Assistant City Attorney/Senior Assistant City Attorney ID - 16606

Are you interested in a meaningful job where you are engaged in social concerns and the betterment of the Kent community? Would you enjoy performing impactful work that directly affects the environment, the safety of area residents, and Kents economic vitality and growth? What about joining a team that collaboratively assists leadership in finding creative solutions to significant challenges, while maintaining efficiency and accountability in government? Do you desire an easier commute, free parking, the potential for partial remote work, and an office location that is close to bus and train lines? How about ditching billable hours?

If so, then consider the City of Kent and this new opportunity to join the Civil Division of the Kent City Attorney's Office. The City of Kent is looking for an experienced attorney to join a dynamic and talented team of legal professionals who work cooperatively and collaboratively together. * This position offers excellent work/life balance with no need to closely track or bill hours.

Kent offers competitive pay, a sound retirement system, and excellent medical benefits.

Applicants must be admitted to practice and in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association. Some prior civil legal experience is required, with a preference for municipal legal experience. Candidates must have excellent written and oral communication skills, and must be able to work as part of a cohesive and collaborative team in a fast-paced environment.

Writing samples will be requested for those invited to interview.

Candidates who possess municipal civil legal experience of five (5) years or more will be considered for hiring as a Senior Assistant City Attorney.

* A cover letter and resume are required with your online application in order for your application to be considered complete.

Please note that you cannot attach documents after you have submitted your online application. Additionally, uploading your resume to auto-fill portions of the application does not automatically attach it to your application. If you experience problems attaching documents, please contact Human Resources at

(253) 856-5270 and we will do our best to assist you.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled upon receipt.

SALARY:

Assistant City Attorney - Civil:

$8,538.00 - $13,417.00 monthly, depending on experience

Senior Assistant City Attorney - Civil:

$10,017.00 - $14,222.00 monthly, depending on experience

There is one (1) benefited position that will be filled by this recruitment process. This is a non-represented position that is exempt from overtime.

For a listing of benefits, please use the following link:

Employee Benefits | City of Kent (kentwa.gov)

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under the direction of the Deputy City Attorney, or designee, the incumbent assists the City Attorney's Office by providing a variety of professional, legal services to the Chief Administrative Officer, Mayor, City Council, City Administration, City staff, and boards, committees, and taskforces. Incumbents are distinguished as Assistant City Attorneys and Senior Assistant City Attorneys based on their experience, with Senior Assistant City Attorneys assuming advanced legal work that includes serving as a lead or mentor to others both within and outside of the City Attorney's Office, and performing more complex professional attorney services requiring specialized legal knowledge and municipal government experience.

Work is characterized by professional legal work that requires the incumbent to lead and provide City staff with advice in their efforts to make decisions involving a wide variety of complex municipal legal subjects including, but not limited to, the following: land use; building codes; environmental law; real estate transactions; public/private partnerships; public works; utility services; solid and hazardous waste; construction matters; labor, employment, and civil service; public safety; public finance; code enforcement; ordinance and resolution preparation; property rights; municipal liability; public records disclosure; campaign issues; parliamentary procedure; public bidding and procurement; interlocal agreements; contract negotiation; court procedures; and governmental relations.

Incumbents appointed as a Senior Assistant City Attorney must demonstrate exceptional work ethic and initiative; the desire and ability to drive projects to conclusion; excellent and advanced technical knowledge, and leadership and analytical skills; and must be able to effectively train, lead, and mentor others in a variety of complex legal subjects. Senior Assistant City Attorneys may be assigned to serve as acting Deputy City Attorney in the Deputy's absence. Results of the incumbent's work are considered to be technically authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. Appointment as a Senior City Attorney is at the sole discretion of the City Attorney who shall determine whether the incumbent's experience or work performance warrants hiring as or promotion to the role based on the incumbent's demonstrated ability to counsel City staff and officials on legal issues, including the impact those legal issues may have with regards to Council initiatives and greater City interests.

Work is performed under limited supervision. The supervisor sets the overall objectives and resources available. The incumbent and supervisor work together to develop the deadlines, projects, and work to be completed. The incumbent is responsible for the work, plans and carries out the assignments, resolves most conflicts that arise, coordinates work with others, and interprets policies on own initiative in terms of established objectives. The incumbent keeps the supervisor informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, or far-reaching implications. Work is reviewed in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness of results.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

KNOWLEDGE OF:

SKILLED IN:

  • Legality and preparation of various documents and instruments
  • Performance of legal research and investigations, including the use of computer-based legal research systems
  • Organizing, analyzing, and evaluating case facts, evidence, and legal precedent
  • Case preparation and litigation techniques
  • Preparation and delivery of oral presentations and arguments
  • Correct usage of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary as it pertains to the job
  • Using oral and written communications effectively to organize and express ideas and persuasive arguments
  • Effectively using interpersonal skills in a tactful, patient, and courteous manner
  • Effectively using Microsoft computer programs

ABILITY TO:

  • Serve as an attorney for the City
  • Work with and for a highly proficient team of attorneys and support staff
  • Maintain professional composure and demonstrate tact, patience, safety, and courtesy at all times
  • Formulate recommendations to Department Directors and project consequences of recommendations
  • Analyze, organize, and evaluate case facts, evidence, and legal precedent
  • Appear in court proceedings and in other forums on behalf of, and as the attorney for, the City
  • Plan, develop, implement, maintain, evaluate, and modify a comprehensive and integrated risk management, loss control, property and general liability program
  • Work effectively on several projects concurrently and accomplish tasks with numerous and frequent interruptions
  • Work independently with minimal supervision and make decisions within broad guidelines
  • Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
  • Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
  • Meet schedules and timelines
  • Read, interpret, apply, and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
  • Compose, proofread, and edit general legal briefs, correspondence, routine reports, contracts, etc.
  • Communicate orally and effectively present information before the court, jury, and other groups
  • Add, subtract, multiply, and divide
  • Apply common sense understanding to solve practical problems and deal with a legal issues
  • Travel to various areas within and outside of the city, superior court, appellate courts, etc.

SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE OR A COMBINATION, SUCH AS:

Assistant City Attorney

Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree in law; and

Experience: Prefer five (5) or more years of civil legal experience, with at least two (2) years of municipal civil legal experience.

Senior Assistant City Attorney:

Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree in law; and

Experience: Minimum of five (5) or more years of municipal civil legal experience.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be a member of the Washington Bar Association and in good standing throughout duration of employment
  • Valid Washington State Drivers License, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment and maintain an acceptable driving record
  • Multilingual desirable
  • Demonstrated experience leading a major project and/or team (as determined by the City Attorney) from commencement to successful completion of the project
  • Must successfully pass the City's pre-employment fingerprinting and background check; subject to periodic re-evaluation during course of employment.

MACHINES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Typical business office machinery and equipment including, but not limited to, computer and related software, calculator, telephone, copy machine, and fax machine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit and talk or hear normally with or without mechanical assistance; occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms; occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with or without assistance.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed in an office, public forums, and courtroom environment. The incumbent may be exposed to individuals who are irate, distraught, or hostile. Incumbent may be expected to occasionally work nights and weekends. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.

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Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

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With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

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Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

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This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...

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