Senior Assistant City Attorney

Senior Assistant City Attorney

Salary

$150,439.73 - $207,598.33 Annually

Location

Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA

Job Type

Regular

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

26-00355

Department

City Attorneys Office

Division

CAO_Civil

Opening Date

11/04/2026

Closing Date

11/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

NONAFF

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the "Hiring Process" section below to learn more.

New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Job Summary

Are you a dynamic, forward-thinking attorney with substantial experience representing government looking for a cooperative and vibrant environment to further your professional development? Are you excited about the opportunity to work for a thriving, diverse city with unique challenges? Are you a dynamic problem solver who is not afraid to challenge the status quo? If so, we invite you to explore the City of Bellevue and its City Attorney's Office.

Bellevue is routinely ranked among the best mid-sized cities in the country. The Bellevue City Attorney's Office is a 30-member department that provides civil advice, litigation, and criminal prosecution. We are looking for an exceptional candidate to fill a Senior Attorney position and join our fast-paced, collegial and supportive work environment. This position will primarily provide advice on matters related to transportation, long range planning, capital projects, neighborhoods/community development, and environmental stewardship.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This Senior Attorney will be in the Civil Division and responsible for providing professional legal services, litigation services, risk analysis, advice, and representation to the city government. This position will focus on legal services supporting and defending administrative and regulatory land use and planning City permitting decisions. The ideal candidate will be comfortable advising City Departments on day-to-day legal issues, supporting and defending City regulatory and administrative land use decisions, assessing litigation risks, and providing briefings to the City Management and City Council.

Primary Duties:

• Provide regular counseling and strategic advice to City departments and management, both orally and in writing, on various facets of municipal law.
• Focused support, advice, and defense for City departments and management authorized to issue administrative and regulatory local land use decisions.
• Advise and develop responsive strategy to issues raised during permitting, land use entitlement, planning, environmental review, code compliance, and policy and code development processes about interpretation and application of development regulations and governing rules and laws.
• Assist City departments in drafting resolutions and ordinances for adoption by the City Council.
• Respond to state legislation affecting local land use regulations, rules, and land use decisions; and advise City departments of legal requirements.
• Draft and review legal documents and contracts, including concomitant agreements, settlement agreements, covenants, conditions of permits and approvals and other legal agreements with other governmental bodies and third parties.
• Represent the City in litigation, administrative and judicial land use appeals, and contested matters before administrative and judicial bodies.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

• The Senior Attorney duties and responsibilities are performed under the moderate to general supervision of a Supervising Civil Attorney in the City Attorney's Office.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Abilities and Experience:

• In-depth knowledge of municipal law and other legal requirements that apply to governments.
• Substantial background advising government clients on permitting, land use, planning, the State Growth Management Act, the Local Project Review Act, environmental, code compliance, and policy and code development matters.
• Litigation experience in administrative and court proceedings related to permitting, land use, environmental and/or code compliance matters.
• Excellent legal research and analytical skills, including using Westlaw.
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly, logically and persuasively and adapt communication style to diverse audiences.
• Ability to make clear and convincing oral presentations and in writing; effective listening skills.
• Ability to exercise sound, independent judgment within general guidelines.
• Ability to obtain results by carrying out assigned projects to their completion. Good organization, prioritization and collaboration skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, city elected officials and leadership, other city staff, and the public.
• Ability to assess and recognize own strengths and weaknesses to pursue self-development; willingness to take direction from senior staff.
• Commitment to serving the public.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of an ABA accredited law school with a Juris Doctor degree.
• Currently licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Washington.
• Considerable knowledge of the Growth Management Act, Local Project Review Act, Land Use Petition Act, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), municipal law, development permitting and land use entitlement processes.
• Experience in drafting development regulations, ordinances, resolutions and administrative procedures.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant municipal or other government experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional related experience with permitting, land use, planning, environmental, code compliance, and/or policy and code development matters.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Supplemental Information

Flexible/Hybrid Working:

A hybrid work schedule is available for this position after an orientation period working in the office after hire. Remote work for this position is subject to departments operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Full-time remote work is not an available option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington and within reasonable commuting distance to Bellevue City Hall.

We screen our applicants blindly for the first round of screening. Candidates who are invited to interview will be asked to provide a cover letter, resume and writing sample.

