Assistant City Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $115,416.00 - $162,308.00 Annually
Location : City Hall, 350 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2026-00246
Department: Attorney
Division: Attorney Criminal Division
Opening Date: 06/05/2026
Closing Date: 6/29/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: CAT
Position Description
In the City Attorney's Office, we make it our mission to bring together diverse talents, personalities, and experience in a way that is both effective and efficient to best serve the residents of Minneapolis. Under supervision provide the City of Minneapolis and its various officials, boards, agencies and departments with professional legal services relating to criminal legal matters, including advice on cases, broad policy level guidance and representation; or relating to criminal prosecution, including advice concerning investigation and development of particular cases, and courtroom representation.
Application Submission Requirements:
ALL applicants MUST submit completed:

• City of Minneapolis online application through Government Jobs
• Screening questions answered

Resume, Cover Letter and Writing Sample are strongly encouraged.
A sample of legal writing, including but not necessarily limited to an excerpt from a brief or memorandum, along with the required City application. Your sample mustnot exceed six pages.
Work Location: This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work with some days working remotely and some days working in the office.
The City of Minneapolis does not sponsor applicants for work visas.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Represent the City and Advise on Criminal Law Matters
• Prepare and try criminal cases of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor, including those of a complex nature. This includes but is not limited to bail hearings, settlement negotiations, treatment courts, contested evidentiary hearings, jury and court trials, sentencing hearings, probation revocation hearings, and a wide variety of other categories of hearings under often stressful conditions requiring attorneys to think quickly on their feet.
• Manage an assigned caseload, coordinating court dates and other schedules with judges, defense attorneys, defendants, and witnesses.
• Make independent determinations as to what constitutes fair and legal case outcomes, deciding whether to offer incarceration, restorative justice, or another disposition and structuring offers for case resolution.
• Work with crime victims to accurately assess their losses, obtain appropriate restitution awards, and vindicate their rights in court.
• Review and analyze evidence, including physical evidence, body-worn cameras, squad, transit, and surveillance footage, and jail and 911 tapes.
• Direct investigative and support staff as necessary to gather evidence and build a criminal case.
• Advise on applying legal requirements to specific data and facts.
• Conduct legal research and prepare legal opinions on criminal law issues, including complex ones. This includes using a caselaw database, such as Westlaw, to locate relevant controlling or persuasive cases concerning specific legal issues presented in litigation.
• Produce written briefs and memoranda on various criminal law issues, including complex matters, in district court, frequently under very tight deadlines, and occasionally at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
• Deliver well-thought-out, persuasive oral arguments advancing the case's legal theories and strengths to judges and juries.
• Develop the necessary expertise in various criminal and constitutional law areas, including complex areas.
• Draft changes to state statutes and city ordinances as requested.
• Confer with and advise Minneapolis Police Departments, other law enforcement partners, and other Minneapolis City departments on legal matters and concerns involving criminal law issues, including complex ones.
• Help implement community-based criminal justice and public safety initiatives, reforms, and grant programs.
• Assist the criminal deputy and criminal supervising attorneys with projects, policy, and legal research, including a complex nature.
• Exhibit critical thinking and problem-solving skills, sometimes with supervision.
• Prepare and conduct public presentations and provide training on various criminal law and criminal procedure issues, including complex ones, to other attorneys, city departments, elected officials, and outside partner agencies.
• Foster relationships of trust with department heads, city staff, state and judges, partner agencies, other governmental subdivisions, and internal colleagues.
• Research and draft briefs and present oral arguments for appeals at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
• Regularly review new case law and statutes that change how laws are interpreted or enforced and adapt to those changes in making legal decisions.
• Review police reports, video evidence, and other available evidence and independently apply the facts to applicable criminal statutes to make charging decisions.
• Work on cross-departmental multi-disciplinary work groups, task forces to develop and implement policies.
Working Conditions: Office and courtroom.
Required Qualifications
Minimum Education: The position has a minimum educational requirement of a Juris Doctorate (J.D.)
Minimum Experience: Two or more years of relevant legal experience.
Licenses/Certification: Minnesota attorney licensure through the successful bar examination and current active bar membership; ability to be licensed in federal court.
Selection Process
The selection process will consist of one or more of the following steps: a rating of relevant education and experience 100%. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions. Only those candidates who attain a passing score (70%) on each step in the selection process will be placed on the eligible list. The City of Minneapolis Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number in any phase of the selection process.
Background Check
The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.
Background Check (Police)
The City has determined that a thorough Minneapolis Police Department criminal background check is necessary for positions with this job title. Applicants must sign an informed consent allowing the City to obtain their criminal history information in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be considered for the position.
Drug and Alcohol Testing
All job applicants must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be required to sign a notification and consent form prior to undergoing drug and alcohol testing. Applicants who do not consent to undergo drug and alcohol testing will not be required to do so and the City will withdraw the conditional job offer, resulting in the job applicant no longer being considered for the position.
Union Representation
This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the AFSCME Attorneys (CAT). For more information on the terms and conditions of this agreement please visit:
Eligible List Statement
The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire 4 months after it has been established.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Legal knowledge and technical skills
• Work ethic, drive, diligence
• Complex problem-solving, decision making, sometimes with supervision
• Communication skills
• Teamwork/collaboration skills
• Contributions to CAO, the enterprise, legal systems
• Commitment to Equity
• At least some demonstration of leadership
• Strong legal research skills
• Organizational and prioritization skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Capacity to handle complex projects and make quality decisions
As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose-serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis.
The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Benefits Summary
Our employees enjoy competitive salaries and generous benefits. We pride ourselves on a comprehensive benefits program that supports employees' health and financial well-being. Programs, resources, and benefit eligibility varies based on position, average hours worked, location and length of service. For detailed benefits information, please visit the
Insurance
Health insurance
Eligibility for benefits begins the first of the month following employment date. The City of Minneapolis offers eligible employees with a choice of six provider networks, allowing you to select the best option for you. Available plans include Medica Choice Passport, Medica Elect, VantagePlus with Medica, Park Nicollet and HealthPartners Medical Group First with Medica, Ridgeview Community Network powered by Medica, and Clear Value with Medica.
Dental insurance
The City of Minneapolis offers dental insurance through Delta Dental of Minnesota and pays 100% of the monthly premium for eligible employees.
Life insurance
The city provides basic life insurance of one times your annual salary up to $50,000. You can elect to purchase optional life insurance.
Paid time off
Our generous leave package includes vacation, holidays and paid sick leave, which gives employees the opportunity to enhance their quality of life outside work. Amounts and accrual rates are based on years of experience and
Paid parental leave
City employees are eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in the event of a birth or placement for adoption of a child.
Retirement
City employees earn a pension and may choose to participate in additional retirement savings programs.

