The City Council for Lake Oswego,
Oregon is conducting a nationwide recruitment effort for an experienced
municipal generalist to serve as City Attorney. Reporting to the elected body, the
City Attorney provides sound legal advice to the Council and departments on
significant policy, project, real estate and property acquisition, and
financial matters, attends all regular City Council meetings, and drafts or
reviews ordinances, orders, and resolutions that come before the elected body. In
addition to the City Attorney, the Office of the City Attorney currently
includes a full-time Deputy City Attorney (focused on land-use and contracts),
a contracted part-time attorney (prosecutor), Legal Assistant, and
Administrative Support II. The annual budget for the City Attorney’s Office is
approximately $1.8 million, although cost for outside legal counsel vary from
year to year.
This position requires a Juris
Doctorate and 5 years in the practice of municipal law, ideally with a
successful track record as a City Attorney, Deputy City Attorney, or experience
in a private law firm advising municipal governments with a full range of
municipal services or a similar role in an equivalent type of organization, in
order to successfully fulfill the requirements of the City. Ideal experience
for this position will be as municipal law generalist although
experience may have an emphasis in one or more specialty areas such as land
use, urban renewal, real property and land acquisition, environmental law,
public meetings and records, and civil and administrative law. Knowing Oregon
land use and public contracts is a definite plus although with the expertise
that exists in-house currently with the Deputy City Attorney, the new City
Attorney will not need to be skilled in these specific areas of expertise to be
considered for this position. The City of Lake Oswego retains outside legal
counsel for most litigation matters. For this reason, the new City Attorney
does not need to be an experienced litigator, although some knowledge and
experience with litigation will prove beneficial in managing outside legal
counsel. Additionally, this position
requires license and membership in good standing in the Oregon State Bar
Association (or qualify for Admission through reciprocity with the ability to
obtain OSB membership). Municipal attorneys practicing outside of Oregon will
be given full consideration and are encouraged to submit credentials for
consideration. The ability to be bonded in accordance with City standards is
also required.
Interested
candidates should apply by submitting a comprehensive résumé and compelling cover letter via
email to: no later than Monday, October 17, 2022. Confidential inquiries should be directed to
Ms. Heather Renschler, Ralph Andersen & Associates at (916) 630-4900 or
request an appointment to discuss further by contacting . Detailed
brochure available at www.ralphandersen.com/jobs/city-attorney-lake-oswego-or/.
