Senior Assistant City Solicitor/Attorney (General Counsel Attorney)

The City of Cincinnati Solicitor’s Office (Law Department) is seeking an attorney for the General Counsel/Government Section.

The General Counsel/Government Section provides practical legal advice to the City’s elected officials, City Manager, City departments, and City boards and commissions to facilitate the effective delivery of municipal services and implementation of City policies. Attorneys in the division provide legal advice on a wide range of municipal issues, draft legislation, manage public records requests, and provide relevant training to clients on applicable legal topics. Their work involves drafting legislation ranging from routine budget ordinances to new chapters of the Cincinnati Municipal Code; drafting formal legal opinions and providing oral and email advice on a variety of topics; responding to public records requests; and staffing Council committee and board and commission meetings.  Common subject matter encountered by attorneys in the Section includes the First Amendment and free speech, municipal home rule authority and preemption, constitutionality of proposed legislation or policies, public records and open meetings, ethics, public health, policing, and various municipal income and excise tax and retirement matters.

For inquiries, please contact Lisa Kunz, Chief of Staff, Law Department, Room 214, City Hall, 801 Plum Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Lisa.Kunz@cincinnati-oh.gov

The list below is illustrative only.  Any one position may not require all of the listed KSAS nor do the listed examples include all the KSAS that may be required.

Knowledge of:
Modern and complex principles and practices of public law. Basic methods of public administration.
Legal principles, practices, and procedures of civil, constitutional, and administrative law.
Methods and techniques of legal research and transactional practice.
Organization, duties, powers, limitations, and authority of City government and the Solicitor's Office.
Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations and their past applications. Awareness of the organization, duties, powers, authority, policies, and procedures of both the City Solicitor's Office in general and the division to which the Assistant City Solicitor is assigned in particular.
Advanced legal writing skills.
Advanced written and oral communication skills.
Ethical standards as applied to the City Solicitor's Office and as generally applied to public employees and public officials in Ohio.


Ability to:
Prepare clear, concise, and complex legal position papers, contracts, and opinions.
Organize, interpret, and apply legal principles and knowledge of complex legal problems.
Conduct exhaustive research on complex legal problems and prepare sound legal opinions.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Research legal issues through various online programs and applications.
Interact appropriately with elected officials, City administration, and the general public.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

Specific:
(Illustrative only.  Any one position within this classification may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all of the tasks which may be performed.)

Providing legal opinions for various matters, including contract and procurement issues
Negotiating and drafting contracts, funding agreements, business associate agreements, data sharing agreements, MOUs, and other transactional documents covering a range of subject matters.
Drafting legislation.
Serving as the Law Department Liaison to City Council committees and other City of Cincinnati boards and commissions.


General:
Research legal questions and evaluate the impact on City policies and procedures; assist with various contract negotiations, preparations, and enforcement.
Provide various written legal opinions to City departments.
Coordinate office activities with those of other departments, outside agencies, and organizations; provide staff assistance to the City Solicitor; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
Review legal publications to keep abreast of current legal issues and cases; attend seminars to keep abreast of new laws.
Prepare various legal memoranda and correspondence. Respond to citizen complaints.
Participate on a variety of boards and commissions; attend and participate in professional groups and committees including private mediation programs.
Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited academic institution.  

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Possession of an active Ohio State license to practice law

Excellent writing, drafting, research, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Ability to interact well with elected officials, city administration, and the general public.

Ability to work in an accurate, detail-oriented, fast-paced, and highly productive manner.

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Environmental Conditions: 

Physical Conditions: