
 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Provides advice and recommendations and renders oral and written opinions to the City Council, Mayor, and Department Heads:
• Attends Council meetings and staff meetings for the purpose of learning policies underlying official action and gives advice on legal implications involved, including advice as to alternative legal and administrative approaches to the solution of major City problems
• Keeps informed of proposed state and federal legislation affecting the City government
• Keeps the City Attorney and appropriate management staff members informed on important legal developments which may affect the administration of City government
• Maintains current knowledge of innovative ideas and developments and recommends changes in current operations and practices where applicable
• Attends meetings of boards and commissions and acts as staff liaison
• Prepares factual, clear, and concise written reports with specific recommendations
• Serves as an active member of management staff teams created to deal with specific problems and issues when a legal perspective is deemed desirable
• Performs document drafting work for the City Council and administration:
• Draws legal documents, including contracts, leases, deeds, easements, resolutions, and ordinances
• Assists in the drafting and review of proposals and legal documents developed and submitted by administrative staff members
• Determines the legality of documents affecting or involving the City and advises the City Council and/or City staff concerning same
• Represents the City before boards, commission, or administrative agencies of the state and federal governments:
• Represents the City Council, City administration, and/or individual City departments before or commissions of the City
• Participates in hearing and appeals before such boards, commissions, or agencies
• Advises the City Council and City staff concerning potential outcomes and the financial and policy implications involved in matters before such agencies, and concerning appropriate strategy, including Court appeals, to be followed on matters such boards, commissions, and agencies
• Communicates with the public in responding to inquiries:
• Provides information to the public with regard to City ordinances and the laws of Iowa relating to cities
• Informs public with regard to the City’s policy or position with regard to such ordinances or such laws
• Refers public to appropriate City departments or staff for further explanation of City policies or procedures
• Advises appropriate City administrative staff of complaints by the public concerning City operations, policies, or personnel
• Miscellaneous:
• Maintains adequate and orderly files on all matters before such boards, commissions, or agencies
• Acts as City Attorney in the absence of the City Attorney, if so designated
• Attends regularly scheduled City Council meetings, and attends special City Council meetings as requested
• Ongoing collaboration within the department to provide consistent service across areas of specialization
• Courteously communicates with the public and functions in a public relations capacity on the City’s behalf
• Pursues continuing professional legal education in appropriate fields
• Regular and predictable attendance is required
• Other duties as assigned

 
Supervisory Responsibilities: 
This job has no supervisory responsibilities but does serve as a lead worker for the litigation teams they are in charge of. 
 
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
Education and/or Experience:

• Juris Doctorate from an American Bar Association accredited school of law, preferably with specialization or emphasis on Municipal Law
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as an attorney
• Any combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• License to practice law in the State of Iowa in both State and Federal Court
• If not currently licensed to practice in Federal Court, must obtain within six (6) months of hire

 
Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and see, talk, and hear.
• The work environment is an office setting that is normally quiet.

 
Other Skills and Abilities:

• Good knowledge of judicial procedures and rules of evidence
• Good knowledge of City ordinances, state, federal, and general municipal laws including accepted legal or Court interpretations
• Good knowledge of the organization, functions, and legal limitations on the authority of the various City departments
• Good knowledge of the principles of civil law, particularly as they relate to the ownership, acquisition, and conveyance of real property, the conduct of elections, and the regulation of public utilities
• Good knowledge of the principles of criminal law and of the problems of criminal enforcement, procedure, and evidence
• Good knowledge of what can be accomplished by legal approaches, what must be done by administrative approaches, and how the two must be balanced to achieve the intent of City departments and to protect the public interest
• Ability to analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence, and precedents and to present such materials effectively orally and in writing
• Ability to determine the limits of action available to opponents and the probable courses of action of opponents in Court cases
• Ability to present and argue cases in Court, dealing smoothly with unanticipated situations when these arise
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relations with Court officials, City officials, and the general public
• Ability to negotiate settlements
• Ability to observe and train new attorneys in the research and preparation of municipal work and in trial work