17 City Attorney Interview Questions and Answers

City attorneys are responsible for providing legal services to their municipality. This may include providing legal advice to the mayor and city council, representing the city in court, and drafting and reviewing contracts.

If you’re interested in a city attorney job, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. In this interview, you’ll need to be prepared to answer questions about your legal experience, as well as your understanding of the role of a city attorney.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve put together a list of common questions and answers that you may be asked.

Are you comfortable representing the city in court?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your comfort level with litigation and the legal process. This is an important skill for a city attorney, as you may need to represent the city in court if there are any disputes or lawsuits related to the municipality’s actions. In your answer, try to show that you understand what it means to be involved in litigation and how to handle such situations.

Example: “Yes, I am comfortable representing the city in court. Throughout my career, I have represented individuals and businesses in civil cases, so I’m familiar with the legal process. I also know how to prepare a case for trial and how to negotiate settlements when appropriate.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a successful city attorney?

This question can help interviewers determine if you have the skills and abilities to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few qualities that are important for city attorneys and how they apply to your own experience.

Example: “I believe one of the most important qualities for a successful city attorney is having excellent research and writing skills. I’ve been working as a legal assistant for five years now, and my primary responsibility has been researching cases and helping attorneys write their briefs. In this position, I learned how to find information quickly and efficiently and how to organize my thoughts into an effective argument. These skills helped me earn my law degree.”

How would you handle a situation where the police department wants legal advice on a matter that may be considered unethical?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your ability to maintain the integrity of the law and ensure that it is upheld. In your answer, demonstrate how you would use your legal knowledge to help the police department make ethical decisions.

Example: “In my experience as a city attorney, I have worked with the police department on many occasions. If they ever asked me for advice about an unethical matter, I would first listen carefully to their concerns and then explain why what they are doing is not illegal. For example, if the police department wanted to know whether they could legally search someone without probable cause, I would tell them that while there is no specific law that allows or disallows such searches, the Supreme Court has ruled that these types of searches violate the Fourth Amendment.

What is your process for reviewing and analyzing legal documents?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you approach your work and the steps you take when reviewing documents. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for reviewing legal documents, including any specific methods or techniques you use to ensure accuracy.

Example: “I have developed my own system for reviewing and analyzing legal documents that I use throughout my career. When I receive a document from an attorney, I first read it thoroughly to get a general understanding of what’s included in the document. Then, I highlight important information within the document, such as dates, names and locations, so I can refer back to them later. After reading the document, I review each highlighted section to make sure all information is accurate.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to negotiate a settlement for the city.

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to learn more about your negotiation skills and how they can benefit the city. Use examples from your experience that show your ability to communicate effectively, compromise and reach mutually beneficial agreements.

Example: “In my current role as city attorney, I often have to negotiate settlements between citizens and the city. For example, if someone is injured in a public park, we might need to determine who was at fault for their injuries and what compensation they should receive. In one case, a child fell out of a tree in the park and broke his arm. We determined that the parents were responsible for watching their child closely and paying for his medical bills.”

If the city council wanted to know your opinion on a certain legal matter, how would you present your thoughts?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to gauge your ability to work with others and communicate effectively. Your answer should show that you can collaborate with the city council, understand their needs and clearly explain your thoughts on the matter.

Example: “If the city council wanted my opinion on a legal matter, I would first make sure I understood all of the facts of the situation. Then, I would present my thoughts in a clear and concise manner so everyone understands what I’m saying. If there are any questions about my presentation or opinions, I would be happy to clarify anything they need.”

What would you do if you discovered that one of the city’s departments was violating a contract?

This question can give the interviewer insight into how you would handle a challenging situation and your ability to work with others. In your answer, try to highlight your problem-solving skills and willingness to collaborate with other departments.

Example: “If I discovered that one of the city’s departments was violating a contract, I would first meet with the department head to discuss the issue. If they were unwilling to comply, I would then meet with the mayor or city council members to determine what action we could take. Ultimately, I would want to find a solution that worked for everyone involved while also protecting the interests of the city.”

How well do you know the laws and regulations that apply to our city?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the law and how it applies to their city. Use examples from your experience as a city attorney or assistant to highlight your expertise in local laws and regulations.

Example: “I have been working as an assistant city attorney for five years, so I am very familiar with the laws and regulations that apply to our city. For example, we have a noise ordinance that prohibits excessive noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., which is when most people are sleeping. We also have ordinances regarding public urination, littering and other quality-of-life issues. These ordinances help me understand what types of cases my clients might be facing.”

