Overview
The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 17th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 872,498 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.
Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.
Summary
The Office of the City Attorney is the largest municipal legal office in North Carolina. It is dedicated to serving the citizens of Charlotte by protecting and defending the legal interests of the city. The office provides legal advice to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and other City officials on a broad range of issues and engages in litigation in support or defense of the city. Our vision is to be a model public service law firm known for its talent, diversity, and service. We offer exciting opportunities to join a dynamic staff operating in an open, progressive and balanced environment. Our legal team is tasked with providing high-quality legal services to our clients in a timely, responsive, and ethical manner.
The City Attorney's Office is seeking to fill two (2) vacancies. The job classification for each of these two positions will ultimately be determined by the experience and qualifications of each of the selected candidates.
Assistant or Sr Assistant City Attorney – General: This position is part of a team of attorneys within the City Attorney’s Office that is responsible for providing comprehensive legal services to CMPD. This position is physically located at CMPD Headquarters.
Assistant or Sr Assistant City Attorney – Police Academy Instruction: This position is part of a team of attorneys within the City Attorney’s Office that is responsible for providing comprehensive legal training and other legal services to the Police Department. This position is physically located at the Police Training Academy.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Police Academy Instruction:
• Responsible for creating innovative, scenario-based, interactive adult learning curriculum for recruit and in-service training
• Instruct recruits during Basic Law Enforcement Training, specifically: criminal law, arrest, search and seizure, juvenile law and Brady, Giglio law enforcement responsibilities. Will review response to resistance reports and participate in legal review of all Recruit scenario exercises.
• In-service training responsibilities include instructing: sergeant’s training, Command College training for police executives; investigative track trainings; federal field force legal training; transparency workshops with community members.
General Police Attorney:
• Analyze and interpret the constitution, statutes, court decisions, regulations, and ordinances for the Police Department and the City
• Provide legal advice to sworn and non-sworn employees at the Police Department
• Provide on-call legal advice afterhours and on weekends on a rotating basis
• Perform complex legal research
• Prepare and provide presentations for the Community Safety Committee, City Council, and other groups including community forums
• Review, prepare and draft legal documents, such as grant applications, leases, contracts, and memorandums of understanding
• Confer and work with colleagues and staff to establish and verify consistent legal advice to the Police Department and City
• Draft and interpret legislation and recommend policy changes to reflect changes in the law
• Prepare, review, and approve court orders and motions for sworn officers to assist with criminal investigations
• Assist the primary litigation attorney for the City in civil litigation and negotiate settlements as needed
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Knowledge of constitutional, federal, state, and local laws affecting law enforcement and/or municipal government
• Extensive knowledge of criminal law and criminal procedure
• Ability to work collaboratively with other North Carolina police attorneys, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office, and United States Attorney’s Office
• Analyze issues from legal and practical perspective and provide clear advice and counsel to Department
• Ability to master new material quickly, manage diverse legal portfolio and handle fast-paced environment
• Ability to think creatively to solve problems
• Ability to provide legal advice on site during search warrant executions, police operations, demonstrations, joint task force operations with federal and other police agencies
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment
• Knowledge of federal and state civil and criminal procedures and rules of evidence
• Ability to write and analyze legislation and caselaw for Police Law Bulletin sent to officers and attorneys statewide
Preferred Qualification
• Working knowledge of:
o 42 USC 1983 laws
o State of emergency state and local laws and procedures
o Body worn Camera laws
o Nuisance laws
o Public records
• Assist in drafting and review of police directives, and standard operating procedures
• Provide legal advice on community policing issues, priority offender priorities, technology issues in policing
• Provide legal advice to Internal Affairs as requested, and serve as subject matter expert as requested by Internal Affairs.
Minimum Qualifications
• Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school and license to practice law in North Carolina or ability to be admitted via reciprocity prior to beginning employment
• Ability to be admitted into the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Minimum of two (2) years of experience as a practicing attorney for Assistant City Attorney I; minimum of five (5) years of experience as a practicing attorney for Assistant City Attorney II; minimum of eight (8) years of experience as a practicing attorney for Senior Assistant City Attorney I; and minimum of twelve (12) years of experience as a practicing attorney for Senior Assistant City Attorney II.
Salary
Commensurate with experience
Conditions of Employment
The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.
Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.
Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.
The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
How To Apply
Apply online.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.
Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
Benefits
The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.
Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.
The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.
In Conclusion
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