Assistant City Attorney

Summary

Under the direction of the City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney provides legal services to support the City Attorney in representing the legal interests of the City of Eagle Pass. This position regularly collaborates with City leadership, department directors, staff, and boards and commissions to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws while advancing the City’s strategic objectives.   This position performs a broad range of municipal legal work, including prosecution in Municipal Court, legal research, drafting ordinances and contracts, advising City departments, and assisting with litigation matters.

Distinguishing Career Features

Working under the direction of the City Attorney, the Assistant City Attorney exercises independent professional judgment in managing assigned legal matters while consulting with the City Attorney on significant legal, policy, or risk-related issues. The role requires sound legal analysis, strong written and oral advocacy skills, and the ability to provide practical legal guidance that supports City operations in a growing and dynamic environment. The ideal candidate understands that municipal law is not practiced in isolation, but in partnership with leadership, departments, boards, commissions, and the community. This role requires a collaborative professional who values transparency, ethical decision-making, accountability, and respectful engagement, and a culture where doing what is right for the organization and the public is paramount.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

· Represent the City as Municipal Prosecutor in Municipal Court proceedings, including pretrial matters, trials, hearings, plea negotiations, and related case management functions.

· Draft complaints, motions, pleadings, and other legal documents necessary for court proceedings and provide legal assistance to Municipal Court personnel. 

· Respond to open records requests and open meetings issues under the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act, including preparation of Attorney General opinion requests when assigned.

· Provide legal advice to police officers, code enforcement officers, animal control officers, and other City officials regarding enforcement actions and legal procedures.

· Conduct legal research and prepare written legal opinions, memoranda, and analyses on municipal law matters, including open government, employment law, purchasing, land use, economic development, real estate, and finance. 

· Draft, review, and revise ordinances, resolutions, contracts, interlocal agreements, development-related agreements, and other legal instruments to ensure compliance with applicable laws and City policies.

· Provide legal advice and presentations to City Council, boards, commissions, department directors, and staff as assigned by the City Attorney. 

· Assist in representing the City in litigation, administrative proceedings, and regulatory matters; coordinate with outside counsel as directed by the City Attorney.

· Respond to citizen inquiries related to municipal court procedures, City ordinances, and enforcement matters in a professional and constructive manner. 

· Assist in reviewing and recommending revisions to City policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance.

· Manage assigned matters independently, including meeting court-imposed deadlines and other time-sensitive obligations, while consulting with the City Attorney regarding significant legal risks or policy implications. 

· Provide training to City staff, boards, and commissions on legal topics including open government, ethics, risk management, and regulatory compliance as assigned.

· Attend City Council meetings, work sessions, and board or commission meetings as assigned to provide legal guidance.

· Be accessible to address urgent legal issues or emergencies as required.

·      Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.