Assistant City Attorney

Salary : $91,534.82 - $96,657.60 Annually
Location : City County Building 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI
Job Type: PERMANENT FULL TIME
Job Number:
Department: Attorney
Opening Date: 10/12/2026
Closing Date: 11/2/2026 11:59 PM Central
Comp. Group/Range: 23/01

General Description
The Office of the City Attorney is hiring for the position of Assistant City Attorney. This position involves entry-level professional legal work in the preparation and prosecution of cases primarily in municipal court, and sometimes in circuit court. Prosecution may include ordinance violations, including adopted statutory traffic offenses such as first offense operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OWI) and other general ordinance violations including, but not limited to, offenses against peace and quiet, underage drinking tickets, damage to property, theft, and trespass violations, as well as violations of building, fire, and health code. This position may also eventually involve other diverse legal activities including civil litigation, appellate work, general law practice, ordinance drafting, and legal advice to city agencies consistent with the needs of the organization. This classification encompasses all non-managerial positions engaged in professional legal work within the City Attorney's office. The Office of the City Attorney provides a supportive work environment with training and guidance from other team members and colleagues. Work is performed with varying degrees of independence as employees gain necessary proficiencies. Work assignments, in addition to the prosecutorial assignment, are assigned as employees gain necessary experience and expertise, and there is an opportunity to be exposed to, and learn, a variety of areas of municipal practice.
Starting pay will be $91,534.82 for a selected candidate who has less than three (3) years of related legal experience.

Starting pay will be $96,657.60 for a selected candidate who has three (3) or more years of related legal experience.
IMPORTANT: THERE IS ONE (1) SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAY QUESTION ON THE JOB POSTING.
YOU MUST ATTACH YOUR RESUME AND A RESPONSE TO THE ESSAY QUESTION IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.
(To view the question, click on the supplemental question tab OR view the bottom section of the job bulletin)
**APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT A RESUME AND AN ATTACHED ESSAY RESPONSE WILL IMMEDIATELY BE ELIMINATED FROM CONSIDERATION**

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

Prosecute ordinance violations, including adopted statutory traffic offenses, and other general ordinance violations

• Negotiate plea agreements with unrepresented defendants and defense counsel
• Communicate with civilian and police officer witnesses regarding the City's case
• Maintain case files
• Prepare and present the City's case at trial in (municipal and circuit courts
• Coordinate with other prosecutors and City departments
• Research legal issues that arise during the prosecution of cases
• Provide legal advice to the Police Department

Provide ongoing (and Ad Hoc) legal support to City boards, commissions, and agencies, as assigned

• Advise on legal obligations, litigation, and processes
• Respond to inquiries from elected officials, the media, and the public
• Draft documents including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, reports, and legal opinions
• Attend Administrative hearings and provide legal recommendations on behalf of the City or advice to the hearing body

Prepare and present pleadings, briefs, and other court papers in connection with administrative hearings and civil trial litigation

• Prepare, review, and file all necessary legal papers on a timely basis for non-municipal administrative proceedings and civil litigation
• Present arguments on legal issues, as necessary

Perform related legal research

• Research using paper, computer, and internet sources, as needed for prosecution or other litigation
• Present legal research conclusions in concise and persuasive manner

Perform other related work as required.
Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited law school.

The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore, successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to work effectively with multicultural communities or can articulate an understanding of cultural competency.

For a list of the knowledge, skills, and abilities, please view the

Special Requirements

• Admission to the bar in the State of Wisconsin upon appointment.
• Ability to meet the transportation requirements of the position. This position may require occasional travel within Dane County. Travel alternatives that do not require a driver's license are available.

Candidates invited to an interview may be required to submit a writing sample.

