City of Baltimore
Assistant Counsel, Code Enforcement
An Assistant Counsel, Code Enforcement, performs progressively responsible legal work for Baltimore City addressing a wide variety of neighborhood, drug nuisance and housing code enforcement issues and tries civil, nuisance abatement and criminal housing code enforcement cases of varying complexity in circuit and district courts. Work of this class may involve full supervisory duties and responsibilities. Incumbents receive moderate supervision from a technical superior. Employees in this class work a conventional workweek. Work is performed in an office where normal working conditions are encountered. The work requires minimal physical exertion. Typical examples of the work include: Researching, preparing and trying civil and criminal housing code enforcement, drug nuisance and tenant/landlord cases on behalf of the State's Attorney's Office and the Baltimore City government in the Circuit Court and District Court of Baltimore. Performing research and rendering legal opinions on code enforcement and related questions that are raised and submitted City government departments and agencies. Drafting and preparing a wide variety of legal documents, including but not limited to, briefs, interrogatories, motions, pleadings, charging documents and civil complaints for the prosecution of cases in the Baltimore City Circuit and District Courts. Representing the interests of the Department, the State's Attorney's Office and the City at hearings and meetings of boards, commissions, community and landlord/tenant organizations and other groups; assisting in developing strategic plans and addressing housing code, drug nuisance and related concerns. Providing housing code enforcement litigation counsel to agency staff and representatives of other City agencies on code enforcement programs, strategies and joint case prosecutions. Researching, locating and identifying property owners and tenants involved in code enforcement cases. Advising and informing superiors on trial proceedings, status and problems. Utilizing business and legal databases and systems in analyzing legal facts, formulating legal decisions and coordinating the processing cases through the legal system. Performing related work as required. Knowledge of the principles and practices of law and court procedures. Knowledge of appropriate Baltimore City Code and Charter provisions and Federal, State and City statutes dealing with code enforcement. Knowledge of Maryland criminal and civil law and procedure. Skill in conducting legal research utilizing a wide variety of sources and technology. Skill in using a personal computer and commonly utilized business and legal software packages and databases. Skill in the preparation of legal documents. Ability to prepare and try cases of varying complexity. Ability to organize, interpret and apply legal principles in the research and prosecution of a case. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Ability to manage a full caseload of trial cases. Ability to coordinate multiple priorities. Minimum qualifications include a law degree from an accredited law school and two years of experience in trial work, legal writing and/or municipal law and practice before circuit and district courts. Admission to the Bar of the State of Maryland is required. A valid Maryland Class C Noncommercial driver's license or equivalent driver's license and eligibility to obtain a Baltimore City driver's permit is required. Those eligibles who are under final consideration for appointment will be required to authorize the release of criminal conviction information. Eligibles will also be required to undergo and pass a background check by the State's Attorney's Office of Baltimore City.
An Assistant Counsel, Code Enforcement, performs progressively responsible legal work for Baltimore City addressing a wide variety of neighborhood, drug nuisance and housing code enforcement issues and tries civil, nuisance abatement and criminal housing code enforcement cases of varying complexity in circuit and district courts. Work of this class may involve full supervisory duties and responsibilities. Incumbents receive moderate supervision from a technical superior. Employees in this class work a conventional workweek. Work is performed in an office where normal working conditions are encountered. The work requires minimal physical exertion. Typical examples of the work include: Researching, preparing and trying civil and criminal housing code enforcement, drug nuisance and tenant/landlord cases on behalf of the State's Attorney's Office and the Baltimore City government in the Circuit Court and District Court of Baltimore. Performing research and rendering legal opinions on code enforcement and related questions that are raised and submitted City government departments and agencies. Drafting and preparing a wide variety of legal documents, including but not limited to, briefs, interrogatories, motions, pleadings, charging documents and civil complaints for the prosecution of cases in the Baltimore City Circuit and District Courts. Representing the interests of the Department, the State's Attorney's Office and the City at hearings and meetings of boards, commissions, community and landlord/tenant organizations and other groups; assisting in developing strategic plans and addressing housing code, drug nuisance and related concerns. Providing housing code enforcement litigation counsel to agency staff and representatives of other City agencies on code enforcement programs, strategies and joint case prosecutions. Researching, locating and identifying property owners and tenants involved in code enforcement cases. Advising and informing superiors on trial proceedings, status and problems. Utilizing business and legal databases and systems in analyzing legal facts, formulating legal decisions and coordinating the processing cases through the legal system. Performing related work as required. Knowledge of the principles and practices of law and court procedures. Knowledge of appropriate Baltimore City Code and Charter provisions and Federal, State and City statutes dealing with code enforcement. Knowledge of Maryland criminal and civil law and procedure. Skill in conducting legal research utilizing a wide variety of sources and technology. Skill in using a personal computer and commonly utilized business and legal software packages and databases. Skill in the preparation of legal documents. Ability to prepare and try cases of varying complexity. Ability to organize, interpret and apply legal principles in the research and prosecution of a case. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Ability to manage a full caseload of trial cases. Ability to coordinate multiple priorities. Minimum qualifications include a law degree from an accredited law school and two years of experience in trial work, legal writing and/or municipal law and practice before circuit and district courts. Admission to the Bar of the State of Maryland is required. A valid Maryland Class C Noncommercial driver's license or equivalent driver's license and eligibility to obtain a Baltimore City driver's permit is required. Those eligibles who are under final consideration for appointment will be required to authorize the release of criminal conviction information. Eligibles will also be required to undergo and pass a background check by the State's Attorney's Office of Baltimore City.