- Senior counseling attorneys will take responsibility for more complex and sensitive legal issues, and may provide review and guidance to other attorneys with difficult matters.
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The senior counseling attorney position also involves the following additional responsibilities:
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Keeping clients, including senior agency staff and elected officials, fully informed on matters affecting their agencies.
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Advising clients and colleagues in the Office of Corporation Counsel on compliance with law and the avoidance of future litigation risk.
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Preparing advisory opinions and memos on general legal matters, at the request of the Corporation Counsel or client agencies.
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Representing City-County agencies in Board or Commission meetings or similar settings.
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In conjunction with the Litigation section, providing advice to client agencies with regard to litigation strategy and settlement negotiations.
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Keeping apprised of relevant legal developments at the state and federal level.
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Performing other duties as assigned by the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, or the Corporation Counsel.
Skills Required
Strong independent judgment. Successful senior counseling attorneys must be willing to take individual responsibility for weighty matters that affect the lives and livelihoods of others. While support from other staff and department leadership is available, senior attorneys must have the confidence and good judgment to make decisions independently in a variety of settings.
In-depth knowledge of counseling practice. Senior attorneys, unlike more junior front-line attorneys, are expected to be proficient in all aspects of the counseling practice including advising, drafting, researching, as well as knowledge of the substantive ordinances, statutes, regulations, and laws pertaining to their clients.
Analytical ability and intellectual curiosity. This position faces a wide variety of legal issues and fact patterns. While Counseling attorneys are encouraged to develop areas of expertise over time, the position requires rapidly digesting new information, integrating it into an existing body of knowledge, and adeptly using legal research tools to acquire mastery of all the issues raised by each matter as it arises. Counseling attorneys will also be called upon to determine alternative legal and administrative approaches to solving problems.
Proficiency at legal writing and other written communication. Counseling attorneys must be particularly adept at working with and informally communicating with clients and other City-County leaders and staff. This position will also require more formal work product like preparation of contracts, leases, ordinances and resolutions, and formal advisory opinions.
Oral communications skills. This includes providing advice in meetings and conferences, communicating in a clear and concise manner, as well as explaining complex legal issues to non-lawyers. Counseling attorneys must be adept at improvising and thinking on the spot and be able to adapt their tone and messaging to the needs of different audiences in different settings.
Zealous advocacy. Many of the general legal matters handled by this position will be important, both operationally and financially. Position holders must keep in mind that their client is ultimately the public and must treat their work with the attention and seriousness that it deserves.
Time management skills. Counseling attorneys will be responsible for considerable caseloads. Success in the position requires efficiency, strong time management, and the ability to prioritize the most pressing or important tasks.
Ethics and professionalism. Holders of this position are public servants, and so are their clients. All attorneys at the Office of Corporation Counsel are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and responsible advocacy.
