Position Title: Assistant Counsel (Litigation and Regulatory Focus)
Department: Office of General Counsel
Reports To: Deputy General Counsel - Litigation and Regulatory Services

Pay Grade: P

Salary Range: 83,000-103,800

Position Summary:

The Assistant Counsel is a vital part of The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia's, ("Atlanta Housing") in-house legal team devoted to preserving and creating affordable housing resources throughout the city of Atlanta. This legal support facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 26,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 50,000 people. The incumbent will manage complex litigation, investigations and other adversarial matters involving Atlanta Housing or its affiliates. The Assistant Counsel will handle complex matters relating to Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (including reasonable accommodations) matters, Administrative Hearings, Open Records Act, Open Meetings Act, landlord/tenant concerns, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and other legal matters impacting the business of Atlanta Housing, with particular emphasis on supporting Atlanta Housing's Housing Choice Voucher Program. The Assistant Counsel is responsible for and assists in the management and professional leadership development of attorneys and administrative support staff.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Represents the agency in civil or criminal court proceedings, overseeing all stages of legal disputes from investigation and pleadings to discovery, depositions, pre-trial motions, and trials.
• Formulates case strategies, negotiates settlements, and advises senior leadership and internal clients throughout the legal process.
• Provides legal services and outside counsel oversight related to Atlanta Housing's complex and other routine litigation and investigations involving torts, real property, contracts, corporate, insurance and other specialized matters.
• Interprets laws, rulings, and regulations and provides legal analysis and training related to Atlanta Housing business activities involving United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity ("FHEO") regulations and investigations, fair housing and reasonable accommodations, and negotiates with HUD, FHEO and the Georgia Commission Equal Opportunity which investigates Fair Housing complaints in the state of Georgia.
• Provides regulatory and administrative guidance to the Housing Choice Voucher Program ("HCVP") including the conducting of investigations and administrative hearings regarding the denial of or termination of housing assistance benefits and prepares well-reasoned and skillfully written hearing decisions in a timely manner.
• Provides strategic and legal advice related to the Open Records Act, the Open Meetings Act, and landlord/tenant issues, corporate governance, regulatory compliance matters, and related concerns.
• Performs high-level policy and corporate counsel responsibilities related to Atlanta Housing's governing Board, affiliates, Executive Team, other senior executives and Business Units.
• Provides leadership, mentoring and training to subordinate attorneys, legal assistants, and paralegals.
• Performs such other related duties as required and/or assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Must demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, in addition to possessing strong interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative manner with co-workers.
• Must have keen analytical ability, be well organized and exercise the ability to plan, organize, and control various legal matters in an environment of multiple and possibly shifting priorities.
• Strong judgment, legal acumen, analysis, and reasoning abilities required in the review of legal documents, filings, or records.
• Must demonstrate a knowledge of or an ability to acquire knowledge of housing laws, and HUD regulations and requirements, in addition to other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to Atlanta Housing's operations.
• Must be results oriented and able to function in a moderately-paced collegial in-house counsel office.
• Must demonstrate a desire and capability to provide outstanding leadership, coaching, mentoring, and teaching of colleagues and co-workers.

Education and Experience:

• Requires a Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school and an ideal candidate has at least 5+ years of experience working on litigation, fair housing, FHEO, HCVP, regulatory matters or other related experience. Candidates with less experience may be considered for other attorney positions in the office. Large law firms, government agency, or in-house counsel experience a plus, but is not required.
• Work requires demonstrated leadership performance in positions of increasing responsibility, independent decision-making, and judgment, communication, and organizational skills.
• The work requires demonstrated proficiency using Atlanta Housing's current office technology and software applications and demonstrated use of such technology and applications on a regular basis.

Working Conditions:

Work in a standard corporate office, although, there is currently an ability to work in a hybrid home office and in-office environment. The office environment is moderately paced with multi-task working conditions. May require frequent bending, stooping, reaching and prolonged sitting and/or standing. May require regular lifting usually not exceeding 15 lbs. Some travel may be required. May require a valid State of Georgia driver's license and be fully insurable for the purpose of obtaining clearance on AH's authorized drivers list. May spend extended periods of time reading, reviewing, researching and writing legal and related corporate documents.