The City Attorney is the chief legal counsel for the City of Bothell and serves as the primary legal advisor to the City. Reporting to the City Manager, the City Attorney provides leadership, direction, and guidance for legal issues and provides counsel to the City Manager, City Council, staff, committees, and commissions. Furthermore, the City Attorney provides legal advice to guide City policies, decisions, and activities and ensures that the City receives the highest quality legal representation.
The City Attorney is an integral part of the City’s executive leadership team and collaborates with key staff across all departments to provide legal advice and ensure projects are completed promptly and responsibly. This position analyzes legal trends, interprets concerns, and presents alternatives to the City Manager, City Council, and various City departments regarding major issues facing the City. The City Attorney develops solutions and identifies legal strategies to meet City goals and objectives and collaborates to resolve legal questions that arise during the development and implementation of City projects and programs.
The City Attorney drafts and interprets City ordinances and resolutions, negotiates contracts and agreements with outside governmental agencies and private entities, and reviews other legal documents when needed. This position serves as the City’s Risk Manager and supervises and participates in representing the City at civil and criminal misdemeanor matters and in administrative hearings. The City Attorney also directs coordination with Federal, State, and local law enforcement organizations and outside agencies. Importantly, this position maintains confidentiality of work-related issues, client records, and City information.
The City Attorney leads the Legal Department with a biennial budget of $2.3M and is responsible for hiring, directing, managing, and evaluating the staff, which includes the Deputy City Attorney, Senior Prosecutor, Prosecutor, Domestic Violence Victims Coordinator, Paralegal, and Legal Assistant. The City Attorney provides policy direction and technical advice to ensure the proper and effective handling of legal issues and works to resolve and mediate sensitive, significant, and controversial issues. The City Attorney collaborates to ensure the Legal Department continually strives to provide the highest quality legal services for the City of Bothell in furtherance of its residents' public health, safety, and welfare.
The Priorities
Become an active and engaged member of the executive leadership team. Through inclusive, ethical, and transparent behavior, collaborate with teammates to guide the organization as one team, with one voice, through strategic, creative, and courageous actions that empower staff to serve the community.
Develop an understanding of our organization, become familiar with our City Council vision and priorities, and ensure alignment with the City’s strategic initiatives.
Quickly come up to speed on the current work of the Legal Department. Actively discuss cases, develop strategies as needed, and successfully partner with the staff to provide sound legal advice on ongoing initiatives.
Modernize and automate the Legal Department to meet the growing needs of the City. Identify best practices, articulate technology and system needs, and create a departmental structure that supports consistent, effective, and efficient operations.
Build a collaborative and supportive working relationship with the Municipal Court Judge, Court Administrator, and Court staff.
Actively champion, support, and implement the City’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Support Bothell’s commitment to weaving inclusive principles and equitable practices into everything the City does to ensure equal access to services.
The Successful Candidate
The new City Attorney is a strategic systems thinker who will quickly understand the values of Bothell and easily see the big picture and long-term vision for the City. The ideal candidate maintains an understanding of the issues affecting the Bothell community and leverages that knowledge to provide sound legal advice. With unquestioned integrity and sound ethics, the City Attorney is considered a thought partner and works in the best interest of the City at all times.
With a City first mentality, the City Attorney embraces collaboration and effortlessly partners with City leadership to identify solutions and provide legal advice and guidance in support of organizational goals. The successful candidate effectively engages in processes that enhance the productivity of the organization and creatively solves problems that support alignment with Bothell’s vision. The City Attorney demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a key organizational value and is committed to contributing to a culture that fosters belonging. Considered an active listener, the City Attorney is an effective communicator that promotes clear and concise communication to reduce ambiguity.
The City Attorney is intellectually curious, has substantial local government law experience, and leverages that knowledge to anticipate issues, determine risk, identify solutions, and provide legal analysis. The ideal candidate uses data and analytics to drive decisions and leverages technology and innovation in support of efficient operations. The City Attorney is apolitical yet politically astute, with a strong history of developing effective relationships with elected officials to provide expert legal advice and interpretation that ultimately advance City Council goals and initiatives. A confident leader, the City Attorney effectively navigates controversial issues with ease and is strong enough and humble enough to stand up to pressure and provide unpopular advice when needed.
The City Attorney is a highly effective leader who employs a leadership style that invites participation, builds trust, and empowers staff. The ideal candidate brings a proven background in mentoring and developing employees and believes in effectively building the internal capacity of their team, while also knowing when it’s appropriate to engage outside Counsel. With a focus on customer service, the City Attorney partners with legal staff to develop creative solutions while still providing sound legal advice to complex local government problems.
