Assistant City Attorney

In the City Attorney's Office, we make it our mission to bring together diverse talents, personalities, and experience in a way that is both effective and efficient to best serve the residents of Minneapolis. Under supervision provide the City of Minneapolis and its various officials, boards, agencies and departments with professional legal services relating to criminal legal matters, including advice on cases, broad policy level guidance and representation; or relating to criminal prosecution, including advice concerning investigation and development of particular cases, and courtroom representation.

Application Submission Requirements:
ALL applicants MUST submit completed:

• City of Minneapolis online application through Government Jobs
• Screening questions answered

Represent the City and Advise on Criminal Law Matters
* Prepare and try criminal cases of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor, including those of a complex nature. This includes but is not limited to bail hearings, settlement negotiations, treatment courts, contested evidentiary hearings, jury and court trials, sentencing hearings, probation revocation hearings, and a wide variety of other categories of hearings under often stressful conditions requiring attorneys to think quickly on their feet.
* Manage an assigned caseload, coordinating court dates and other schedules with judges, defense attorneys, defendants, and witnesses.
* Make independent determinations as to what constitutes fair and legal case outcomes, deciding whether to offer incarceration, restorative justice, or another disposition and structuring offers for case resolution.
* Work with crime victims to accurately assess their losses, obtain appropriate restitution awards, and vindicate their rights in court.
* Review and analyze evidence, including physical evidence, body-worn cameras, squad, transit, and surveillance footage, and jail and 911 tapes.
* Direct investigative and support staff as necessary to gather evidence and build a criminal case.
*Advise on applying legal requirements to specific data and facts.
* Conduct legal research and prepare legal opinions on criminal law issues, including complex ones. This includes using a caselaw database, such as Westlaw, to locate relevant controlling or persuasive cases concerning specific legal issues presented in litigation.
* Produce written briefs and memoranda on various criminal law issues, including complex matters, in district court, frequently under very tight deadlines, and occasionally at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
* Deliver well-thought-out, persuasive oral arguments advancing the case's legal theories and strengths to judges and juries.
* Develop the necessary expertise in various criminal and constitutional law areas, including complex areas.
* Draft changes to state statutes and city ordinances as requested.
* Confer with and advise Minneapolis Police Departments, other law enforcement partners, and other Minneapolis City departments on legal matters and concerns involving criminal law issues, including complex ones.
* Help implement community-based criminal justice and public safety initiatives, reforms, and grant programs.
* Assist the criminal deputy and criminal supervising attorneys with projects, policy, and legal research, including a complex nature.
* Exhibit critical thinking and problem-solving skills, sometimes with supervision.
* Prepare and conduct public presentations and provide training on various criminal law and criminal procedure issues, including complex ones, to other attorneys, city departments, elected officials, and outside partner agencies.
* Foster relationships of trust with department heads, city staff, state and judges, partner agencies, other governmental subdivisions, and internal colleagues.
* Research and draft briefs and present oral arguments for appeals at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Minimum Education: The position has a minimum educational requirement of a Juris Doctorate (J.D.)

Minimum Experience: Two or more years of relevant legal experience.

Licenses/Certification: Minnesota attorney licensure through the successful bar examination and current active bar membership; ability to be licensed in federal court.

Selection Process
The selection process will consist of one or more of the following steps: a rating of relevant education and experience 100%. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions. Only those candidates who attain a passing score (70%) on each step in the selection process will be placed on the eligible list. The City of Minneapolis Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number in any phase of the selection process.

Background Check
The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

Background Check (Police)
The City has determined that a thorough Minneapolis Police Department criminal background check is necessary for positions with this job title. Applicants must sign an informed consent allowing the City to obtain their criminal history information in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be considered for the position.

Drug and Alcohol Testing
All job applicants must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be required to sign a notification and consent form prior to undergoing drug and alcohol testing. Applicants who do not consent to undergo drug and alcohol testing will not be required to do so and the City will withdraw the conditional job offer, resulting in the job applicant no longer being considered for the position.

Union Representation
This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the AFSCME Attorneys (CAT). For more information on the terms and conditions of this agreement please visit: AFSCME Attorneys - City of Minneapolis

Eligible List Statement
The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire 4 months after it has been established.

* Legal knowledge and technical skills
* Work ethic, drive, diligence
* Complex problem-solving, decision making, sometimes with supervision
* Communication skills
* Teamwork/collaboration skills
* Contributions to CAO, the enterprise, legal systems
* Commitment to Equity
* At least some demonstration of leadership
* Strong legal research skills
* Organizational and prioritization skills
* Excellent communication skills
* Capacity to handle complex projects and make quality decisions

As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose-serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.