ASSISTANT TOWN ATTORNEY

Assistant Town Attorney

Employer: Town of Chapel Hill

Salary: $129,504.00 - $168,356.00 Annually

Location: Town Hall, Chapel Hill, NC

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 26/

Department: Town Attorney

Opening Date: 09/03/2026

Max Number of Applicants: 100

Summary of Position: A Town employee that reports to and works at the direction of the Town Attorney. The Assistant Town Attorney will handle a wide variety of legal matters. The attorney will work with a variety of stakeholders including the Town Manager's office, department heads, and the Town Council, and will aid the Town in its service to a highly engaged community. This is the ideal job for a local government law generalist who shares the Town of Chapel Hill values of equity, inclusion, and social justice.

NOTE: This position may close without notice.

Essential Functions

What you can expect to be doing (Essential Functions):

• Provides daily legal counsel to Town Council, the Town Manager, and Town departments on nearly all aspects of the Town's work, represents the Town in judicial and administrative proceedings, and advises selected Town boards and commissions.
• Participates, over time, in nearly all aspects of the office's work, from reviewing contracts, to advising on land use and zoning matters, to advising on employment matters, negotiating settlements, to drafting and revising ordinances and policies.
• Exercises independent judgment and initiative and must communicate promptly, courteously, and clearly about Town legal matters. Impeccable legal ethics and a commitment to fairness are essential.
• Completes all other duties as assigned.

This position requires supervising and monitoring the performance of other employees.

What are the physical demands?

The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table, with intermittent standing or stooping. The employee uses equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity.

Where and how do you work?

The work is typically performed in an office. Occasional night meeting attendance required.

Minimum Qualifications

What do you need to know to do this job effectively?

Knowledge of:

• North Carolina laws, especially as they pertain to municipal governments

Ability to:

• Work autonomously with minimal supervision
• Use web-based software systems
• Use Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or similar tools
• Solve problems and make sound decisions
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and customers
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Use strong verbal and writing skills.
• Use strong research, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Model behavior that is consistent with the Town's RESPECT values.

What is education and/or experience do you need to be considered for this job?

Education:

A Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law is required. History of strong academic achievement preferred.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney performing relevant, high-level legal work; or comparable legal teaching experience; or a combination thereof.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in local government or public entity law, particularly North Carolina municipal law.
• Experience with contract law; land use and zoning law; employment law; and/or litigation, quasi-judicial proceedings, and/or administrative hearings.

What are the safety considerations for this job?

• You will be subject to the Drug and Alcohol-free Workplace policy.
• You will be subject to the Safe Driving and Accident Policy.

Supplemental Information

Here is other information you should know about the position:

• A valid NC driver's license and the availability of private transportation or the ability to provide transportation between job sites is required.
• License to practice law in North Carolina in good standing, or licensure reciprocity.
• Licensure in North Carolina preferred.

The Town of Chapel Hill has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment. The Town of Chapel Hill does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

The Town of Chapel Hill offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to regular full time and part time employees. Health and Dental Insurance are effective the first day of employment. The town will provide full-time employees group medical and dental insurance including family coverage. Employees and the town will share equally in the additional cost of the medical plan for dependent coverage if employees desire to purchase such coverage for family members. Employees are responsible for the full cost of dependent dental insurance.

Retirement Health Savings Plan. Employees hired after June 30, 2010, in a regular full-time or regular part-time position are required to participate in the Retirement Health Savings Plan. Contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis. The current contribution amount is 1%.

Paid Time Off:

• Vacation/Annual Leave: Employees in regular full or part time positions earn between 12 and 26 days per year depending upon length of Town service.
• Sick Leave: Employees in full or part time regular positions earn 12 days per year.
• Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees receive 6 weeks of Paid Parental Leave after birth or placement of a child in the home for adoption or foster care. This leave does not come from Employee's leave bank.
• Paid Holidays: There are 12 official Town holidays. Employees in full or part time regular positions are eligible for paid holiday time.
• Personal Leave: All employees in full or part time regular positions are granted 3 days of personal leave per year. This leave is non-cumulative.

Local Government Retirement System. All employees in regular full or part time position are required to contribute to the retirement system. Contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis. The current contribution amount is 6%.

Supplemental Retirement Plans:

• NC 401(k)-The Town makes a contribution of 5% to the 401(k) for all regular full and part time employees. There is no employee match required. Employees have the option of making contributions on a pre or post tax basis. The plan is administered by Empower.
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan-Town of Chapel Hill employees have the option of making contributions to a 457. The Town does not make contributions to this plan. The plan is administered by MissionSquare.

Disability Insurance:

• Town Provided: The Town provides both short term and long term disability insurance to all regular full or part time employees. The plan will pay up to 50% of the employee's base income up to $462 per week for non-job related injuries.
• Voluntary Short Term Disability: Employees have the option of purchasing supplemental disability insurance. This plan will pay employees a maximum of 25% of their base weekly earnings up to $400.

Life Insurance:

The Town provides full and part time regular employees with an individual term life insurance policy. Employees have the option of purchasing additional life insurance for a small fee. Dependent life insurance is also available.

Direct Deposit:

All employees hired after July 1, 2007 are required to have direct deposit.

Other Benefits:

• Credit Union: Employees