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Assistant City Attorney

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Assistant City Attorney

Salary

$123,431.08 - $135,638.55 Annually

Location

Public Safety Center, 901 N Rouse Ave

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

00731

Department

City Attorney's Office

Opening Date

05/09/2025

Closing Date

6/1/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

NR

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Position Summary

The City of Bozeman, Montana is looking for an experienced and hardworking attorney to accept a challenging position addressing a wide diversity of legal and organizational matters. We seek an attorney with integrity, a lively work ethic, and an appreciation for collaboration, leadership qualities, and an affinity for change. This position will be primarily assigned to the criminal division for prosecution services, with the possibility of some assigned civil duties. As part of the City Attorney’s Office, this position represents the City in all matters that involve criminal charges and municipal code violations, including receiving and evaluating new case files, arguing bond, bail, or sentencing as necessary, reviewing police reports and citations to determine appropriate charges, drafting charging documentation accordingly, and advocating for enforcement of the law.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community by joining the City of Bozeman! You will be part of a passionate team driving positive change while enjoying a fantastic benefits package. Full-time City of Bozeman employees receive top-tier benefits including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 holidays, 8 weeks of paid parental leave, bilingual pay, excellent retirement options, comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, discounted ski tickets and gym memberships, and much more!

Bargaining Unit: Non-Represented

Fair Labor Standards Act Status: Exempt

Work Week: Generally 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday though additional or varying hours may be required including evenings and weekends due to the nature of the position.

Examples of Essential Work (Illustrative Only)

+ Represents the City in all matters that involve criminal charges and municipal code violations, including receiving and evaluating new case files, arguing bond, bail, or sentencing as necessary, reviewing police reports and citations to determine appropriate charges, drafting charging documentation accordingly, and advocating for enforcement of the law;

+ Prepares and reviews ordinances, resolutions, and contracts, including editing complex documents, drafting originals, and appearing before the Commission to report on new or amended legislation;

+ Prepares evidence for trial and tries cases in both state and federal district courts, including conducting victim/witness interviews, briefing victim/witnesses on court procedures, identifying and organizing evidence, and providing and responding to discovery;

+ Researches and writes memoranda and legal briefs in accordance with trial, appellate, and federal court guidelines, including initiating motions and appeals on behalf of the State, and presenting oral arguments accordingly;

+ Provides advice and legal assistance to members of various City Departments, including addressing inquiries or requests from law enforcement personnel, attorneys, and/or the general public on criminal and civil issues, providing informal, written, email, or verbal opinions to municipality department staff, researching specific legal questions, and preparing formal, written memoranda;

+ Manages criminal cases from arraignment to trial, including negotiating plea arrangements, and responding to bond petitions and revocation proceedings;

+ Reviews and evaluates requests for prosecution, including researching case law for motions, determining presence of probable cause, ascertaining likelihood of conviction, and discovering any need for additional information;

+ Addresses inquiries or requests from law enforcement personnel, attorneys, and/or the general public on criminal issues and related court procedures;

+ Participates in various community outreach activities as assigned;

+ May perform functions in the absence of the City Attorney as assigned;

+ Attends City Commission and other agency meetings as assigned or necessary;

+ Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions;

+ Keeps immediate supervisor and designated others accurately and diligently informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;

+ Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions and reviews publications and other materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas;

+ Responds to citizens’ questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner;

+ Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;

+ Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification.

Minimum Required Qualifications

+ Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school; and

+ License to practice law and membership in good standing in Montana; and

+ Some (1 – 3 years’) experience as an attorney, criminal law experience preferred; or,

+ Any combination of education, experience, and training which provides the equivalent scope of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Applicants who are within one semester of graduation from an accredited law school and those with 0-1 year of experience as a licensed attorney may be considered for hire as an Associate City Attorney at an entry rate of $106,955.97. Associate City Attorneys may become eligible for Assistant City Attorney upon successful completion of the probationary period.

Applications MUST include:

+ Resume

+ Cover Letter

+ Writing Sample (not to exceed 10 pages)

+ Supplemental Questionnaire

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

+ Substantial knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, materials, and references utilized in legal research;

+ Substantial knowledge of Montana ethical considerations and disciplinary rules;

+ Thorough knowledge of State and Federal laws, criminal case law regarding law and procedure and criminal law and theory;

+ Thorough knowledge of State and Federal statutory and case law related to municipal government and State and Federal court procedures;

+ Thorough knowledge of Montana State statutes relating to local government, open meetings and public records, zoning, planning, property law, contract law, insurance law, and labor law;

+ Thorough knowledge of civil law and theory;

+ Ability to develop persuasive opening and closing statements, including making effective use of visual aids and analogies;

+ Ability to negotiate and persuade others, including both individuals and groups;

+ Ability to present routine and complex issues to varied audiences including colleagues, elected and appointed officials, and the public;

+ Ability to work with clients in adverse situations and maintain a working relationship;

+ Ability to develop new arguments grounded in the law, that will set precedents for new cases in favor of the organization;

+ Ability to handle a large volume of assignments;

+ Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;

+ Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions;

+ Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations;

+ Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive data and use of the appropriate levels of discretion;

+ Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks and to stay apprised of developments in technology as it relates to legal practice and law;

+ Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;

+ Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;

+ Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;

+ Ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

+ Consistently performs assignments in accordance with the City’s Core Values of Integrity, Leadership, Service and Teamwork.

Required Special Qualifications

+ Valid driver’s license (must obtain valid Montana Driver’s License within 60 days of employment); and,

+ Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory responses to appropriate post conditional offer process.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community by joining the City of Bozeman! You will be part of a passionate team driving positive change while enjoying a robust benefits package. Full-time City of Bozeman employees receive these best-in-class benefits:

+ 15 Paid Vacation Days increases with years of service

+ 12 Paid Sick Days

+ 13 Paid Holidays

+ 8 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave

+ Bilingual Pay Incentive ($300/month)

+ Montana Public Employee Retirement system plan options with 9.07% employer contribution and option to enroll in a 457 Retirement Plan

+ Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance including a HDHP option providing 100% employer-paid family coverage.

+ Annual Wellness Screening with participation incentives

+ Discounted Bridger Bowl Ski Tickets

+ Discounted Gym Membership

+ Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Eligible Employer

+ Employer Paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance for employees and dependents.

01

The City Attorney's Office's mission is "to promote and enhance Bozeman's quality of life through excellence in professional, ethical and credible legal representation, advice and counsel." Please discuss the role of a prosecutor in fulfilling this mission.

02

Standard 3 – 1.2(d) of the American Bar Association's professional standards of conduct for the prosecution function states in part, "It is an important function of the prosecutor to seek to reform and improve the administration of criminal justice..." Please discuss how you, as a prosecutor for the City, would participate in the review the effectiveness of the City of Bozeman's criminal justice functions. Please include in your discussion the role partnering agencies and stakeholders should play in such a process.

03

Please discuss any specialized education or training you have pertaining to trial work, negotiations, witness interviews, briefing, or other prosecutor related job functions.

04

Describe why you are interested in working for the City of Bozeman. Please also describe why living in Bozeman interests you?

05

For applicants who are not licensed to practice law in Montana at the time of application, please provide a written statement that details the steps you will take to become licensed in Montana. If you are already licensed to practice in Montana, please enter "Licensed in Montana."

Required Question

Employer

Bozeman, City of (MT)

Address

121 N Rouse Ave. Bozeman, Montana, 59715

Phone

406-582-2367 406-582-2970

Website

https://www.bozeman.net

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