Description

Summary

This position is part of the City Attorney’s Office and responsible for providing comprehensive legal services and representation to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and City Departments. This position is specifically responsible for advising Human Resource professionals and City management on all employment related matters to ensure compliance with federal, state and local employment laws, regulations and standards, including litigation in defense of the City. The position is physically located at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as legal counsel to the Human Resources Department and a member of the Administrative Services Team.
• Provide advice and counsel to management and HR professionals in all departments on all aspects of day-to-day employment-related matters, including but not limited to hiring and termination, discrimination, retaliation, compensation, benefits, leaves of absence, and employee investigations with minimal supervision.
• Assist in drafting, implementation and enforcement of internal policies and procedures related to employment issues to ensure compliance with all laws, regulations, and legal standards with minimal supervision.
• Draft position statements in response to EEOC discrimination complaints with minimal supervision.
• Work with outside counsel to manage employment litigation, facilitate discovery, and consult on key decisions.
• Develop, provide, and deliver proactive training to Human Resources professionals and management on a wide variety of employment law matters with minimal supervision.
• Represent the City in pending litigation, administrative board hearings and appeals in federal and state courts as needed.
• Prepare pleadings, statements, memoranda, briefs; draft and negotiate settlements and other legal documents; efficiently and effectively manage discovery, including depositions with minimal supervision.
• Stay abreast of local, state and federal law and legislation affecting recruitment, hiring, and employee benefits.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of constitutional, federal, state, and local laws affecting municipal government employers.
• Comfortable interfacing with and providing counsel to City executives and HR professionals.
• Ability to prepare and litigate employment cases with minimal supervision.
• Possess prior litigation experience with federal and state courts.
• Knowledge of local rules, civil procedures, and rules of evidence.
• Ability to master new material quickly, manage diverse legal portfolio and handle fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
  Ability to review contracts, analyze data, identify trends and recommend solutions with minimal supervision.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent problem-solving, research and writing skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships across all levels of the organization.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school and current license to practice law in North Carolina.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a practicing attorney for Assistant City Attorney I; minimum of five (5) years for Assistant City Attorney II.
• Based on the years of experience and qualifications of the candidate, this position can be filled as an ACA I or ACA II.

Less relevant experience for each position may be considered if experience includes significant concentration in municipal law.