HIRING PROCESS

The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably, the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name, address, and other demographics. To help us, please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

• Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.
• We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage, unless otherwise stated in the job description.
• Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
• All positions require the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.
• Some positions may require completion of a criminal background check prior to start employment
• Some positions may require obtaining a commercial drivers license (CDL), licensures, or additional certifications.

At the City of Bellevue, youll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: Exceptional Public Service, Stewardship, Commitment to Employees, Integrity, Innovation, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Youll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative, future focused, and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. Its what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838 or recruiting@bellevuewa.gov. If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/IER_RightToWorkPoster.pdf

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPosterES.pdf

For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.

Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.

The City of Bellevue offers employees a comprehensive benefits package providing choice, flexibility, and value!

Please Note: Seasonal, part-time, and variable employees are not eligible for the below benefits except for mandatory participation in the retirement plan assigned to the position, which will be the Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT 2) retirement plan or the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement plan and any other benefits as required by law.

The following summary applies to fully benefited positions:

Medical

Employees are offered a choice of medical coverage through the Citys self-insured Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or Kaiser Permanente (HMO).

Dental

Employees are offered a choice of two dental carriers with plans that offer regular checkups, x-rays, fillings, and crowns. Orthodontia is available through one of the carriers.

Vision

Employees are offered a choice of vision coverage through an annual exam-only plan or a buy-up plan which includes an annual eye exam and hardware coverage.

Retirement Plans - Employees are offered three retirement plans:

• Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS): Mandatory participation (PERS, LEOFF or PSERS), depending upon eligibility.
• City of Bellevue Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT): Optional participation in this 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match contributions that vest on a 3-year schedule.
• Deferred Compensation Program (457 DCP): Optional participation in the supplemental Deferred Compensation Program also administered by DRS that allows tax-deferred savings into a variety of investments options.

Other benefits include:

More detailed information about our employee benefits is available at https://c2mb.ajg.com/cityofbellevue

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• Survivor Income
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 11 observed holidays per year plus 2 additional personal holidays, vacation (standard accrual of 12 days a year), and sick leave (accumulated at the rate of one day per month)
• An ORCA Card bus pass
• On-site fitness center, and self service food/coffee options
• Career development and training programs
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Paydays - The City of Bellevue pays employees on the 8th and the 23rd of each month (24 pay periods per year).

Please note: The City of Bellevue does not participate in the Social Security Administration (SSA) program and employees do not earn social security credits. The mandatory DRS retirement pension plan provides the required social security replacement plan.

NOTE: This is a brief summary of the benefit programs for the Citys non-represented employees. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Benefits for employees represented by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) may have different benefits. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a CBA, the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.

01

APPLICANT NOTICE: Your answers below will be used to review this application. The experience listed here MUST match the work history provided in your application. If your answers do not align, you may edit your application before submitting. Please note, it is not acceptable to use "See Resume" or "See Above" in your answers below and we do not accept resumes as a substitute for a completed application. We need a complete answer to the questions asked below.

• I confirm that the information provided here is consistent with my application.
• I do not agree with the statements above.

02

Do you have a J.D. from an ABA accredited law school?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a current membership with the Washington State Bar?

04

How many years of experience do you have as an attorney working with and/or representing governments?

• Less than 3 years of experience
• 3-5 years of experience
• 5-9 years of experience
• More than 9 years of experience

05

How many years of experience do you have with permitting, land use, planning, environmental, code compliance, and/or policy and code development matters?

• Less than 3 years of experience
• 3-5 years of experience
• 5-9 years of experience
• More than 9 years of experience

06

Why are you interested in the City of Bellevue and how does your previous experience make you a qualified candidate for this position? (Please be mindful that artificial intelligence tools, when used to assist in drafting responses, can produce similar language across the many applications submitted. Responses are more effective if they clearly reflect personal experience, specific examples, and individual voice.) [200 words MAXIMUM]

07

The City of Bellevue is a hybrid workplace. This is a Washington State job, and candidates must reside within a reasonable distance of City Hall and be onsite in Bellevue at least 2 day(s) per week.

• Yes, I am interested in hybrid schedule and available to be onsite 2 or more days per week.
• No, I am interested in fully remote position.

Required Question

Employer City of Bellevue

Address PO Box 90012

Bellevue, Washington, 98009

Website http://www.bellevuewa.gov/