The City of Cincinnati Solicitor’s Office (Law Department) is seeking an attorney to serve as the Chief Counsel of the General Counsel/Government Section.
The General Counsel/Government Section provides practical legal advice to the City’s elected officials, City Manager, City departments, and City boards and commissions to facilitate the effective delivery of municipal services and implementation of City policies. Attorneys in the division provide legal advice on a wide range of municipal issues, draft legislation, manage public records requests, and provide relevant training to clients on applicable legal topics. Their work involves drafting legislation ranging from routine budget ordinances to new chapters of the Cincinnati Municipal Code; drafting formal legal opinions and providing oral and email advice on a variety of topics; responding to public records requests; and staffing Council committee and board and commission meetings. Common subject matter encountered by attorneys in the Section includes the First Amendment and free speech, municipal home rule authority and preemption, constitutionality of proposed legislation or policies, public records and open meetings, ethics, public health, policing, and various municipal income and excise tax and retirement matters.
The Chief Counsel serves as the supervisor and lead attorney of the General Counsel/Government Section. The Chief Counsel manages an active workload of assignments and guides the work output of the Section, including reviewing the legal research and analysis, legislation, and documents generated by attorneys and staff within the Section. The Chief Counsel also performs a full range of supervisory duties including establishing overall Section policies and practices; ensuring a productive and supportive work environment; setting Section priorities and goals; maintaining administrative documents related to Section work, such as a legislation drafting guide; and drafting employee evaluations.
The ideal candidate will have prior supervisory experience and substantial experience in all aspects of general municipal law, including constitutional law relevant to municipalities, public records, open meetings law, and ethics; Ohio home rule and preemption; statutory drafting and interpretation, including city charters; and relevant laws and regulations. Candidates must possess excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to edit others’ work and provide effective and supportive critiques; creative-yet-practical legal thinking; sound judgment, discretion, adaptability, and self-awareness; and be able to work independently and efficiently in prioritizing and performing assigned responsibilities. Excellent drafting, research, communication, project management, and interpersonal skills are required. Successful candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to public service and understanding of government operations.
Candidates should possess a minimum of seven years relevant legal experience and must be licensed in Ohio. The City of Cincinnati is an equal opportunity employer. The salary for the position will be competitive commensurate with experience and skill set.
Please send resume and letter of interest to Lisa Kunz, Law Department, Room 214, City Hall, 801 Plum Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Lisa.Kunz@cincinnati-oh.gov.