Senior Assistant City Attorney

The City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney is seeking a full-time, permanent transactional attorney to serve as a Senior Assistant City Attorney for its Operations and Development Division. The Operations and Development Division provides direct representation to the following City Departments: Economic Development, Housing & Community Development, Planning & Development Review, Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, Public Utilities and Public Works, among others, plus, the Economic Development Authority and Greater Richmond Transit Company. Substantively, this division has responsibility in such diverse subject matter areas as real estate transactions; the preparation and review of affordable housing and other grant agreements; land use and zoning; contracts; and legislative compliance and drafting. Primary responsibilities of the successful candidate will include representation of the City’s Department of Housing and Community Development and may include negotiating and drafting transactional documents such as grant agreements, purchase and sale agreements, deeds, easement agreements, development agreements, leases, letters of intent, and licenses; reviewing real estate title, survey, and other diligence issues; interpreting laws, rules, and regulations; assisting in legislation preparation; handling real estate closings; and occasionally researching legal issues. Experience with local government law in Virginia will be viewed favorably but is not required. The position will undertake other assignments as needed. The successful candidate must be a member of the Virginia State Bar.

This position is Unclassified and serves at the will of the City Attorney. Applications submitted without attaching or mailing all requested items are considered incomplete. EEO/AA.

The position will remain open until filled.

Please attach a resume and writing sample to the online application or mail these documents to:

Laura K. Drewry

City Attorney

900 E. Broad Street, Suite 400

Richmond, Virginia 23219

• Responsible for protecting the legal interests of the City of Richmond and providing legal services and representation and advice to City officials, employees, and departments.
• Responsible for reviewing legal matters, providing appropriate counsel, as assigned.
• Negotiation and drafting of transactional documents; interpreting laws, rules and regulations; and occasionally researching legal issues.
• Working well independently within a general outline of work to be performed and developing work methods and sequences under general supervision and in collaboration with others as needed.
• The position will undertake other assignments as needed.
  

• Considerable knowledge of area of focus to include affordable housing development, grant agreements, commercial lending, and real estate transactions, such as acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing, all in a municipal law context, with familiarity of land use and zoning matters being a plus but not required, and with knowledge of relevant regulatory and administrative law processes related to area of focus.
  
  
• Ability to apply legal analysis in the solution of practical, technical, administrative, and legal issues in a transactional context.
• Experience with transactional work, such as contracts and real estate, preferably to include housing development, experience with affordable housing laws, and commercial lending.
• Responsiveness to client needs, with a strong ability to regularly communicate with various internal and external departments as an in-house municipal attorney.
• Management of a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, dynamic environment in area of focus.
• Will have the ability to work cooperatively with other attorneys and staff in the Office, and clients, and to adhere to the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.

• Juris Doctor degree
• A minimum of 4 years of experience preferred

• Admission to the Virginia Bar
• Licensed to practice law in Virginia
• Admission to the United States Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of Virginia
• Twelve hours of continuing legal education annually
• Compliance with additional requirements that may be established by the City of Richmond
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification