Salary: $0.00 Hourly
Location : Durango, CO
Job Type: Part-Time
Job Number: 2026-00131
Department: City Attorney
Division: City Attorney - 4104
Opening Date: 06/26/2026
Closing Date: 7/3/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
Schedule Details:: Monday - Friday (9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. window), 5- 10 hours per week, flexible scheduling
Description
This position provides a structured, educational internship experience for high school students interested in municipal government, public service, or legal careers. The internship is unpaid and designed so that the primary beneficiary is the student, consistent with federal and Colorado standards for unpaid internships. Students learn about municipal law, public processes, and government operations through observation, guided projects, and supervised skill building exercises.
Essential Job Duties
The following duties are typical for this position but are not all inclusive. Other duties may be assigned. Duties are educational in nature and are not intended to replace the work of paid employees.
- Observe staff activities within the City Attorney's Office, including meetings, document preparation, and municipal procedures.
- Assist with basic, age-appropriate tasks such as organizing documents, preparing simple summaries, or conducting introductory research using publicly available materials.
- Learn principles of recordkeeping, including confidentiality and legal retention requirements.
- Shadow staff in administrative workflows to gain an understanding of how municipal legal services support City departments.
- Participate in structured learning modules (e.g., "How ordinances are written," "Introduction to public records," "Basics of municipal court").
- Support non legal citywide projects that offer civic learning opportunities (e.g., communications, special events, customer service observations).
- Operate general office equipment under supervision (printer, scanner, copier).
- Complete a culminating project such as a reflection paper, presentation, or portfolio piece.
Fiscal Responsibilities: No fiscal responsibilities. Intern may observe, but not perform, activities related to budgeting, purchasing, or financial decision making.
City Organization Duties and Responsibilities:
- Represent the Department and City to other City staff and members of the public.
- Provide quality customer service to individuals needing directions or assistance.
- Uphold the City's mission, vision, and values in all daily tasks and interactions, ensuring our commitment to excellence is reflected in the work you do for the community.
Supervisory Relationships: Works under general supervision of the City Attorney or assigned staff mentor. Work is reviewed for accuracy, quality, and adherence to instructions. Intern completes tasks and asks questions within established guidelines.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS - KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- Interest in public service and local government.
- Basic principles of organization, recordkeeping, and written communication.
- English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and professional writing standards
Skill in:
- Basic operation of computers, printers, scanners, and phones.
- Tracking simple tasks or checklists related to internship assignments.
- Clear verbal and written communication.
- Data entry and document preparation under supervision.
- Using City-approved software to learn about public records, scheduling, and document management systems.
Ability to:
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Follow instructions and ask questions when clarification is needed.
- Work the allocated hours of the internship.
- Learn to understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies
- Prepare simple correspondence or summaries with guidance.
- Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
- Communicate professionally and respectfully
Work Environment: Work is performed in a typical indoor office setting; and is mostly sedentary with occasional mobility, including tasks such as filing, moving between departments, or attending meetings
Physical and Mental Requirements/Activities:
- This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus. Will spend a large amount of time viewing a computer screen.
- Vocal communication and normal hearing are required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
- Acceptable verbal and conversation skills to effectively communicate with others via the phone, at meetings and to greet and assist visitors.
- Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
- Frequent use of phone handset and repetitive use of hand & fingers to operate office equipment, use computer keyboard & computer mouse and to perform other office tasks.
- Ability to recognize occupational hazards in work activities and take safety precautions.
- Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of making sound decisions and following directions.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Education and Certification: Enrolled in high school or equivalent educational program
Minimum Experience: No prior experience required; interest in government, law, or public service preferred
Supplemental Information
Nothing in this job description limits management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
Belong at the City of Durango:
We believe in creating an inclusive workforce that
welcomes diversity of thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences.
The City of Durango is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by state or local law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.
City of Durango's Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
This position is not eligible for benefits.
01
Have you been previously employed by the City of Durango?
02
If you answered yes, provide previous City positions and approximate dates for those positions.
03
Do you have any relatives who currently work for the City of Durango?
04
If you answered yes, provide your relative's name, the department they work in, and their relationship to you.
05
Have you ever been convicted of a crime, including misdemeanors, deferred sentences/judgements?
06
If you answered yes to having been convicted, you are REQUIRED to provide DATE(S) and DESCRIPTION(S) of offense(s) below.
07
Will you require employer sponsorship now or in the future in order to be authorized to work for us under U.S. law?
Required Question