Job Title
Chief Deputy City Attorney
Company
City of Charlottesville
Job Description
General Summary
The City Attorney’s Office is seeking candidates to be considered for the position of Chief Deputy City Attorney who are highly motivated and who strive for success by demonstrating Charlottesville’s Core Values of Leadership, Trust, Creativity, Respect, and Excellence.
Remember Why You Became a Lawyer in the First Place?
Our belief in public service is strengthened by our conviction that the law is a powerful tool to promote justice and enhance the quality of life in Charlottesville. Our active general practice offers our lawyers an engaging work environment. At the City Attorney’s Office, we have the opportunity to undertake significant legal work in a city that is renowned for its rich cultural resources and highly educated and engaged population. Charlottesville has a history of surpassing expectations, and we are proud to be part of this tradition.
The preferred hiring range for this position is between $129,186.00 – $164,711.57 Annually. Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time, exempt, position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City’s retirement options, gym membership reimbursement (up to $34 a month), tuition reimbursement (up to $3,000 per fiscal year), and continuing education/training opportunities.
- For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the ‘benefits’ tab on this posting, or visit
. * The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City’s Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.
This position is responsible for providing professional legal services to the City on difficult and complex matters and assists the City Attorney in the management of the office; assists the City Attorney in a lead capacity in the training and supervision of other attorneys and administrative staff; and performs the duties and responsibilities of the City Attorney in their absence from the office. Primarily and most frequently the work done here is performed independently in diverse functional areas that require specialization and ability to train others. Work is performed independently and with considerable autonomy; does related work as required.
To view a downloadable brochure about our Community, City Government, and the position, please go to:
Please include with your online application submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three (3) professional references.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
- Renders legal advice on a daily basis to all officers, departments and agencies of the City; provides information and answers inquiries from the general public.
- Represents the City before federal, state and local courts and before federal and state agencies.
- Attends meetings of boards and commissions of the City and renders on-the-spot legal advice.
- Drafts ordinances, resolutions, charter revisions, proposed legislation, contracts, deeds, leases, releases, franchises and other complicated legal documents on behalf of the City.
- Processes and litigates claims against the City.
- Prepares cases for trial, interviewing witnesses, examining law and evidence.
- Assists the City Attorney in ensuring quality control by reviewing the work performed by other attorneys.
- Conducts title searches, certifies title and handles closings; oversees the acquisition of easements.
- Monitors recent developments in statutory and case law applicable to the City and oversees the implementation of any necessary changes.
- Develops and oversees the implementation of operational policies for the City Attorney’s Office and the City at-large.
- Performs related tasks as require.
Education, Experience and Skills
Minimum Qualification:
- Graduation from an accredited law school.
- Considerable experience in the practice of law, with at least eight (8) years of experience in local government law.
- Eligibility to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Experience in land use, real estate and/or litigation is preferred.
- Some experience assisting in the management of a law office is helpful, but not required.
Skills: Comprehensive knowledge of municipal law, torts, contracts, civil rights, administrative process, land use, and real property; thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, practices and references utilized in legal research; thorough knowledge of legal office procedures and practices; ability to plan and supervise the work of other attorneys; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with court officials, City officials, and the general public; ability to present complex ideas effectively, orally and written; ability to handle complex trial and appellate litigation.
Physical Conditions & Additional Information
Work Environment:
- Requires working some evenings and outside of regular working hours as needed for meetings.
- Work is primarily performed in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Incumbent must be comfortable with a work environment that has constant interruptions and requests for service, that requires visits to other City offices and facilities, and occasional trips to client offices for a variety of purposes.
- Requires ability to deal with stressful situations, and angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
- Must be able to manage and prioritize multiple projects and customer service requests/problems at any given time.
- Exposure to computer monitor glare and dust.
- May be required to work extended hours, and/or travel overnight for business needs.
Physical Abilities:
- Hearing, speaking or otherwise communicating to exchange information in person or on the phone.
- Operating a computer keyboard and other office equipment.
- Reading and understanding a variety of materials.
- Sitting or otherwise remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
- Bending at the waist, reaching above shoulder, or horizontally or otherwise positioning oneself to accomplish tasks.
- Lifting and/or carrying or otherwise moving or transporting up to 30 lbs. (occasionally).
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Updated July 1, 2022
Benefits cited represent those for regular 40-hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.
1. LEAVE:
- Vacation:
- 3.09 hours accrued biweekly — 0 –
3 years * 3.85 hours accrued biweekly — 3 –
5 years * 4.62 hours accrued biweekly — 5 –
10 years * 5.40 hours accrued biweekly — 10 –
15 years * 6.16 hours accrued biweekly — 15 –
20 years * 6.93 hours accrued biweekly — 20 –
25 years * 7.70 hours accrued biweekly — 25+ years
- Sick:
- 4.62 hours per biweekly pay period, approximately 120 hours a years, no limit on accumulation
- Holidays:
- 14 paid holidays per calendar year (13 observed and 1 floating)
2. INSURANCE:
- Aetna Medical –
- Choose from three options with different premiums and levels of coverage and coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire:
- HMO: $0 premium for employee only coverage
- POS 1: Employee-only premium of $36.28 per biweekly pay
- POS 2: Employee-only premium of $13.02 per biweekly pay
- (Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.)
- Prescription Card ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand, $55 higher cost name brand)
- Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60 lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand)
- Dental (Delta Dental)
- No cost for employee only coverage. Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.
- Diagnosis and Preventive — 100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care – 80%; Major Dental Care – 50%
- Primary — $50 deductible, 80/20
- Prosthetic & Complex Restorative — $50 deductible, 50/50
- $1,500 maximum annual benefit
- $1,000 Orthodontic Benefit
- MetLife Vision Plan: Optional
- Employee only coverage: $2.50 bi-weekly; Dependent coverage also available at differing rates.
- Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay;
- $130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.
- Life:
- Two times annual salary (paid by the City)
- Optional supplemental life available for employee, spouse, dependents (paid by employee)
- AFLAC: Optional
- Cancer/accident/short term disability/intensive care insurance (paid by employee)
- Long Term Disability
- Protection from income loss due to long-term illness or injury (paid by the City)
3. RETIREMENT: The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS. There are certain provisions that must be met and the portability request must be executed within 18 months of vesting in the City’s Plan.
- Pension:
- Choose from two options:
- A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee’s earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5 year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
- A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual’s account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. (Note that: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees)
- Supplemental:
- Deferred Compensation (457) – employee contribution
4. OTHER BENEFITS:
- Flexible Spending Accounts:
- Health Care Expenses
- Dependent Care Expenses
- Parking/Mass Transit Expenses
- Parking Subsidy of $50 per month
- Wellness Programs:
- Gym Reimbursement Program
- Monthly On-Site Nurse and Annual Flu Shots
- Health Screenings and Fairs, Education Sessions, & Weekly Fitness Classes
- Weight Watchers at Work
- Bike Commuter Program:
- Reimbursement of up to $20 per month for reasonable bike commuting expenses
- Employee Assistance Program:
- A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.
- Tuition Reimbursement Program:
- Up to $1,500 for undergraduate OR Up to $3,000 for graduate level tuition per fiscal year per employee.
Expected Salary
$129186 – 164711.56 per year
Location
Charlottesville, VA
Job Posting Date
Thu, 02 Nov 2023 01:43:41 GMT