The City Attorney's office serves as in-house legal counsel to the City of Wausau, as a municipal corporation, represented in person by the eleven alders and Mayor, elected to office.  The staff consists of two full-time attorneys, a full-time legal assistant, and a 3/4 time legal secretary.

The staff advises the elected officials, other departments within the City, members of its 37 Committees, Commissions and Boards, and staffs the meetings of the seven standing committees and Common Council.  This includes the Board of Review, Community Development Authority, Ethics Board, Police and Fire Commission, Room Tax Commission, Transit Commission, and Wausau Water Works, in matters relating to items appearing on their agendas for consideration.

We provide advice or opinions on the interpretation of policy or law and work with the Clerk's office to support elections, licensing, and permitting.

We represent the City in all litigation matters, including but not limited to, municipal, state and federal courts, and in administrative proceedings before local and state departments, and local, state and federal commissions and in dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.  This includes small claims eviction and debt collection matters.  Delinquent account collection includes personal property tax, delinquent rent, municipal court judgments, small claims judgments and foreclosure and bankruptcy defense.

 The City Attorney's Office receives and coordinates investigation of claims made against the City or its officers/employees and makes recommendations to the Board of Public Works, to which the authority to settle claims has been delegated by the Common Council.

On a local level, we prosecute violations of Wausau Municipal Code ordinances in Wausau Municipal Court, most typically, general traffic violations, including first offense drunk driving and housing code or fire code violations, that occur within the City of Wausau.

We draft and review pleadings, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, legal opinions and agreements and documents related to the acquisition or sale of real property and development.  This includes leases, annexations, detachments, alley and street vacations/abandonments.

The City Attorney's Office is a member of the City's bargaining team in labor negotiations with the City's three labor unions - transit, fire and police.

 We coordinate the review and response to open records requests and provide advice with regard to compliance with both the Open Records Law and Open Meetings Law.

The City Attorney is a member of the Board of Public Works, advises the Ethics Board by ordinance, and is the parliamentarian by ordinance.