Deputy City Attorney III (X) / IV
city of las vegasLas Vegas (NV)
About the role
Career OpportunityThe city of Las Vegas invites applications for Deputy City Attorney III/IV. This position provides legal counsel, representation, advice and interpretation for all civil concerns for assigned departments, depending on assignment; provides legal advice and counsel to anticipate, avoid or resolve potential or pending legal issues, disputes and litigation; provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the assigned Deputy City Attorney V, Assistant City Attorney and the City Attorney.
This Deputy City Attorney III/IV will be assigned to the Civil Litigation Division of the Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office, and provides legal counsel, representation, and advice in highly responsible and complex matters.
The ideal candidate should have significant legal experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including discovery; motion practice and trials, and governmental immunities. This position requires independent handling of active and complex litigation matters. Municipal or government law experience is preferred but not required. The ideal candidate should also have the ability to research legal issues; clear and effective oral and written communication skills, and may require representation of various City Departments, Boards and Commissions and practice before administrative agencies and courts in contested matters.
Distinguishing CharacteristicsThis series contains levels from entry to first line supervisor. Each is distinguished by the level of complexity of assigned duties, the judgment and initiative required for the assigned duties; the expertise, accomplishment or specialization of a specific area of law; the level of supervision received; and the degree of knowledge required to satisfactorily carry out the assigned duties. Although flexibly staffed, some positions may not flex to the higher level. The Deputy City Attorney V is not flexibly staffed, and is the first line supervisory level.
Supervision Received and ExercisedDeputy City Attorney III: Receives direction from the City Attorney, Assistant City Attorney and assigned Deputy City Attorney V, if applicable.
May exercise technical supervision over professional staff. Depending on assignment, acts as a lead worker, exercising functional or technical supervision, including scheduling and assigning tasks, providing guidance, ensuring work is completed according to proper procedure, monitoring work progress, and reviewing results.
Deputy City Attorney IV: Receives direction from the City Attorney, Assistant City Attorney and assigned Deputy City Attorney V.
Selection Process:
The selection process will include a review of all applications to identify the most qualified candidates, who will be invited to participate in a hiring interview. Any individual offered employment must successfully complete a pre-employment drug test and all required background checks for the position.
Essential Functions:
Researches legal questions and evaluates the impact on city policies and procedures.
Appears in court and administrative proceedings to represent the city's interest as required.
Prosecutes actions in state and municipal court to abate public nuisances and collection of damages or debts regarding city property.
Represents the city at all public hearings in which the city is a party.
Conducts parking trials and appeals; initiates civil actions and collections of parking penalties and fines; accounts for all parking revenue which is City Attorney-generated.
Coordinates office activities with those of other departments, outside agencies and organizations; provides staff assistance to the City Attorney; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
Reviews legal periodicals to keep abreast of current legal issues and cases; attends seminars to keep abreast of new laws and court decisions.
Responds to citizen inquiries regarding matters related to assigned duties.
When Assigned to the Civil DivisionProsecutes for civil remedies to enforce city ordinances, abate public nuisances and recover for damages to city property; participates in negotiations of real estate transactions on behalf of the Redevelopment Agency; condemns property for public purpose and other matters.
Defends the city in the state and federal courts against liability claims for personal injury and death stemming from alleged torts and civil rights violations.
Assists with various negotiations, preparations and enforcement.
When Assigned to the Criminal DivisionRepresents the City of Las Vegas in litigating various criminal and traffic cases; obtains, prepares and presents courtroom evidence, investigates crime scenes, reviews arrest reports and examines evidence to decide whether or what to charge in cases; summons witnesses and negotiates pleas.
Represents the city at video or night court and all court hearings or proceedings in which the city is named as a plaintiff.
May lead, plan and assign the work of staff. Ensures employees adhere to established work methods, techniques and schedules, and comply with applicable legal, city and department policies, procedures, standards and specifications; reviews needs with appropriate management staff; allocates resources accordingly; assists with providing training to division staff; provides guidance as a technical expert in a specialized area.