• Pension: The City of Minneapolis participates in the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). Employees and the City both contribute a percentage of your pay to fund future benefits.
• Deferred compensation: Employees may choose to participate in pre-tax or after-tax savings plans through the Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS).

Transportation
Eligible City employees may choose to participate in the following transportation programs:

• Metropass: The program allows eligible employees to enroll in a pass for unlimited bus or light rail rides at a discounted price.
• Parking or Van Pool: The City of Minneapolis gives you options to pay certain commuting costs, such as qualified parking and van pool expenses, with pre-tax dollars.

Learning and development
To engage and develop employees, the City of Minneapolis offers classes in leadership, cultural agility, change management and more. Additionally, educational discounts at Augsburg University, Hamline University, St. Catherine's, and St. Mary's University of Minnesota are available to City employees.
Other perks
Employees can also take advantage of flexible spending accounts, the , health club discounts and more.
01
How did you find out about this position? (Select all that apply)

• Recruiter
• City of Minneapolis website
• City of Minneapolis employee
• City of Minneapolis Career Opportunities Bulletin
• Friend, family, or community
• League of Minnesota Cities website
• Diversityjobs.com website
• Governmentjobs.com website
• Indeed.com website
• Minnesotajobs.com website
• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits website
• Other Website
• LinkedIn
• Twitter / X
• Facebook
• Other social media site
• Newspaper
• Other media
• College or University
• Community organization
• Job Fair
• Professional association
• Site Visit
• None of the above

02
Please specify where you heard about this position (e.g., website name, City of Minneapolis employee name, job fair, professional association).
03
There are currently seven foreign languages that are prevalent in Minneapolis (Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Laotian, Oromo, Vietnamese and Amharic). Please select which of the following languages you are fluent in. (Check all that apply):

• Spanish
• Hmong
• Somali
• Laotian
• Oromo
• Amharic
• Vietnamese
• American Sign Language
• I am not fluent in any of the above languages.

04
Have you successfully obtained your Juris Doctorate degree?

• Yes
• No

05
How many years of relevant legal experience do you have?

• No Experience
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year but less than 2
• 2 years but less than 3
• 3 years but less than 4
• 4 years but less than 5
• 5 or more ye...