city attorney

A city attorney is a position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the municipality. Unlike a district attorney or public defender, who usually handles criminal cases, a city attorney generally handles civil cases, advising the city on legal matters and representing it in court. City attorneys may advise city officials on a wide range of city business, ranging from nuisances to tax law to municipal annexations. A city attorney also advises the city's legislative body (such as a city council) on the legality of proposed actions and assists in the drafting of city ordinances and resolutions. In some jurisdictions, city attorneys also function as prosecutors, pursuing low-level criminal cases against persons charged with viola...