Do you have any experience drafting contracts?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience drafting legal documents. Use your answer to highlight any specific contracts you’ve drafted in the past and how they helped your organization or company.

Example: “In my current role as city attorney, I draft all of the city’s contracts with vendors and suppliers. This includes everything from construction companies to landscaping services. In my previous position as a private attorney, I also drafted contracts for clients who needed help creating legally binding agreements.”

When reviewing a case, how do you determine if the city is liable?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to understand how you apply the law and your legal knowledge to make decisions. Use your answer to highlight your critical thinking skills, ability to analyze information and decision-making process.

Example: “When I review a case, I first look at the facts of the situation and determine if there is any evidence that the city was negligent or failed to uphold its duty to provide services to citizens. If I find no evidence of negligence on behalf of the city, then I can rule out liability. However, if I do find evidence of negligence, I will evaluate whether it was gross negligence or simple negligence. Gross negligence means the city had an extreme disregard for safety, while simple negligence means the city simply made a mistake.”

We want to improve our compliance with state and federal laws. How would you implement compliance initiatives?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your ability to work with other departments and develop strategies for improving the city’s compliance. In your answer, describe how you would collaborate with other departments to create a plan that improves compliance in all areas of the city.

Example: “I have experience working with other departments to improve compliance initiatives. When I worked as an attorney at a private firm, my team and I created a system where we could track which laws were changing and when they changed. We then shared this information with each department so they knew what changes needed to be made. This allowed us to ensure that our clients were always following the most recent laws.”

Describe your process for reviewing cases to determine if the city is liable for damages.

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to understand how you apply your legal knowledge and skills to the job. Your answer should demonstrate that you can use critical thinking, research and analysis to make decisions about cases.

Example: “I first read through all of the facts of the case and any documentation provided by the plaintiff. I then review the city’s policies or procedures that might have contributed to the situation. After that, I compare my findings with state laws to determine if there are any violations. If so, I refer the case to the appropriate department for further investigation. If not, I move forward with defending the city from liability.”

What makes you an ideal candidate to be our city attorney?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done your research on the city and its needs. You can use this time to highlight any unique qualifications or experiences that make you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I am passionate about upholding the law, so I would be honored to serve as your city attorney. In my previous position as a county attorney, I helped create an online database of all ordinances in the county. This system made it easier for citizens to find information about local laws and allowed me to more efficiently enforce them. I think this could be beneficial to your city.”

Which law school did you attend, and what was your graduation GPA?

This question is a common one for employers to ask because it helps them understand your academic background. They want to know if you have the qualifications and credentials to be successful in this role, so they may also ask about your previous work experience or other relevant information.

Example: “I attended Harvard Law School, where I graduated with honors with a GPA of 3.8. My law school education prepared me well for my career as a city attorney, and I’ve continued to learn more through professional development courses and seminars.”

What do you think are the most important qualities for a city attorney to succeed?

This question can help interviewers determine if you have the skills and abilities to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few qualities that are important for city attorneys and how they apply to your own experience.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities for a city attorney is having excellent research and writing skills. I’ve always enjoyed researching information and finding new ways to interpret data. In my last position as an assistant city attorney, I was often tasked with researching cases and providing evidence to support our claims. This helped me develop my research skills even more and learn how to write compelling arguments.”

How often do you recommend renewing the city’s contracts with vendors?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your knowledge of the city’s budget and how often it needs to renew contracts. Your answer should demonstrate that you understand the importance of renewing contracts on time, as well as the financial implications of doing so or not.

Example: “I recommend renewing contracts with vendors at least six months before they expire. This gives the city enough time to find new vendors if necessary, but also ensures that we don’t miss any deadlines for renewal. I have seen instances where a late contract renewal has led to delays in service delivery, which can be costly for the city.”

There is a pending lawsuit against the city. What is your process for handling this situation?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your ability to handle conflict and make decisions. In your answer, describe how you would approach the situation and what steps you would take to ensure that you’re upholding the law while also protecting the city’s interests.

Example: “If I were faced with a pending lawsuit against the city, my first step would be to review all of the facts of the case. Then, I would meet with the plaintiff to discuss their concerns and learn more about why they are pursuing legal action. After meeting with both parties, I would then decide whether or not there is merit to the claim. If so, I would work with the appropriate departments to develop an action plan for resolving the issue.”