Deputy City Attorney City of Fairbanks

The City of Fairbanks has a position open for a Deputy City Attorney. Under the direction of the City Attorney, the position provides a wide variety of legal services including prosecuting violations of city code (minor offenses and misdemeanors), arbitrating labor disputes, assisting in the development of collective bargaining agreements, drafting contracts, litigating civil matters, representing the city in administrative appeals, and responding to citizen inquiries.

The City of Fairbanks offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance as well as an optional flexible spending account (FSA), life insurance plan, and long and short-term disability insurance options. Benefits of this position also include a pension, paid holidays, vacation days, and deferred compensation plans. The City also offers a new supplemental life insurance plan for this position that provides immediate life insurance benefits as well as a term policy that vests with the employee after a period of service.

All Legal Department employees are subject to appointment and dismissal by the City Attorney.

Essential Functions:

• Represent the City in various legal matters, including labor negotiations and arbitrations, state and federal court cases, appeals, and administrative hearings.
• Perform legal research and prepare opinions on various legal issues.
• Prepare and draft ordinances, resolutions, administrative policies, contracts, deeds, leases, and other legal documents.
• Interpret and apply laws, court decisions, ordinances, and other legal sources in advising City departments on legal matters.
• Prosecute City misdemeanors and minor offenses, including appeals.
• Respond to citizen complaints and requests for information.
• Represent the City in the community and at professional meetings as required.

Other Functions:

• Represent the Legal Department on various committees.
• Represent the City Attorney at various board and commission meetings and at City Council meetings when necessary.
• Investigate claims and complaints by or against the City and recommend action to be taken.

The functions listed above are examples which are representative of functions performed by this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Candidates should have a functional knowledge of:

• Legal principles of civil, criminal, constitutional, municipal, and administrative law.
• Judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Legal research methods.
• Proper English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Legal office work, procedures, terminology, documents, and computer programs.

Candidates should have the ability to:

• Communicate effectively in person, on the telephone, and in writing.
• Work independently, recognize priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Perform essential functions of the position with a minimum of supervision.
• Organize, interpret, and apply legal principles and knowledge to legal problems.
• Conduct research on legal problems and prepare sound legal opinions.
• Effectively represent the City in court and in administrative hearings.
• Follow instructions, policies, procedures, and exercise good judgement.

Candidates must satisfactorily demonstrate the above factors during a prescribed probationary period for continued employment.

Minimum Qualifications:
Education: J. D. Degree from an accredited law school
Licenses: Licensed to practice law in the State of Alaska* and membership in the Alaska Bar Association**.

* Applicant may apply if not admitted to practice law in Alaska but must be eligible and able to practice at time of appointment.

** After appointment, subject to annual appropriation, Alaska Bar Association dues will be paid by the City.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and fax machines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• read printed materials online and in hardcopy
• talk to others in a clear, understandable, and effective manner
• hear spoken conversation and audio recordings in-person and using telephones and other technology
• maintain the focus and attention span necessary to perform essential job duties

Additionally, the employee frequently, and for potentially long periods of time, may be required to sit, bend, stand, walk, use hands, reach with arms, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
* reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals.