Assistant Solicitor – Generalist

ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR I - GENERALIST

The City of Worcester is seeking qualified applicants for an Assistant City Solicitor I–Generalist to join the fast-paced, high-volume, collaborative and congenial Law Department. Under the direction of the City Solicitor, the Assistant City Solicitor I – Generalist will provide competent and timely legal services, advice, and recommendations to City Departments, and the City’s officers, employees, boards, and commissions. This position will be responsible for performing risk analysis and evaluation of pre-litigation claims, drafting legal documents such as ordinances, conveyance documents, and reviewing and drafting of contracts, leases and licenses.

The Assistant City Solicitor I will also represent the City’s best interests in resolving such claims before litigation or in civil litigation matters and general Government Services, including assignments such as rendering legal opinions to City officers, departments, boards, and commissions. The assignments will be based on overall related legal experience and demonstrated proficiency in a local government setting. While expertise may be gained in a specialized area of municipal law, the incumbent assumes responsibility for legal matters in any area as assigned by the City Solicitor or their designee.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

• Perform risk analysis and evaluation of pre-litigation claims and make recommendations for proper disposition.
• Represent and counsel the City, City employees, departments, and boards and commissions on a wide variety of civil, administrative, and other legal issues.
• Represent the City, City employees, departments, administrative boards, and bodies in all levels of state and federal courts, administrative bodies, and tribunals.
• Litigate civil, administrative, and code enforcement cases on behalf of the City, its employees, departments, and administrative boards and bodies.
• Assist in the development of legal structures and ordinances.
• Assist in the interpretation and application of laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances.
• Present legal interpretations and alternatives.
• Conduct legal research and communicate the results of research succinctly and effectively in legal memoranda to the courts and legal opinions to city administrators.
• Draft, serve and file legal documents, such as discovery requests and responses, pleadings, memoranda, orders, findings of fact and rulings of law, trial documents, and related filings, in housing court, district court, trial courts, mediations.
• May be required to attend City board and commission meetings, sometimes in the evening hours.
• Attend and participate in staff, department or other meetings, conferences, committees, task forces.
• Keep abreast of developments in field or areas of interest or expertise.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Excellent risk analysis strategies and skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Demonstrated ability to proactively leverage available resources and apply creative learning strategies to continuously adapt to evolving issues, trends, and professional requirements.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to research and analyze complex legal issues in a fast-paced environment and advise how to effectively apply said advice on a practical level.
• Ability to draft and review legal documents; ability to analyze a wide variety of circumstances, conduct investigations and make reports on same.
• Ability to litigate civil cases on behalf of the City, its employees, departments, administrative boards and bodies.
• Ability to present and argue motions and other legal memoranda in both, informal hearings and court proceedings.
• Ability to draft, serve and file, as required, legal documents, such as discovery requests and responses, pleadings, memoranda,…