HomeMy WebLinkAboutFirst Assistant City AttorneyUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Title: First Assistant City Attorney
Department: City Attorney’s Office
Division: City Attorney’s Office
Supervisor: City Attorney
FLSA: Exempt
Civil Service: No
Pay Grade: 31
Job Number: 3101
Job Summary
Under general supervision from City Attorney, provides legal services to City Council, staff,
boards and commissions. Represents City at administrative hearings and in litigation in state and
federal courts.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive
or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
• Acts in absence of the City Attorney including management of staff and serving as the
lead for the department.
• Represents the City Council, boards, commissions and departments in litigation,
administrative, state and federal district courts and state and federal appellate courts.
• Prepares written and oral arguments, case presentation including fact investigations,
discovery, depositions, witness preparation, legal research, briefing and attendance at
hearings.
• Researches legal issues for all departments with special attention to employment issues,
contract and negotiation.
• Provides counsel to City departments regarding compliance and legal options,
performing services in person and by written legal opinion.
• Performs legal research, fact investigations, clear communications and explanation of
conclusions.
• Identifies and resolves legal and procedural matters related to resolutions, ordinances
and procedures.
• Drafts, edits, and revises City documents, resolutions, ordinances and contracts, real
estate documents, leases, agreements, easements, and eminent domain items, and legal
documents.
• Attends meetings of City boards and commissions to provide counsel.
• Attends City Council meetings in the City Attorney's absence.
• Communicates with the public, attorneys and others to identify and resolve legal issues.
• Works with City staff on communication with the public, vendors and others.
• Investigates complaints of sexual harassment, improper conduct and personnel policy
violations.
Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
• Works with outside counsel on City matters.
• Reviews and responds to open records requests.
• Oversees prosecution of City misdemeanors and municipal infractions.
• Conducts self in a professional manner which demonstrates courtesy and respect for all
community members and coworkers.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited educational institution and five years of related
experience. Experience in municipal law practice or general practice with significant
exposure to municipal law.
• Valid Iowa law license and admission to Iowa Bar to practice in Iowa courts required.
Must pass criminal background check.
Preferred Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited educational institution and ten years of related
experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual
and practical problems.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions,
proportions, percentages.
• Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, musical
notes, etc.,) in its most difficult phases.
• Ability to efficiently multi- task and prioritize work assignments and complete
assignments within the designated time deadlines.
• Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or
complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors,
commissions, or elected officials.
• Ability to read complex materials, conduct legal research, analyze legal questions, and to
effectively explain conclusions.
• Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties.
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaint, skill in
responding to customer needs.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws; federal and state court practice; and
municipal organization and operation.
• Skill in drafting and editing legal documents, ordinances, and litigation materials.
• Skill in facilitating communication with many parties.
• Skill in organizing and presenting persuasive argument.
• Skill in using computers and applicable software applications (Microsoft Office – Word,
Excel, Outlook) and proficiency with changing technology.
Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
• Skill in working with a wide variety of public issues and public agencies.
Supervision
Involves leadership role such as regularly guiding, training, and providing direction to
permanent staff in completing daily tasks and assignments. May perform additional supervisory
duties at the direction of the Department or Division Head to include disciplinary action,
assisting with hiring or firing, and writing or delivering performance reviews.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform
the essential duties and responsibilities.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The
employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands
and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The
employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required
by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to
adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
duties and responsibilities.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Duties are generally performed in
an office setting with a controlled environment. The job requires sitting for extended periods of
time and the work may expose the employee to unpleasant social situations and significant
work pace pressure.
Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with
disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential
accommodations with the employer.
Reviewed/Approved by: Eric Goers, City Attorney (4/2024)
Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
I have read and understand the duties and requirements of this job description, and I
agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable
accommodation.
Employee Date
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