Municipal Associate Attorney -- Civil & Prosecution (Large MN City)
4 months ago
Saint Paul
Job DescriptionLocation: Apple Valley, MN (serving multiple south-metro municipalities) Job Type: Full-time, exempt Practice Areas: General Municipal, Civil (land use/zoning, contracts, data/open meetings), Criminal Prosecution (misdemeanor/gross misdemeanor/ordinance) About Us Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A. provides comprehensive legal counsel to cities, townships, and special districts, including general civil representation and prosecution services. Our team partners with several south-metro municipalities on day-to-day governance and courtroom advocacy. Job Summary We’re hiring a municipal associate to support civil advisory work and prosecution for a large Minnesota municipality (and other municipal clients). The role blends courtroom time with advisory and drafting work, offering immediate, meaningful responsibility alongside experienced mentors. What You’ll Do Civil/Advisory • Advise staff, administrators, and councils on land use, planning & zoning, contracts, licensing, procurement, constitutional issues, and employment questions., • Draft/review ordinances, resolutions, development agreements, RFPs/RFQs, and intergovernmental agreements., • Counsel on Minnesota Open Meeting Law and Minnesota Government Data Practices Act compliance., • Support assessment appeals, eminent domain, and other municipal litigation.Prosecution, • Handle arraignments, pretrials, motions, and trials for misdemeanor/gross-misdemeanor and ordinance matters., • Manage discovery, plea negotiations, victim/witness communications, and trial prep.What You Bring, • 3–5+ years of relevant experience (municipal civil, prosecution, or closely related)., • Courtroom experience and strong written advocacy., • Some working knowledge of land use, public law, and Minnesota criminal procedure., • Practical, solution-oriented counseling style and calm under pressure., • Active Minnesota bar license (in good standing) and valid driver’s license for occasional travel to city halls/courthouses.Nice to Have, • Planning & zoning hearing experience; drafting staff reports or council memos., • Experience with OML/Data Practices investigations and training., • Prior service as a city/township prosecutor or public-sector attorney.Compensation & Benefits, • Competitive compensation commensurate with experience., • Full benefits, CLE/bar dues covered, training/mentorship, and growth path., • Meaningful courtroom and council exposure with a supportive team., • Free parking; south-metro convenience.How to Apply, • Resume, • Brief cover letter highlighting municipal and prosecution experience, • 1 writing sample (e.g., prosecution motion, memo, or municipal advisory document; de-identified)