Description

With more than 200 attorneys and professional staff, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law offices in Seattle and is the third-largest public law office in the state. Our office is committed to making Seattle a safe, healthy, empowered, and thriving community for everyone. We strive to address historical injustices within the court system with self-examination and to pursue justice in Seattle with integrity, creativity, and fairness. We believe working transparently, innovatively, and in collaboration with our partners in the community is necessary to achieve outcomes that promote equity, accountability, and healing.

The Civil Enforcement Section has an exciting opportunity for an Assistant City Attorney to handle collection matters for damage done to City property, unpaid permit fees or utility use, and past-due debts. The work includes obtaining and enforcing judgments through litigation in King County Superior Court.  

The selected attorney should expect a fast-paced practice and a lead role on cases. This position is supported by a collaborative team of attorneys in the Civil Enforcement Section and excellent support staff. The attorney will be responsible for all aspects of litigation including pre-filing advice, discovery, motions practice, trial/hearing and settlement negotiations.

In addition to providing a great opportunity for public service, the City Attorney's Office offers a generous benefits program that includes low-cost health benefits, life insurance, paid leave benefits, paid parental and family leave, and the opportunity to participate in a defined benefit retirement program.

 
Job Responsibilities
 

• Advise City departments and City officials on collection matters, including garnishments and bankruptcies. Tasks may require initiating litigation, filing claims in bankruptcy, receiverships and probates, and deciding when a debt is not collectible.
• Conduct legal research on a wide variety of topics, including statute of limitations, utilities, receiverships, bankruptcy, municipal law, and collections.
• Engage in all aspects of discovery, including interrogatories, requests for production, and depositions.
• Represent the City in court through motions practice, trials, and hearings.
• Draft and negotiate settlements and enforce previously executed settlement agreements.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the Civil Enforcement Section and in other sections in the City Attorney’s Office.
• Other responsibilities may be assigned.

Requirements

To be successful in this role, the selected candidate will need the knowledge and skills gained by experience working as a collections attorney, including:

• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
• Minimum of three years of experience with debtor/creditor law and/or collections experience.
• Experience with drafting demand letters, initiating lawsuits, and obtaining and enforcing judgments.
• Knowledge of debt collection practices, including an understanding of governing federal and state laws (e.g., the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – FDCPA), and knowledge of civil procedure, statutes of limitations, and different enforcement mechanisms.
• Working experience of receiverships, probate, foreclosures, and bankruptcy and how those may affect collections.
• Excellent attention to detail and great time management skills.
• Ability to assume a lead role on cases, manage a large caseload and litigation tasks independently, and negotiate favorably on behalf of the City.

This position requires membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association, or current licensure in another state with the ability to complete the process of obtaining Washington Bar membership within 2 months of the offer of employment.