Job Description

Who We Are:

At the City of High Point, we celebrate the creator in everyone. Building on our rich cultural history steeped in industrialism and innovation, our employees seek not only to transform themselves, but the world around us. We are collaborators, we are makers, we are visionaries.

We invite you to explore the many opportunities to serve our community, by sharing your talents, skills, and expertise. You'll join a diverse team of over 1300 individuals dedicated not just to making a career, but a difference; because what we create in High Point, changes the world!

Our City Attorney’s Office is currently recruiting for two positions, which may be filled as Assistant City Attorney and/or Deputy City Attorney. The job title and classification will ultimately be determined by the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. The salary range of $100,000-$150,000 is an estimate and will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Job Summary:

The City Attorney’s Office represents the City of High Point and performs highly complex legal work in a fast-paced environment for a wide variety of clients, including the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and City Staff across more than twenty departments. Similar to a general counsel’s office or in-house attorney’s office in the public or private sector, the focus here is practicing law – with no billable hour goals or business development requirements.

For more information on a career in Municipal Law explore the following links: A Career As A North Carolina Municipal Attorney - YouTube and The Opportunities & Rewards of Municipal Law - YouTube

The position(s) will be assigned primary practice areas, as well as be responsible for performing other legal research and assignments as directed by the City Attorney. Primary practice areas may include the following:

• General transactional law. Drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and prosecuting complex contracts. Types of contracts will include, but not be limited to, purchase agreements, services agreements, construction agreements, nonprofit organization agreements, interlocal agreements, and economic development agreements.
• Real property and land use law. This position will provide advice and counsel related to acquisition of real property interests for City projects (right of way, easement, fee simple, lease, et al.), disposition of City owned real property, zoning, land use, planning, development, code enforcement, inspections, and community development matters.

• Personnel and employment law, including but not limited to administrative law and regulatory compliance, drafting and reviewing personnel policies, guiding management through the grievance process, and litigation avoidance counseling.
• Public utilities and public services, including but not limited to electric, water, sewer, stormwater, streets and sidewalks, and environmental services.

Essential Tasks:

• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates (as needed) various legal documents related to municipal operations, including but not limited to complex contracts, resolutions, ordinances, real property related documents, litigation related documents, et al.
• Conducts legal research and prepares memoranda, briefs, legal opinions, and other legal documents in response to proposals, questions, and issues presented by the City Council, appointed boards and commissions, management, and staff.
• Attends City Council meetings and appointed board and commission meetings, as assigned or requested by the City Attorney.
• Represents the City in public meetings, legislative hearings, quasi-judicial hearings, administrative hearings, and courts of law, as assigned or requested by the City Attorney.
• Coordinates complex litigation with outside law firms, as assigned or requested by the City Attorney.
• Participates and acts as legal advisor and counsellor in City meetings.
• Keeps abreast of court decisions and legislative changes related to municipal law and other areas of law relevant to municipalities.
• Participates in special projects and other duties as assigned by City Attorney.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications - Assistant City Attorney

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited school of law.
• North Carolina State Bar License active and in good standing, or ability to be admitted by comity within six (6) months from date of hire.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a practicing attorney.
• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver’s License.

Required Qualifications – Deputy City Attorney

• All the above qualifications, with a minimum of eight (8) years of experience as a practicing attorney.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working for a local government or other general counsel/in-house attorney office setting.
• Experience representing local, state, or federal regulatory agencies, boards, or commissions.
• Experience with government-related issues at the local, state, or federal level.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and interpreting municipal ordinances, administrative regulations, state law, or federal law.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, reviewing, and interpreting complex contracts and other relevant legal documents, while identifying and mitigating legal exposures and risks.
• Experience with review and redaction of documents for public records requests.
• Familiarity with UNC School of Government, NC League of Municipalities, NC Association of Municipal Attorneys, and/or other local government organizations.
• Completion of UNC School of Government Municipal and County Administration course.

Our Commitments

The City of High Point is committed to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which celebrates diversity and seeks to attract and retain the best qualified partners in service to the Citizens of the City of High Point. The City of High Point is an at-will employer and employees may be terminated or may terminate their employment at any time with or without reason for any reason not prohibited by law.

The City of High Point is committed to classifying and compensating its employees fairly and equitably for the work they do, weighed with both the internal capabilities and the external market. While the job description is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, we are excited to use this “living document” as a guide for managing performance and positions to ensure job descriptions are reflective of the current work required by the incumbent or expected by any candidate to whom an offer of employment is extended.

The City of High Point is committed to providing a safe, comfortable working environment to all employees. To that end, we are proud to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as make reasonable accommodations to candidates and employees as we are able in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Candidates selected for employment must undergo (a.) a drug screening, in accordance with the City’s drug and alcohol policy and (b.) a background screening to determine whether there is any current, pending, or previous charge, conviction or other infraction deemed incompatible with service in the capacity for which the candidate is being hired. Certain positions are considered so critical to the health and safety of others that a candidate cannot be placed in any of those positions without passing a pre-placement physical exam. Successful results from these conditions will result in an offer of employment.

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