Marginal FunctionsParticipates on a variety of boards and commissions; attends and participates in professional groups and committees.
Assists in maintaining an orderly, adequately stocked and updated law library.
Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
Deputy City Attorney IIIExperience A minimum of three years of responsible experience as a practicing attorney, including civil litigation experience or prosecutorial experience, depending on assignment available.
TrainingA Juris doctorate from an accredited law school.
License or CertificateMembership in the State Bar of Nevada, and maintenance thereafter.
License to practice before the District Court, Federal District Court of Nevada and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the date of application, and maintenance thereafter depending on assignment.
Deputy City Attorney IVExperience A minimum of four years of responsible experience as a practicing attorney, including prosecutorial experience or applicable specialized civil litigation experience, depending on assignment available.
TrainingA Juris doctorate from an accredited law school.
License or CertificateMembership in the State Bar of Nevada, and maintenance thereafter.
License to practice before the District Court, Federal District Court of Nevada and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the date of application, and maintenance thereafter depending on assignment.
Knowledge ofLatest and complex principles and practices of public law.
Methods of pubic agency administration.
Legal principles, practices and procedures of civil, criminal, constitutional or administrative law, depending on assignment.
Common law of the state of Nevada, particulrly in the area of assignment.
Advanced methods and techniques of legal research, trial preparation, trial procedure and trial presentation.
Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations and their past applications.
The organization, duties, powers, authority, limitations, policies and procedures of both the City Attorney's Office in general and the assigned division in particular.
Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, for assignment to the civil division.
Advanced trial techniques and advanced legal writing skills.
Identity and mechanics of available sentencing alternatives, for assignment to the criminal division.
Advanced techniques of negotiation and their appropriate use.
Principles of lead supervision, depending on assignment.
Skills inProperly interpreting and making decisions in accordance with laws, regulations and policies.
Organizing, interpreting and applying complex legal principles and specialized knowledge of legal issues.
Proficiently, innovatively and aggressively applying legal knowledge and skills in court.
Achieving resolutions and decisions in accordance with the proper interpretation of laws, regulations and policies.
Gaining cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
Preparing clear, concise, sound and complex legal position papers, briefs, memoranda and opinions.
Organizing, interpreting and applying legal principles and knowledge of complex legal issues.
Effectively preparing and presenting complex cases in court.
Conducting exhaustive research on complex legal issues.
Developing and negotiating acceptable solutions to cases when appropriate.
Interpreting, applying, explaining and enforcing applicable laws, codes, regulations and policies.
Analyzing problems, identifying alternative solutions, projecting consequences of proposed actions, recommending best options and implementing approved solution in support of goals.
Working effectively within a team environment.
Maintaining professional conduct at all times.
Setting and adjusting priorities in a rapidly changing environment.
Planning, organizing and prioritizing assignments.
Meeting critical deadlines.
Managing multiple assignments.
Communicating with individuals from a variety of social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds while demonstrating respect and sensitivity for perceived differences.
Producing written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation, spelling and grammar.
Explaining complex technical systems in clear and simple terms understandable to non-technical staff.
Communicating concisely and clearly both orally and in writing.
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Competencies:
Professionalism – Demonstrates core values by being honest, respectful and positive.
Effective Communication – Expresses verbal and written thought in a clear and understandable manner.
Customer Focus – Demonstrates genuine concern and satisfies external and/or internal customers based on the CLV core purpose and values.
Adaptability – Able to effectively modify behavior to suit changing workforce demands.
Problem Solving – Solves problems by considering all causes, solutions and outcomes.
Productive Partnerships – Develops, maintains and strengthens partnerships with others.
Technical and Safety Expertise – Possesses a depth of knowledge, skill and ability in a technical (job) area.
Before you apply
Applying takes about a minute. These four things decide how fast it moves after that.
Your profile is current
It's what we read first. Occupations, seniority and locations matter more than a long history.
Two examples you can talk through
Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.
A number in mind
What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.
Your notice period
Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.
Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.
More like this
