The City Attorney is appointed by the City Commission and serves at the will of the Commission as the City’s chief legal officer. Reporting directly to the Commission, the City Attorney provides strategic legal counsel, oversees all legal affairs of the City, and ensures that municipal operations, policies, and actions are legally sound and defensible. Key responsibilities include serving as principal legal advisor to the City Commission, City Manager, and senior leadership; providing executive oversight and direction for all legal matters of the City; representing the City in litigation before state and federal courts; directing the preparation and administration of the Law Department budget; preparing, reviewing, and approving ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other legal instruments; and leading and managing the City’s Law Department, including supervision of professional staff.
The City Attorney is expected to be a highly experienced municipal law executive with the credibility to advise elected officials, the judgment to navigate politically sensitive issues, and the leadership capacity to manage a sophisticated public-sector legal function. The ideal candidate will serve as both guardian of the City’s legal integrity and a thoughtful partner to elected officials navigating complex and evolving issues.
Qualifications
The following are the minimum qualifications for the position of City Attorney:
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Education: Graduation from law school.
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Experience: Ten years of experience as a practicing attorney, of which five years must be in municipal law work. Supervisory experience is required.
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Bar Status: Must be admitted to practice in the Courts of the State of Michigan at time of appointment.
Salary and Benefits
The Grand Rapids City Commission will negotiate a highly competitive salary and executive benefits package with the selected candidate that is considerate of the candidate’s experience and qualifications. The salary range for the City Attorney position is $195,862 to $244,568, depending on qualifications. The City offers a 401(a) retirement plan beginning at six months of employment. Employees contribute 6% of salary, with an employer contribution of 7%. Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation and Roth IRA plans are also available.
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The City of Grand Rapids does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.