Town Attorney

Nolensville is currently accepting applications for a Town Attorney. The Town Attorney manages all aspects of the Town's legal activities and provides general support to the Board of Commissioners, Town Manager, staff, and other Town boards. Duties and responsibilities include preparing/reviewing legal documents; tracking, conducting research and interpreting legislative issues; managing litigation matters; prosecuting ordinance violation cases; providing legal advice and support; and maintaining an awareness of legal/governmental requirements pertaining to municipal government functions.
 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
 

• Demonstrates good human relations skills, with the ability to effectively interact with the public, other attorneys, Town officials and employees.
  Ability to be available to work hours as needed or necessary, including, but not limited to, evening meetings of the Board of Commissioners and other Boards, if needed.
• Maintains familiarity with general principles of tort, contract, employment and real property law, and state and local court rules and procedures, with ability to advise and counsel as needed.
• Develops a comprehensive understanding of the Town's Zoning Ordinance; provides legal guidance to Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Historic Zoning Commission, and staff regarding land use and development issues.
• Provides legal representation, support and advice as requested to Town officials, employees, boards, commissions and entities, both privately, and at public meetings and administrative hearings verbally and in writing; includes providing assistance in personnel matters such as employee discipline or termination; and consulting with the Planning and Codes Department and Police Department on interpretation of Town Ordinances and issuance of citations.
• Reviews and approves all agenda items for Board of Commissioners meetings and provides legal guidance to the Board of Commissioners during meetings, as needed.
• Assists in development of administrative policies, rules, and regulations.
• Prepares, drafts, reviews, and edits ordinances, resolutions, legal opinions, special reports, and other documentation.
• Prepares and reviews contract documents for the purchase, lease, or sale of goods, services and professional services, including specifications, bid documents, requests for proposals, and requests for qualifications, bonds, and contractual agreements.
• Manages real estate transactions, including acquisition and sale of land and interests in land through preparation and review of contracts, leases, easements, deeds, trust deeds, instruments of title, liens, releases, and other documents. Conducts and reviews title examinations. Negotiates and coordinates with surveyors, appraisers, engineers, property owners, tenants, and attorneys.
• Manages and oversees the services of all contract attorneys hired to handle litigation and other legal matters.
• Prosecutes ordinance violation cases in Town court and other applicable venues.
• Represents the Town in legal issues at administrative hearings, meetings with government officials and bond agencies; makes presentations to community and professional organizations, events, etc.
• Coordinates all liability and worker's compensation claims and lawsuits with the Town's insurance provider.
• Provides guidance regarding maintenance of official Town records and application of public records laws and research of Town records.
• Provides guidance and education regarding application of open meetings laws.
• Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to all aspects of municipal activities; interprets laws and regulations and provides advice on their applicability to Town operations; tracks pending legislation that may impact Town operations and may testify at legislative hearings.
• Maintains professional affiliations; reads professional literature; attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate. Attends seminars or participates in other continuing legal education opportunities to meet requirements for continuing licensure for law practice.
   

Additional Job Functions
 

• Prepares and/or generates routine correspondence, letters, memoranda, forms, reports, and other documents via computer. Prepares presentations, articles, columns and graphics on municipal issues.
• Works closely with Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Recorder, and staff to produce Board of Commissioners agenda packages.
• Prepares the annual budget for departmental operations.
• Answers the telephone; provides information; returns calls as necessary.
• Responds to routine requests for information from officials, employees, members of the staff, the media, or other individuals.
• Uses knowledge of various software programs to operate a computer in an effective and efficient manner.
   

Primary Job Challenges
Primary challenges of this position include ensuring compliance with TDEC and US Department of Interior water quality mandates with limited funding. Ensuring compliance with Manual on Uniform traffic Control Devices for all Town owned traffic control devices, signs, signals, and roadway markings.

Qualifications
 

• Education and Experience: Law Degree and license to practice law in the State of Tennessee required, with at least five years of experience in a similar law environment, preferably within a local government (or related); or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
• Must possess excellent communication skills. Must possess and maintain a good reputation for honesty, integrity, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Skilled professional capable of exercising independent judgment, and who possesses excellent legal research, writing and communication skills in addition to having the personal disposition, character, and psychological qualities necessary to work well with the public, staff, board members and in the courtroom environment. Has extensive knowledge, or ability to acquire extensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the Town and Administration Department practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the job of Town Attorney. Has extensive knowledge of Administration Department practices as necessary in the completion of daily responsibilities. Knows how to develop and administer operations and staff plans and objectives for the expedience and effectiveness of specific duties of the department. Knows how to stay current and up to date on changes in State laws, Town ordinances, policy, methods, computer operations, equipment needs, etc. as they pertain to departmental operations and activities. Contact with the public and media, in a variety of situations, may be frequent.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with supervisors, members of the general public and all other groups involved in the activities of the department. Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear and effective manner. Has good organizational, human relations, and technical skills. Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision when necessary. Has the ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information. Has comprehensive knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the department. Has the mathematical ability to handle required calculations. Is knowledgeable and proficient with computers. Ability to read, understand and interpret financial reports and related materials.
  Required Certifications/Licenses: