Attorney I Or Attorney Ii Or Senior Attorney

SUMMARY:(I) Provides professional legal services and counsel for the City; conducts legal research, prepares or reviews legal documents, prepares written opinions on a wide variety of issues, and represents the City in court on various matters. (II) Provides full operating and skilled professional legal services and counsel for the City requiring the application of the majority of standard legal techniques to accomplish day-to-day duties; conducts legal research, prepares or reviews legal documents, prepares written opinions on a wide variety of issues, and represents the City in court on routine and more complex matters. (SR) Provides full operating and skilled professional legal services and counsel for the City requiring the application of a majority of standard to complex legal techniques to accomplish day-to-day duties; conducts legal research, prepares or review legal documents, prepares written opinions on a wide variety of issues, and represents the City in court on more complex legal matters. An ideal candidate would have strong customer service skills, experience working with a diverse workforce, the ability to function in a fast-paced environment and represent the City of Peoria to the general public in a professional manner.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.)

• Carries out lead worker responsibilities including: training in job skills, assigning and directing work, making recommendations in performance appraisal, and reporting problems to supervisor.
• Represents the City in various complex litigations as assigned; primary area of concentration is in defending the City against personal injury lawsuits, unlawful arrest/excessive use of force lawsuits, and employment discrimination lawsuits.
• Provides legal advise to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, Department Directors, and other City employees, and City commissions.
• Prepares ordinances, legal opinions, research papers, real estate contracts, and other legal documents.
• Interviews members of the public seeking information or advice.
• Subject to "on-call" to respond to situations requiring immediate legal advice or action.
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:(I) Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field, supplemented with a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university and license to practice law in the State of Illinois. (II) Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field, supplemented with a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university; and three to four years of related experience. State License to Practice Law and Federal Court, Central District of Illinois. (SR) Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field, supplemented with a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university; and six or more years of related experience. State License to Practice Law and Federal Court, Central District of Illinois. Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES: Knowledge of principles and practices of civil law, state and federal laws and constitutional provisions affecting City government; local government structure and operation and relationship to other public jurisdictions; and principles, practices, methods, and materials utilized in conducting legal research. Skill in using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines; researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of legal, informational, and statistical data and materials; researching, compiling, and summarizing statistical data and materials; organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction. Ability to learn ordinances and apply legal knowledge to a variety of problems; analyze legal documents; conduct research on legal problems and prepare opinions; draft legislation; speak effectively before public groups and respond to questions; train City employees regarding City Code and procedures and state and federal laws; read, analyze and interpret case law, professional periodicals and journals, technical procedures and government regulations and define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

MENTAL/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must have the mental and physical capabilities to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Work environment is indoor office.

*Please notify the Human Resources Department if accommodations are required to participate in the selection process. *