Physical Requirements:
Work is sedentary in nature and is generally performed in an office environment using office equipment such as telephone, computer, copier, calculator, etc. Stand-up desks are available.
The City of Madison offers excellent pay and benefits for employees. City Ordinances, handbooks, and labor contracts provide specifics; the description here is not to be considered a binding statement but offers an informal summary.
Compensation
The City of Madison strives to pay competitive wages. View the current for pay for all classifications. Employees receive increases based on tenure with the City.
Benefits
The City offers a competitive benefits package, including a generous leave package, a variety of insurance options, and non-traditional benefits such as optional pet insurance, a bus pass for all employees, and the possibility of flexible work schedules. A brief summary of benefits is listed below. Please visit our for more information.
Leave
Vacation is earned upon starting employment and can be used after completion of probation. The general vacation schedule is below.
0-3 years 10 work days of vacation
After 3 years 12-1/2 days
After 7 years 15 days
After 11 years 17-1/2 days
After 15 years 20 days
After 19 years 25 days
After 27 years 27 days
Employees earn 3.5 personal days in addition to vacation.
Employees receive eight official paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day), as well as 3 paid leave days (the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve).

Employees also earn 13 sick days annually that may accrue to a total of 150 days.
Retirement
The City of Madison participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System through the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds.
Insurance
The City of Madison offers a variety of optional insurance programs including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Income Continuation Insurance (for short and long-term disability)
• Long Term Care Insurance

Other Benefits
The City offers numerous other benefits and programs for employees, including:
• 457(b) deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bus Pass on Madison Metro
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Employer-paid Training
01

Have you graduated from an accredited law school?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you currently a licensed member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and able to practice law in the State of Wisconsin?

• Yes
• No

03

If you are not currently a licensed member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, on what date will you be admitted as a licensed member?
04

In addition to the application, a resume is required for this position. Please attach the resume under the "Attachments" section of the application. (Please note that uploading your resume to populate application fields is different than attaching a resume)By checking the box, I acknowledge that I must submit a resume as part of this application process.

• Acknowledgement

05

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY--YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTION AS PART OF YOUR APPLICATION. You can answer the question using a word processing program and attach as a .docx or .pdf file. You must attach the document in the "Attachments" section of the application or you will not receive further consideration for this position. Your response will be evaluated on your writing ability including: spelling, grammar and your ability to express your thoughts in a logical fashion. By checking this box, you acknowledge the above and understand that your response is required and failure to attach your essay response will immediately eliminate you from consideration.

• AGREED

06

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY. Consider the following ordinances and incorporate them into your answers to the fact patterns that follow, if you believe they are relevant. In responding to the fact patterns, outline all issues you identify and your solutions to those issues, including your reasoning and rationale.Madison General Ordinances define Disorderly Conduct and Unlawful Trespass as follows:- Disorderly Conduct: Violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct in a public or private place under circumstances in which such conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance.- Unlawful Trespass: It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or remain on any property of another or to enter or remain in any building of another after having been notified by the owner or occupant not to enter or remain on such premises. (a) A Madison Police Officer contacts you and says there is a group of Pickleball supporters who have been appearing on a daily basis at an elementary school and handing out Pickleball literature to elementary school students as they board the school bus after school. According to the Officer, a member of the Pickleball group has been using a megaphone to chant, "We Want Pickleball" while handing out literature. The Officer stated that she has been receiving complaints from the school principal about the Pickleball Group activity at the school and wants to know what can be done to stop the activity. What do you tell the Officer? What are your concerns? Do you need more information? Would you call the school principal and advise them? (b) Later that same day, an Alderperson contacts you about the same issue and says the school principal was screaming at the Pickleball group while holding a tennis racket and ordering them to leave immediately. The Alderperson tells you he hopes you are not advising anyone to stop the Pickleball activity at the elementary school because he is a member of the Pickleball group and he has been participating in handing out the Pickleball literature. The Alderperson tells you they are simply exercising their First Amendment Rights. What do you tell the Alderperson? Would you contact the police department and ask them to send an officer to the scene? Why or why not? If the police department arrives on scene and asks for advice, what do you advise and why? Does your advice to the police department change because you know that an elected official is participating in this activity?

• I acknowledge my written response must be attached In the Attachment section to my application and is required to be no more than three (3) pages double-spaced.

Required Question