Civil Division

The Civil Division of the Seattle City Attorney's Office provides legal counsel and representation to the City's elected and appointed officials. It serves the public interest by providing these clients with the affordable, high quality legal advice and representation that they need to best achieve their policies and goals.

The Division is organized into eight specialized areas of practice in which attorneys provide legal counsel and representation in litigation at all levels of state and federal courts and administrative agencies.

Civil Enforcement

Handles an array of civil code requirements, including working with the Office for Civil Rights to enforce City ordinances against discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and contracting. The Section also prosecutes abatement and forfeiture actions against properties involved in drug trafficking, and collection actions on delinquent accounts owed the City. The Precinct Liaison attorneys are also part of this Section.

Contracts

Is responsible for legal services at all stages of contract formulation, implementation and enforcement, including negotiation, drafting, administration and litigation. The Contracts Section develops and maintains standardized City contracts as well as participating as counsel in complex transactions such as capital projects for multi-million dollar construction and information technology contracts.

Employment

With over 11,000 City employees, including many union members, the personnel and labor issues facing the City are complex and diverse. In conjunction with the City?s Personnel Department, the Employment Section is responsible for personnel policy development and labor relations matters, including litigation, civil service and arbitration proceedings.

Environmental Protection

Provides legal counsel on a full range of environmental issues, including Superfund cleanups, water resources, recovery actions, the Endangered Species Act, and long-term policy development.

Land Use

Provides legal counsel on zoning, planning, growth management, code enforcement, the State Environmental Policy Act, low-income housing development, preservation of historic properties, and acquisition of public property for open space, parks, and other public facilities.

Municipal Law

Is responsible for providing legal advice on a wide variety of local government law such as municipal finance and budgeting, taxation, initiatives and charter issues, legislation drafting, public disclosure and inter/intra-governmental relations.

Torts

Primarily engaged in litigation, this Section defends the City in personal injury and property damage cases, which span the spectrum from minor matters to multi-million dollar lawsuits.

Utilities

Provides legal services concerning the City?s utilities: City Light and Seattle Public Utilities (light, solid waste, water, drainage and wastewater). The Section specializes in the utilities' unique legal needs such as rate making, regional, interstate and international natural resource acquisition and management, and energy licensing.