Listing Summary

JOB SUMMARY

This position performs professional legal tasks for the Authority as assigned by the supervisor.  The work includes review and preparation of contracts and other legal documents; providing legal counsel to Authority staff; and performing legal research. This position reports to the Executive Director.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provides legal counsel, upon request of the Executive Director, department heads, and other employees, to include research of issues presented and provision of legal opinions through oral or written response.
• Drafts or reviews most Authority contracts for sufficiency as to legal form, to include review of construction contracts for proper execution and thorough inclusion of documents. 
• Negotiates contract terms with opposing counsel, as necessary. 
• Drafts or reviews a variety of legal documents.
• Attends regular staff meetings to discuss status of contracts and ongoing projects.
• Performs research projects upon assignment by the Executive Director.
• Keeps abreast of changes in local government law by attending continuing legal education seminars and reading update materials.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.   

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctor Degree (JD) from an accredited school of law, and three (3) years of experience in the practice of law or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

 

Special Qualifications:

Possession of a valid State of Georgia driver’s license and satisfactory Motor Vehicle Record (MVR). Possession of license to practice law in the State of Georgia.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Georgia law pertaining to the operations, authorities and responsibilities of the Authority.
• Knowledge of the principles and procedures of civil law, especially as related to the Authority.
• Knowledge of the Authority structure and operations.
• Knowledge of statutory provisions applying to rules of order.
• Knowledge of legal research and investigation methodology, judicial procedure, and rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of the current literature, trends and developments in the field of governmental law.
• Knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.
• Skilled in legal writing.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws and court decisions, and to use legal source material in technical research.
• Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, contracts, deeds, ordinances, resolutions, legal briefs, etc.
• Ability to prepare correspondence, reports, contracts, deeds, legal briefs, ordinances, resolutions, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Ability to speak before groups of people.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems; to deal with nonverbal symbolism in its most difficult phases; to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables; and to comprehend the most abstruse classes of concepts.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions and to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal terminology.