City of Austin | Performance Measures

City of Austin

Performance Measures

Law
Department Director: Deborah Thomas - City Attorney
Department Website: http://www.austintexas.gov/department/law
Department Phone: 512-974-2268

Department Mission

The Law Department serves the City by providing exemplary legal services to City leaders and employees so that they can govern lawfully with the highest level of integrity. With approximately 22,000 cases received in FY 2022-23, the Department represents the City and its employees in civil lawsuits and pre-litigation claims and prosecutes all Class C misdemeanors filed in Municipal Court. In addition, the Law Department staff draft and review contracts, ordinances, resolutions, interlocal agreements, and myriad other legal documents.

Department Goals

Focus on specific client needs and provide legal advice to the client.
Build and retain a quality team of legal professionals and support personnel.
Ensure that City leaders and staff have the tools and training to meet legal and ethical compliance requirements.
Protect and defend the legal interests of the City in an efficient and effective manner.

Key Performance Indicators

  1. Ensure that legal advice is timely at an 85% client satisfaction rate
  2. Maintain civil lawsuits that are resolved in favor of the City or within an established settlement range at 90%
  3. Percent of Public Information Act (PIA) requestors who receive an acknowledgement within 10 business days