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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Assistant City Attorney III
FLSA: Standard/Exempt EEO Category: (10) Official/Adm
Class Code: 10820 Salary Grade: ME1
Approved: October 11, 2016 Last Revised: February 24, 2025

Purpose:
 

Under the direction of the City Attorney, this position provides legal services to and on behalf of the City.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
  1. Legal Advice: With minimal or no supervision, provides legal advice to senior and executive management, and to elected officials, on primarily complex issues that may have high political or financial impact. May assist other attorneys on more complex assignments.
  2. Legal Research: With minimal or no supervision, performs research on complex legal issues with moderate political or financial impact. May assist other attorneys on more complex assignments.
  3. Legal Writing: With minimal or no supervision, prepares legal documents for senior managers on routine or moderately complex matters. May assist other attorneys on more complex assignments.
  4. Legal Advocacy: With minimal or no supervision, acts as a lead or supporting representative of the City in internal and external legal matters that have significant political/ financial impact. May assist other attorneys on more complex assignments.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
 
  • Supervision: None
  • Leadership: Provides some mentoring and training to lower level attorneys on legal issues and legal skills.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Knowledge of substantive laws applicable to Texas local governments.
  • Knowledge of the City of Austin Charter, Code, and administrative policies and procedures.
  • Knowledge of relevant court procedures and rules of evidence.
  • Ability to communicate and present analysis and information both orally and in writing in a clear and effective manner.
  • Ability to conduct thorough and accurate legal and factual research relevant to the job assignment.
  • Ability to analyze and problem solve in a timely fashion on legal issues relevant to the job assignmeny.
  • Proficiency in use of Departmental computer systems and technology.
  • Effective law office organizational skills.
  • Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, schedule interruptions, and shifting time deadlines.
  • Ability to conform to Departmental administrative procedures and requirements.
  • Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
Minimum Qualifications:
 
  • Graduation from an American Bar Association accredited school of law.
  • Current active membership in good standing of the State Bar of Texas.
  • Seven (7) full years of active practice as a licensed attorney.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
 

License to practice law issued by the State Bar of Texas.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.