Assistant City Attorney, Senior

Join the City of Bellingham, Wa Attorney's Office as an Assistant City Attorney, Senior, where you'll play a pivotal role in representing the City and ensuring the City's legal risks are effectively managed. If you're a skilled litigator with a passion for public service, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact! 

JOB SUMMARY:
The Assistant City Attorney, Senior (Civil Litigator) assists the City Attorney in the performance of the legal work of the City. Incumbents are responsible for providing advanced professional legal work involving a wide variety of municipal legal subjects including complex civil, administrative, and criminal matters. Incumbents are responsible for multiple practice areas but typically focus on a subset of the essential functions listed on the job announcement.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

 

The current full salary range for this position is $10,773/month - $13,096/month. Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the E-Team Handbook and City policy.

Research has demonstrated that salary negotiation can further inequality due to bias across gender and race. To prevent negotiation bias, the City places new employees within the published salary range based on qualifications and professional experience as listed on the application material, in accordance with City policy. This is in line with the City's commitment to accessibility, diversity,   equity, and inclusion. Candidates who exceed the minimum experience requirements shall be given credit for advanced step placement at the rate of one additional pay step for each two full years of directly related or equivalent professional experience beyond the minimum requirements. Candidates who meet minimum qualifications or have experience that is not directly related or in a lower-level position will be placed at step one in the salary range. For positions that require a bachelor's degree, one additional step may be granted for applicants with a master's degree in a related field when the master's degree is not required to meet minimum qualifications. The City's HR Department regularly evaluates minimum qualifications to provide equitable employment opportunities.

For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here's a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 13.33 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 40 hours of sick leave upon hire + 8 hours accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation savings plan and 401(a) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Interested candidates should apply on the City's website.  Closing Date/Time: Fri. 02/28/2025 4:30 PM Pacific Time 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Experience and Training

• Admission to the Washington State Bar and a member in good standing throughout duration of employment, and 
  Four years of professional legal experience as an attorney with a preference for experience that is substantially related to one or more responsible areas of practice, OR
• Four years of experience as Assistant City Attorney with the City of Bellingham.

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skill and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal background check.
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
• Incumbents may not engage in the private practice of law while employed.

Equal Opportunity:

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.