Municipal Law Division Chief

OverviewThe Municipal Law Division Chief serves as the primary legal advisor to the municipality, including elected officials, City Manager, administrative departments, and boards. This role ensures that all municipal actions are legally sound and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Municipal Law Division Chief also represents the municipality in legal proceedings and manages legal affairs of the City. The Municipal Law Division Chief also coordinates matters with the Special Legal Counsel.An incumbent of this class is a department head under the administrative direction of the Mayor and City Council, with responsibility for policy development, program planning, fiscal management, administration, and operational direction of the Legal/Law Division/Department. The incumbent is responsible for accomplishing department objectives and goals within guidelines established by the Mayor and City Council, and exercise supervision over subordinate professional, technical and support personnel.The following essential functions are those that are critical, integral, necessary, crucial, primary and fundamental to the job. Incumbents who possess the requisite skill, experience, education, and other job-related requirements of a position are expected to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.Lead and oversee all legal aspects of municipal governance with accountability to the Mayor and City Council.Provide legal advice and interpretation of laws, statutes, regulations, and ordinances to elected officials, city departments, boards, and commissions.Draft, review, and approve complex contracts, ordinances, resolutions, policies, and other legal documents involving high-value or high-risk municipal interests.Represent the municipality in high-stakes civil litigation, administrative hearings, and negotiations; manage and evaluate performance of outside counsel.Ensure strict legal compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws across all municipal operations, including emerging regulatory areas.Advise on advanced legal issues including constitutional law, municipal finance, labor and employment law, land use and zoning, and risk management.Attend and provide strategic counsel at city council meetings, committee sessions, closed sessions, and public hearings.Monitor, interpret, and recommend responses to proposed legislation and evolving legal standards affecting municipal operations.Develop, manage, and forecast the Legal Department/Division budget; ensure alignment with organizational goals and financial constraints.Supervise, mentor, and evaluate performance of legal staff; ensure continuous professional development and legal compliance.QualificationsJuris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.Admission to the California State Bar and active membership in good standing.Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible experience practicing municipal law, including at least five (5) years in a senior legal leadership role supervising attorneys and legal staff in a public agency.Minimum of three (3) years providing legal counsel directly to elected officials or executive municipal leadership, including advising during closed sessions, legislative processes, and high-impact municipal decisions.Demonstrated experience managing outside legal counsel and coordinating complex legal matters across multiple departments.Substantial experience with complex municipal transactions, such as land use redevelopment agreements, public-private partnerships, and municipal finance instruments (e.g., bond counsel).Experience litigating high-stakes matters in state and federal courts, including constitutional or civil rights -depth knowledge and application of California municipal law, including the Brown Act, California Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, conflict of interest laws, and related regulatory frameworks.Demonstrated experience managing a departmental budget of $2 million or more and direct supervision of five (5) or more full-time legal pletion of specialized public law training or certification (e.g., League of California Cities, ICMA, or equivalent) within the past five (5) years.Preferred: Possession of a Certified Public Manager (CPM) credential, LL.M. in Public or Administrative Law, or other comparable executive legal or public management training.Key CompetenciesSuperior written and oral communication skills, including the ability to convey complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences.Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills; ability to synthesize legal, political, and operational considerations in decision-making.High ethical standards, professional integrity, and commitment to public service.Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and exercise sound legal and strategic judgment under pressure.Proficient in investigative strategies, risk assessment, negotiation, and legal compliance review.Experienced in litigation advocacy across multiple forums (civil, administrative, and appellate); skilled in managing complex caseloads.Demonstrated leadership in managing multidisciplinary teams and delegating authority effectively.Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships across departments, elected bodies, external agencies, and the public.Adaptability in a dynamic municipal environment with rapidly shifting legal and political mitment to continuous learning and professional development in emerging areas of municipal law and public sector management.Required Licenses and/or CertificationsPossession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License required.Physical Demands/Work EnvironmentWork is performed indoors in an office setting.Work requires frequent light lifting, carrying and on occasion driving.Moderate finger dexterity and near vision is required.May be exposed to minor amounts of dust.Primarily office environment with attendance required at meetings during or outside regular business hours.Occasional travel for conferences or court appearances may be ternal applicants must use their personal email to apply, as City of Compton work emails will not be accepted for job applications. While we cannot prevent applicants from using their work email, the City is not responsible for missed communications due to system outages, firewall restrictions, employee leave, or any other technical or accessibility issues affecting City email accounts.All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for the position and submit all required documents -such as licenses, certifications, and proof of education- outlined in the job posting. Incomplete applications, including those missing any required documentation, will not be considered.Please note: Only the first 50 applications received that meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to continue in the hiring process.Examination and EligibilityThe City of Compton uses an examination process to establish an eligible list from which vacant position(s) may be filled. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination and interview process. Phase one is an oral examination (weighted 100%) with an appraisal panel evaluating professional qualifications, background and suitability. The oral examination may include graded simulation exercises, writing exercises, and oral presentations. A passing score is 70%. The City reserves the right to use alternative testing methods if necessary. Failure in one phase is grounds for disqualification.General Information to Examination ApplicantsThe City of Compton does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or provisions of services. Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must give advanced notice to the Human Resources Department prior to the final filing date.Eligible ListsRecruitment may be conducted on a promotional basis, open-competitive basis, or both. All candidates with an overall score of at least 70.00 (open-competitive) and at least 75.00 (promotional) will be ranked on the relevant eligible list(s). All permanent City employees attaining an overall score of at least 75.00 will be placed on both lists. Other scoring rules apply as described in the posting.Examination Appeal ProcedureA candidate may file a written appeal within five (5) days after the written examination with the City Manager. The Personnel Board will review appeals per the Personnel Rules and Regulations (Section 6.8).Examination RecordsAll examination papers, including applications, resumes, and attachments, are the property of the Personnel Board and are confidential records subject to inspection only as established by the Personnel Board.Veteran’s PreferenceIn open-competitive examinations for Classified positions, veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces during periods of war and who attain an overall passing score receive additional preferential credit per Personnel Rules and Regulations. Proof of service and honorable discharge (DD-214) must be submitted with the application or by the final filing date.Fringe BenefitsThe City's comprehensive fringe benefits program includes retirement (PERS), medical, dental, life and vision insurances, deferred compensation, sick and vacation leave, education reimbursement, ride share program, uniform allowance and other provisions. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-10-06