Deputy City Solicitor

The City of Cambridge is seeking a highly motivated and experienced attorney to serve as Deputy City Solicitor. This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic team and contribute to the city's mission to provide excellent legal representation and advice to its officials and departments.

The Law Department is responsible for providing legal representation and advice to the City and its officials in various areas of law, including zoning, environmental, employment, civil rights, contracts, tax, real estate, and torts.

The department strives to help the City Manager, City Council, City departments, and City boards/commissions/committees achieve their goals within the parameters of the law.

• Oversee and handle the prosecution and defense of all suits in which the City is a party in state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
• Oversee and handle transactional matters in which the City is involved.
• Provide representation and advice to the City Manager, City Council, department heads, and other City officials on a broad variety of legal issues, rights, obligations, and practices under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Draft, review, and approve advisory opinions to the City Manager, City Council, School Committee, department heads, and boards/commissions/committees.
• Draft, review, and approve legislation and a wide range of legal instruments.
• Provide training to City staff and board/commission/committee members on a variety of matters.
• Regularly attend meetings, including evening meetings, of the City Council and its subcommittees, as well as meetings of other boards/commissions/committees.
• Assist in the supervision, training, and evaluation of attorneys, the public records access officers, and administrative support staff.
• Assist with the department's budgeting and overall office management, including short- and long-range planning for the department.
• Assist with implementing and recommending office best practices, such as records management and case management practices.

• Juris doctor degree from an accredited law school required.
• Must be a member of the Massachusetts Bar, admitted to practice before Massachusetts state and federal courts.
• Thorough knowledge of Massachusetts and federal law required.
• Thorough knowledge of Massachusetts Public Records Law, Open Meeting Law, and Conflict of Interest Law.
• At least 10 years' experience in Massachusetts municipal law, general civil litigation, and experience in a wide range of substantive areas of law (including zoning, employment, torts, civil rights, real estate, construction, contracts, and/or environmental law) required.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise legal and administrative staff with at least 2 years' experience in a supervisory position.
• Excellent oral communication skills and the ability to represent the City before an array of organizations and bodies and the public.
• Excellent writing and legal writing skills.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to manage a large number of projects and tasks at any given time, ability to shift gears flexibly and quickly and respond to emergency circumstances.
• The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

• At least 4 years' experience in a supervisory position.
• Experience working as an attorney in a municipal law department.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the City of Cambridge's form of government, ordinances, departmental structure, operations, and functioning.
• Experience appearing before municipal boards/commissions/committees.
• Experience with case management, document management, and e-discovery software, and any other software used in the legal field.

• Work is conducted primarily in an office environment with fluorescent lighting, air conditioning, computers, and other standard office equipment.
• May involve meetings in other offices or facilities.