Assistant Corporation Counsel - Transaction & Economic Development
City of Detroit
StalePosted Feb 25
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Posted: April 15, 2026 (6 days ago)
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Assistant Corporation Counsel (Criminal Enforcement & Quality of Life)
City of Detroit
Law
Location
Detroit, Michigan, 48226
Salary
$75,000 - $85,000
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Legal jobs →Closes
April 30, 2026
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This job is for a lawyer who prosecutes violations of city rules and some state laws in court, handling everything from initial hearings to full trials to keep Detroit safe and clean.
It suits someone with legal training who enjoys courtroom work, especially in criminal cases, and can juggle multiple tasks while working as part of a team.
Ideal candidates are detail-oriented attorneys ready to represent the city in fighting crime and improving quality of life.
Key Requirements
- Juris Doctorate degree from an American Bar Association-approved institution
- License to practice law in the State of Michigan
- One year of experience in the practice of law, including trial and argument of cases before courts or quasi-judicial bodies
- Trial experience preferred
- Experience in criminal law preferred
- Strong skills in legal research, oral and written communication, and problem-solving
- Ability to analyze facts, evidence, and legal precedents, and present arguments clearly
Full Job Description
LAW DEPARTMENT
ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL
CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Established by the Detroit City Charter, the Law Department is an independent agency that represents the interests of the City of Detroit as a corporate body.
The Department is headed by the Corporation Counsel, whose mission is to provide a variety of legal services to the City, its elected officials, departments, agencies, offices, commissions, and boards, as well as its individual employees, in their official capacity.
The Department has numerous attorneys, specializing in various areas, who provide legal advice, opinions, and counsel to clients.
This position involves prosecuting all City Of Detroit criminal ordinance violations and some state law violations.
Appear at arraignments, pretrials, motion hearings, trials, both jury and bench, and sentencing hearings.
Appear as a Special Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor on select state law misdemeanor and felony violations. Appear in a variety of civil infractions.
Requirements
- Perform specialized professional legal work in preparation for litigation of civil and criminal ordinance violations at 36th District Court.
- Appear as a Special Assistant Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney on select felony violations and State Law violations.
- Perform research in preparation for trials and hearings and in the resolution of and clarification of legal issues and problems.
- Appear at Detroit Administrative Hearings (DAH) on various blight code violations.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctorate degree from an American Bar Association-approved institution.
- Trial experience preferred.
- One year of experience in the practice of law including experience in the trial and argument of cases before courts or quasi-judicial bodies.
- Experience in criminal law preferred.
- License to practice law in the State of Michigan.
EQUIVALENCY
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Additional Information
Please attach a cover letter, resume with references, and a writing sample.
Evaluation Plan
- Interview: 70%
- Evaluation of Training, Experience & Personal Qualifications: 30%
- Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%
Additional points may be awarded for:
- Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
- Detroit Residency Credit: 15 point
KNOWLEDGE OF:
- Excellent interpersonal skills; good writing skills in providing written legal analyses and advice to clients.
- Able to multi-task and prioritize and commit to a participative/team-oriented practice environment.
- The techniques of legal research, particularly as applied to municipal corporation law.
- Court procedures and legal principles and their application.
- Adjudication principles and practices.
SKILL IN:
- Legal research.
- Developing legal arguments and applying legal principles to legal problems.
- Developing legal arguments and applying legal principles to legal problems.
- Effective problem-solving techniques.
- Oral and written communication.
ABILITY TO:
- Analyze and appraise facts, evidence, and precedence.
- Present statements of facts, law, and arguments clearly and logically.
- Problem solves and displays resourcefulness and initiative in handling legal matters.
- Interact effectively with outside agencies and departmental personnel with tact and diplomacy.
- Display judicial temperament and poise.
Candidates considered for placement in this classification may be subject to a Criminal Background Investigation based on the requirements of the position.
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the class.
Incumbents may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Specific job duties may vary from position to position.
The City of Detroit is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
No applicant for employment shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other criteria prohibited by City, State, or Federal law.
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