Qualifications
A minimum of seven years in the practice of municipal law, ideally with a successful track record as a City Attorney, Deputy/Assistant City Attorney, or experience in a private law firm advising municipal governments with a full range of municipal services. Direct leadership experience managing attorneys and paraprofessional legal personnel is essential. A broad and diverse municipal government background with legal expertise in more than one area is required. Specific knowledge of contracts, criminal justice, employment, land use, and procurement law are ideal. Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local statutes, regulations, rules, and ordinances applicable to city activities and functions, including municipal liability, data security, public meetings, public records, and public financing, is required.
A Juris Doctor from a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association or an equivalent combination of education and professional legal experience is required. Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Washington and be in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association or licensed in a state with the ability to be admitted to the Washington State Bar by motion.
Inside City Hall
The City of Bothell combines the strong managerial experience of an appointed city manager with the strong political leadership of elected officials as a non-charter optional code city operating under the Council-Manager form of government. The seven members of the City Council are elected at large on a nonpartisan basis to four-year terms. The Council elects the Mayor and Deputy Mayor from within its ranks and contracts with a professional City Manager to carry out their established goals, policies, and directives.
City services are provided through nine departments: Community Development, Employee and Technology Services, Executive, Finance, Fire, Legal, Parks and Recreation, Police, and Public Works. The City’s Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Utilities are managed through Public Works. Several of the larger departments also have functional divisions within their department. The Bothell Municipal Court partners with the City in enhancing the quality of life and safety of our community. Bothell employs approximately 370 full-time employees and has a 2023-2024 budget of $375.7 Million that reflects the City Council Vision and Strategic Priorities.
City Council Vision Areas
Connecting Neighborhoods for One City
Economic Vitality
A Community of Trust and Respect
A Joyful and Healthy Way of Life
Building Bothell’s Beloved Community
Environmental Stewardship
Moving In and Around Bothell
The Community
“For a day or a lifetime, no matter who you are or where you’ve come from, Bothell is everyone’s hometown” – the Council Vision opening describes this community quite well. Like many cities in region, Bothell, Washington is growing and changing, but somehow persists as a close-knit caring community with heart, quiet charm, and urban amenities. Bothell offers a sense of community and place with quiet family neighborhoods, new housing in and near bustling urban centers, coffee houses and award-winning restaurants, beautiful parks, the famous paved Burke-Gilman/Sammamish River Trail, and so much more. Bothell warmly welcomes new neighbors and cultures, while still respecting their indigenous history and unique hometown traditions that residents and businesses alike love in Bothell.
Located on the shores of the Sammamish River, the downtown area is the hub of the City with popular parks, open green spaces, and multiple play areas for children. Visitors and residents enjoy pedestrian-friendly shopping on the beautiful new Main Street and the newly designed Boulevard, satisfying their appetites at friendly cafes, ethnic restaurants, and craft brewpubs. Downtown events such as Fourth of July parades, holiday tree lightings, art walks, multi-cultural festivals, Main Street trick-or-treating, wine walks and beer festivals, and other family-friendly activities bring people together.
The City of Bothell’s emphasis on rebuilding the historic downtown district and addition of new residential units has investors and developers anxious to grow businesses. Perfectly positioned near the employment and economic centers of Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Everett, Bothell is home to innovative technology companies and an attractive location for advanced biotechnology firms, wireless communications, medical device manufacturing, and medical research.
In addition to being a desirable place to live and work with excellent quality of life, students of all ages can access a variety of educational opportunities. Bothell is served by the Northshore School District, one of the top school districts in the state. The City is also home to the University of Washington Bothell, recently ranked number one in the state for value and quality by Money Magazine. The University of Washington Bothell shares its campus with Cascadia College, the newest community college in the state. Cascadia has quickly built a national reputation for its high transfer rate and innovative approach to student-centered learning. Students and community members enjoy the "Bothell Crows" – when 15,000 crows descend on the campus nightly to roost. The event has become a big attraction for bird watchers, animal lovers, and just plain curious folks.
Quick Facts
Population: 47,784
Median Household Income: $114,068
Median Home Value: $666,640
Diversity: 32% of residents identify as people of color
Language: 24.3% of residents speak a language other than English
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for the City Attorney is $160,881 - $204,544 and will depend on the qualifications of the successful candidate. The City provides an excellent benefits package. Please visit here to learn more.
How to Apply
We believe, to deliver the highest level of service to all Bothell community members, it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce, support an inclusive working environment, and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. We are committed to maximizing the value of our employees and foster a culture of continuous improvement, wellness, and inclusion.
Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position is open until filled with first review of applications on Monday, September 25, 2023.