Assistant City Attorney
Are you looking for an Assistant City Attorney role where your work visibly strengthens the community while offering purpose, stability, and work-life balance? In the City of Champaign’s council-manager form of government, you’ll support elected officials, City leadership, and staff through impactful, hands-on municipal legal work. This role provides broad exposure across diverse legal areas in a collaborative environment that values service and practical problem-solving.
Responsibilities of Position
In this role, you’ll apply your legal expertise in a mission-driven environment where your work has a real, daily impact on the community. Our Assistant City Attorneys gain broad exposure to many areas of law, handle meaningful work early on, and collaborate in a supportive, team-oriented environment that provides professional stability, work-life balance, and the chance to make a visible difference.
Core responsibilities include:
• Advising City officials and departments on local government law, including the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Open Meetings Act (OMA), and municipal governance issues.
• Managing, evaluating, and litigating cases involving ordinance enforcement, small claims, workers’ compensation, and civil rights defense.
• Researching issues and preparing clear, well-reasoned written legal opinions to support City decision-making.
• Drafting, reviewing, and interpreting legal documents such as contracts, legislation, resolutions, real estate documents, and materials related to municipal regulation.
• Leading or supporting contract creation, review, and negotiation, including participation in labor negotiations.
• Conducting real estate transactional work, including acquisitions, dispositions, and related documentation.
• Overseeing the work of assigned staff, including law clerks/interns, as appropriate.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the organization to solve problems, support community initiatives, and contribute to a broad range of municipal projects.
The full annual salary range is $114,891 - $160,857, accompanied by an excellent fringe benefits package. Most new hires will be placed at the beginning of the range. Benefits include: paid vacation, sick, and personal leave; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; 11 paid holidays per year; pension under IMRF and more. Visit champaignil.gov/hr/salaries-and-benefits/ and select Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt Full-Time under Fringe Benefit Summaries for details. Applications, including cover letter (required) and resume (optional), must be submitted online to champaignil.gov/jobs no later than Monday, September 7, 2026.
The City’s mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, and Results. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. The City of Champaign is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
- Licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois, or ability to obtain licensure within a timeframe approved by the City Attorney.
- Experience practicing the law.
- Superior interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Substantial experience in government law at the State, federal, or local level.
- Legal experience in a broad range of civil areas.
- Transactional skills in negotiating and drafting contracts.
- Broad range of skills in real estate, development, and eminent domain.
- Experience in ordinance prosecution and/or other high volume litigation areas (e.g., collections, criminal).
- Experience in municipal finance.
- Experience with property tax assessment or appeals.
- Litigation experience including civil or administrative litigation.
- In-house legal experience.
