CITY OF MANTECA
STAFF COUNSEL
Department: City Attorney Bargaining Group: Non-Represented Effective Date: January 2024 FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Revision History: N/A
BASIC FUNCTION:
Under general supervision of the City Attorney, the Staff Counsel performs civil legal and select criminal work, including but not limited to contracts, litigation, policy, ordinance drafting, personnel/employment matters, real estate transactions, land use matters, code enforcement or related prosecutions. Staff Counsel represents the City by providing advice and counsel to City staff and assigned Boards and Commissions. Performs related work as assigned by the City Attorney. Part-time position that is limited to 1,000 hours of work per year.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
The Staff Counsel may receive assignments in all phases of legal work and requires the use of initiative and sound independent judgment. Staff Counsel is expected to have knowledge of litigation and to assume responsibility for litigation involving large amounts of money or difficult legal issues. The Staff Counsel should be comfortable negotiating contracts. The Staff Counsel may also provide day-to-day advice to assigned City departments, and advise on matters concerning risk management, land use, real property, statutory interpretation, code enforcement and interpretation, municipal agreements, and select labor and employment relations, including labor negotiations and/or meet and confers.
Example of Duties
The following list of duties is intended only to describe the various types of work that may be performed and the level of technical complexity of the assignment(s) and is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties. The omission of a specific duty statement does not exclude it from the position if the work is consistent with the concept of the classification, or is similar or closely related to another duty statement. Duties include, but are not limited to:
Confer and advise assigned City departments concerning their respective duties, powers, functions and obligations.
Research legal issues and prepare opinions, memorandums, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, leases, permits and other legal documents.
Represent the City in court cases and hearings encompassing a wide variety of subject matters, including all phases of pretrial, trial and appellate work.
Represent the City in administrative hearings before City boards and commissions, and state, administrative, and federal agencies.
Assist other attorneys in all phases of legal work; attend meetings of the City Council, boards, and commissions (including the Planning Commission) as assigned by the City Attorney, and providing advice on legal and procedural matters.
Draft, review, and/or revise contracts and other agreements as assigned.
Drafts and/or amends ordinances, presentations, and/or policies as assigned.
Represent the City and/or the City Attorney’s Office at legal conferences, mutual aid meetings, JPA meetings, and/or City Council meetings, ad hoc meetings, and/or City committees.
Represent the City in mediations and/or arbitrations as assigned by the City Attorney.
Draft staff reports as assigned by the City Attorney.
Perform related and relevant work as assigned by the City Attorney.
Interact with clients. May manage outside counsel.
OTHER DUTIES:
Ability to attend special City events including weekends, evenings and holidays, as required.
Ability to attend night meetings and work extended hours, as needed and/or required.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
KNOWLEDGE OF:
The Brown Act, Political Reform Practices Act, Public Records Act, and other state laws applicable to municipalities and public bodies.
Legal research methods, rules of evidence, conduct of hearings and court or administrative hearings.
Municipal or public law and the functioning of City municipal government.
Civil and administrative procedure.
Pleading and practice and effective techniques in the presentation of court cases.
Judicial procedures and rules of evidence
Principles, methods and techniques of legal research and investigation.
Land use, planning, and public works matters.
Responsibilities and obligations of public officials and administrative agencies.
Municipal government organization, code, structure and functional responsibilities.
Confidentiality and the rules of ethics.
ABILITY TO:
Define issues, perform legal research, read, interpret and analyze complex laws, ordinances, regulations, policies and problems, evaluate alternatives and provide well-reasoned legal advice.
Present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly and logically.
Exercise sound, independent judgment within general policy guidelines and legal parameters.
Exercise tact and discretion where appropriate.
Interpret local, state, and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting municipal operations.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
Provide effective representation in hearings, courts of law, and meetings.
Prepare clear, concise and competent resolutions, ordinances, contracts, leases, permits, reports, correspondence and other written materials.
Initiate Code Enforcement proceedings as necessary and prepare all required documents; prepare cases for condemnation proceedings.
Communicate clearly, precisely, accurately and succinctly.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Education:
Graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association with a Juris Doctorate degree.
Experience:
Experience with California municipal law and civil law.
LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Must be a current, active member of the California State Bar Association in good standing.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands:
Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach and twist; to lift, carry, push or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including the use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information; see in the normal visual range with or without correction.
Environment.
Work is conducted primarily in an office setting with some travel to different sites; incumbents will be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends on occasion.
ATTACHMENT 2
January 2024